A Customer Success
from the Experts in
Business-Critical ContinuityTM.
Summary
Driven by new requirements for security and audit logging, PSCU Financial
Services, the nation’s largest credit union service organization, wanted to upgrade
their two data centers to take advantage of the latest technological innovations
while improving access to their systems. With a heterogeneous network, the
organization needed a single solution that would deliver centralized and secure
remote access to all their servers and connected network devices.
Having great success with an IP-based KVM solution from Avocent, PSCU Financial
Services again turned to the company for their recent network refurbishment
project. Newly introduced to their network are the 16-port Avocent DSR2020
KVM switches, which provide two simultaneous digital paths for emote access
to devices, and the DSR4030 KVM switches, which provide four simultaneous
digital paths. Both offer BIOS-level control of all connected servers and serialCompany
PSCU Financial Services
Type of business
America’s largest credit union service
Web site
http://www.pscufs.com
Applications
Centralized infrastructure management and BIOSlevel control of all connected servers
Highlights
• PSCU Financial Services needed a solution
that would offer secure, remote access to
their systems, enable compliance with audit
requirements, and increase network availability
to ensure delivery of services to their member
organizations.
• The Avocent DSR® KVM switches deliver
remote server management and BIOS-level
control of all connected servers and serial-based
devices. DSView 3 management software
provides comprehensive system management
and activity logging to ease compliance with
audit requirements and ensure optimal uptime.
The Cyclades ACS advanced console server
offers complete and centralized secure console
management.
• Through the solution, the company has
improved remote management capabilities
with better organization and enhanced security.
Staging of equipment is managed remotely,
automated inventory of rack and server
locations allows for faster troubleshooting
and analysis of system availability, and logging
features within DSView 3 software provide an
audit trail of all access and events.
based devices in the data center. With the newer KVM switches, PSCU Financial
Services is able to take advantage of a faster data transfer rate, better views into
their system and centralized management of their entire infrastructure via a single
interface.
Also part of the network upgrade is the introduction of Cyclades® ACS advanced
console servers which help administrators and engineers conduct secure remote
data center management of serial devices and servers. When deployed with
DSView® 3 management software and the KVM over IP switches, the Cyclades
console servers round out a complete, centralized management solution.
The result is a system that can more easily comply with industry and internal audit
requirements, and improved response time when issues arise– all contributing to a
highly available network.
“We know we have huge advantages with the Avocent
products. We have found that the organization, ease of
use and security have been excellent. Combined with the
DSView 3 software, the Avocent solution gives us per rack
information allowing us to streamline response, reduce our
mean time to repair, and meet both internal and external
audit requirements.”
– Bob Perini, Data Center Manager, PSCU Financial Services
A Customer Success
from the Experts in
Business-Critical ContinuityTM.
CUSTOMER
PSCU Financial Services
PSCU Financial Services is a cooperative owned by more than 500
encouraged the company to reassess their infrastructure and embark
on a recent network upgrade.
credit unions. Founded in 1977, the organization provides its
“One of the key challenges we face internally is to ensure the network
members with a variety of technical and financial services, including
is up and running as well as providing an acceptable response time to
processing for more than eleven million credit and debit cardholder
resolve issues,” said Bob Perini, data center manager for PSCU Financial
accounts, online bill payment, lending, collections, fraud management
Services. “In addition to managing rapid expansion, we have additional
and strategic consultation. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, the
requirements for security. We wanted to upgrade to the newest and
company employs over 1,100 people to support its operations.
best network solutions to increase our capabilities and extend the
THE CHALLENGE
Complying with heightened security requirements and
streamlining response time
lifespan of our technology investments.”
THE SOLUTION
Prior to installing Avocent equipment, administrators and engineers
Avocent KVM over IP switching systems, Cyclades ACS
advanced console servers
at PSCU Financial Services relied on analog KVM to gain access to their
PSCU Financial Services complemented their initial deployment of
systems. In addition to taking up a lot of space in the server racks,
Avocent KVM switches with a combination of DSR2020 and DSR4030
the analog solution allowed for just one monitor and keyboard per
digital switches, and Cyclades console servers. While the initial
switch, prohibiting multiple users from gaining simultaneous access
installation in 2003 helped clean up their data center and deliver
to equipment. As a result, engineers were forced to wait for console
remote access, the newest round of equipment has delivered a much
availability and were unable to rapidly restore system health when
faster data rate, better scrolling and more comprehensive views into
issues arose.
their systems.
Also limiting their ability to quickly respond was the lack of remote
Along with upgrading their KVM switches, they upgraded to DSView
access capability. Any network equipment failure required the IT
3 software, gaining control of their network from a single integrated
staff to physically travel to the data center, and manually identify
interface. When used in conjunction with any DS Series KVM switch,
the location of the downed system to begin troubleshooting. As
MergePoint® service processor managers or Cyclades console servers,
the number of systems in their data centers grew, and as system
DSView 3 software allows IT administrators to remotely access,
management needs increased, PSCU Financial Services required
monitor and control target devices on multiple platforms no matter
improved and remote access to their systems.
their location.
In the fall of 2003, they chose a digital KVM over IP switching system
“While we gain a lot of advantages through the DSView 3 software,
from Avocent to give administrators remote access to their systems as
the Cyclades console servers will deliver even greater functionality,”
well as enhanced management capabilities. Allocation of IT resources
said Anthony Reggi, senior systems engineer for PSCU Financial
improved, response time was shortened and network availability
Services. “Our network team has praised the Web interface and
increased.
additional security features. Bringing Cyclades into the Avocent
Although server management and uptime improved, data center
sprawl and heightened requirements for security and logging
family has paired the best KVM product with the best serial product,
delivering a fuller package to meet our administration needs.”
A Customer Success
from the Experts in
Business-Critical ContinuityTM.
THE BENEFITS
Secure remote access, comprehensive system inventory
and increased productivity
With Avocent solutions in place, PSCU Financial Services has boosted
productivity through remote access capabilities. One advantage is
gaining the ability to stage equipment without physically accessing
the data center. Now, engineers can rack mount servers in the data
center and then work on them from their desks. In doing so, they are
able to save time and get their server environment up and running as
quickly as possible.
Having a comprehensive view of all their servers and connected
devices has also delivered improved network management. Through
the DSView 3 software, servers and devices can be easily categorized
based on location, operating system, department, application, or
other custom categories.
Another advantage is the ability to maintain accurate user permission
rights and detailed data and event logs across multiple sites and
appliances. All access to the appliances is logged for compliance,
auditing and troubleshooting, including who accessed what and
when. DSView 3 software also provides real-time email and pager
event notification with SNMP traps to help IT administrators address
potential bottlenecks before they can affect server throughput and
availability.
“We know we have huge advantages with the Avocent products,”
said Perini. “We have found that the organization, ease of use and
security have been excellent. Combined with the DSView 3 software,
the Avocent solution gives us per rack information allowing us to
streamline response, reduce our mean time to repair, and meet both
internal and external audit requirements.”
THE FUTURE Supporting future growth
Expected to continue on an accelerated growth track, PSCU Financial
Services appreciates the improved categorization offered through
the system and recognizes that capability as key to managing their
expanding network. Reggi notes that the Virtual Media functionality
of the 4030 switches will “open a whole new world of actually being
in front of the computer without being physically connected” and
anticipates using that functionality to perform remote tasks such as
patching distributing files in the near future.
A Customer Success
from the Experts in
Business-Critical ContinuityTM.
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