Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
Features
Automation Technology at Boston University
6/29/2004
The systems threshold management capabilities allow ACS to monitor for fluctuations in critical system resource metrics and automatically react and/or notify appropriate personnel to take action before a serious problem occurs. Suppose, for example, a non-interruptible power supply generates an event indicating that the ACS department has lost building power and is operating on batteries. The automation tool notifies active online users and support staff of the outage, and then starts the process of executing a managed shutdown of the university’s administrative business systems, rather than risking database integrity waiting for an abrupt crash when battery power would be exhausted.
BU’s automation system simplifies remote data center management and increases staff productivity and system availability, while at the same time minimizing manual intervention in the data center. Given that AF/REMOTE is the primary means of automated notification, BU operates both a primary and a hot-standby version of AF/REMOTE, which are networked and synchronized.
Since deploying systems management automation technology, BU achieved its goal of an unattended data center, while enhancing quality of services, increasing system availability, reducing operating expenses, and improving the quality of life for the support staff.
Lawrence Ouellette is operations analyst III, Automation Services Group, and
Charles La Salle is assistant director of Internal Systems Development Administrative
Computing Services, University Information Systems at Boston University.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
Recommended Reading
- California Community Colleges Partner with Waterfall Mobile on Statewide Emergency Notification Coverage
The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) has awarded a statewide emergency alert notification contract to Waterfall Mobile. The contract establishes Waterfall's AlertU as an approved technology through the official non-profit foundation for the California Community College (CCC) system office. Through this partnership, individual colleges may directly implement emergency communication services, eliminating lengthy technology evaluation and RFP processes.
- King's College and ASU Add e2Campus for Improved Emergency Notifications
King's College and Arizona State University have switched to Omnilert's e2Campus for emergency notification. Omnilert also has introduced a new program called the ENS Conversion Service that allows schools to bulk upload data from their previous emergency notification system into e2Campus at no charge.
- Saint Joseph Builds Out Wireless Network in Multi-year Upgrade
Saint Joseph's University has begun deploying a Meru Networks wireless local area network across its Philadelphia campus as part of a multi-year effort to bring wireless coverage to every building on campus.
- Vista Ramp Up Is Happening Now, Study Says
Organizations may have been slow to adopt Microsoft Windows Vista, but expect that to change by late 2008 to 2009, according to a Forrester Research report by Benjamin Gray et al., published last week.
- Talisma Launches New Version of CRM with Built-in Application Management
Talisma Corp. announced version 8.0 of its constituent relationship management (CRM) application for higher education. The new release includes application management, a revamped user interface, two-way text messaging, personalized Web portals, and an ADA-compliant Web client, among other enhancements.
- Bringing Composers into Classrooms Through Skype
Two Pennsylvania teaching colleagues with an interest in music and technology are bringing remote experts into classrooms at almost no cost, using Skype's free videoconferencing technology.
