Agilent Technologies Introduces First Web-based Remote Diagnostic and Management System for CompactPCI Servers.Business Editors PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2000 Solution is Key Addition to Company's Family of Remote Web-based Server-Management Systems Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :A) today introduced a remote management system for CompactPCI servers that enables system administrators to troubleshoot and carry out routine maintenance of a geographically dispersed network from a remote PC with a standard Web browser. System administrators can use the Agilent PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). mezzanine Remote Management Card (pRMC) or embedded Remote Management Chip (eRMC) to gain secure access to CompactPCI servers for remote administration and diagnostics, regardless of the system state -- even when power is down. The remote management capabilities free administrators from direct server monitoring while enabling maximum 24/7 availability, features that also help reduce warranty costs. If a problem is detected, the pRMC or eRMC immediately notifies the administrator with a message identifying the server and nature of the error. Users can select different methods of notification, such as paging or e-mail. The graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to helps users identify possible problems quickly and easily. "The combination of secure Web access with sophisticated diagnostic and management software ensures maximum uptime for mission critical servers, and helps administrators save a great deal in maintenance costs," said Alois Hauk, general manager of Agilent's Boeblingen (Germany) Verification Solutions. "By incorporating Agilent's remote management and diagnostic products, server manufacturers can accelerate time-to-market while containing development costs." The Agilent pRMC and eRMC are the latest additions to a family of Web-based remote server management systems announced in February, 2000. The pRMC is designed to be easily integrated into the robust CompactPCI servers typically used for high-end industrial and communications applications. Agilent's first remote management card (RMC RMC Royal Military College RMC Radio Monte Carlo RMC Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Virginia) RMC Regional Medical Center RMC Robert Morris College (Illinois) RMC Rocky Mountain College ) is a PCI short card that integrates into any PC or UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). (R) server. The pRMC and RMC are available as an embedded chip that provides the same functionality as the cards. Powerful Diagnostic Software Both the pRMC and RMC solutions offer Agilent's knowledge-based diagnostic software that locates server hardware problems within seconds. The software combines detailed component checks with intelligent reasoning to compute the most likely field replaceable unit A Field Replaceable Unit or FRU is a circuit board, part, or assembly that can be quickly and easily removed from a personal computer or other piece of electronic equipment, and replaced by the user or a technician without having to send the entire product or system to a (FRU) causing the problem. Taking advantage of the system access capabilities of the remote management solutions, the diagnostic software still remains functional even if the program can no longer be executed on the server. Agilent's remote management solutions use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to provide strong authentication and encryption, and therefore provide a highly secure connection between the remote management card or chip installed in the server and the administrator's remote PC. Key features The pRMC and eRMC include the following key features: - advanced knowledge-based diagnostic software; - Web-based remote control of server, regardless of state (e.g. power cycle, reset, graceful shutdown, shutdown on critical events); - advanced security including SSL (Secure Socket Layer); - PCI 2.2- and Intelligent Platform Management Interface The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification defines a set of common interfaces to computer hardware and firmware which system administrators can use to monitor system health and manage the system. Several dozen companies support IPMI. (IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) A protocol for monitoring server hardware for temperature, voltage, chassis intrusion, etc. Introduced in 1998 by Intel, HP, NEC and Dell, IPMI defines a standard set of messages for the characteristics of hardware ) 1.0 compliance; - user-defined event notification via paging or e-mail Integrated BMC (BMC Software, Inc., Houston, TX, www.bmc.com) A leading supplier of software that supports and improves the availability, performance, and recovery of applications in complex computing environments. (Baseboard Management Controller A baseboard management controller (BMC) is a specialized microcontroller embedded on the motherboard of many computers, especially servers. The BMC is the intelligence in the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) architecture. ) functionality; - VGA/AGP text console redirection; - embedded Web server Web server software embedded within a hardware device such as a print server. It is widely used in a myriad of devices, because it allows access to the software via any Web browser, typically for configuring the device or obtaining reports. See ETI and Web server. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. and XML interfaces; - network (10/100 Base-T LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. ) and modem access capabilities; and - floppy disk emulation enables remote BIOS and firmware updates, and diagnostic software downloads. Standards Compliance The Agilent pRMC and RMC are compliant with existing and emerging industry standards (SNMP, XML, etc), which will provide the widest range of functionality and remote management options as network systems evolve. In addition, capabilities have been integrated into eRMC to ensure CompactPCI hot-swap compliance. U.S. Pricing and Availability The Agilent pRMC and RMC are available now. Pricing depends on quantity ordered. Further information can be obtained on the Web at www.agilent.com/find/rmc. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com. |
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