Avocent Case Study
Profile
EVA Airways
Company
EVA Airways
Achieves Centralized Control of Multiple
Data Centers
Location
Lujhu, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Business Needs
• 24/7, uninterrupted remote management
• A single interface to manage all network equipment
• A single solution to bridge a heterogeneous environment
• Remote management of an isolated operations room
A relative newcomer to the airline industry, EVA Airways has spent the past decade
growing its passenger and cargo services to reach more than 40 destinations in
Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.
As a subsidiary of the international shipping conglomerate Evergreen Group, EVA Air
operations include air cargo, airline catering, ground handling and aviation engineering services. In relatively little time, EVA Air has become the second largest Taiwanese airline–and the safest. The airline was recently named one of the 10 safest
carriers by Aero International magazine.
Challenges
EVA Air runs two data centers in Taoyuan County. The primary data center houses
more than 400 devices while a redundant data center is located in a nearby building.
EVA Air IT personnel need to manage more than 400 additional devices at different
locations. These data centers are connected to branch offices in the United States
and require 24/7, uninterrupted operation.
With EVA Air’s rapid growth, it did not take long for IT managers to realize they
needed to implement a system to centralize management of the data centers’
heterogeneous array of servers, network equipment and other solutions. It was also
decided early in the process that the new system should include a single interface to
reduce operating costs and increase the productivity of IT personnel.
The Avocent Solution
The analog KVM switches previously used by EVA Air required IT personnel to stand
in front of a rack or use Microsoft® Remote Desktop to control equipment at the
various data center locations. For this system to work, it was also necessary for both
the operating systems and the network connections to the servers to be operating
normally, although “normal function” is not always an option.
Type of business
Commercial - Airline
Web site
www.evaair.com
Solution
DSView® 3 Management Software
DSR® KVM over IP Switches
AMX® Analog KVM Switches
[Avocent Case Study] EVA Air
Additionally, as more equipment was added to the data centers, and
Solution Information
the system environment became increasingly complicated, that setup
Avocent DSR digital KVM over IP switches allow you to remotely
became cumbersome and regularly failed to meet the needs and
manage and power cycle connected devices. They also eliminate
expectations of the IT management team.
distance limitations by allowing access and control of remote servers
Upon deployment of the Avocent DSR KVM over IP switch solution, data center staff members were able to control all the serv-
and other network devices from the data center, the NOC or any
other location.
ers connected to the switch and adjust KVM settings through the
The Avocent AMX analog KVM switching system provides simul-
Web-based management interface. This allowed them to monitor the
taneous, real-time user access to all major server platforms and serial
status of the servers connected to the switch from any location with
devices. By connecting two AMX matrix switches to your desktop user
a network connection. Operators were finally able to modify BIOS
station for switch redundancy with automatic failover, you can main-
settings or start Windows in safe mode, as long as the power supply
tain access to your mission-critical servers and serial devices.
to the servers and network connections were uninterrupted.
DSView 3 management software enables secure, out-of-band,
Because EVA Air data center personnel manage a large number
centralized management of all connected IT and network devices in
of network appliances, DSView 3 management software was also
today’s often complex and geographically dispersed data centers.
installed. DSView 3 software enables secure, centralized management of network equipment, in distant or remote data centers, using
When used in conjunction with KVM appliances, serial console
a single interface. When DSView 3 software and DSR KVM over IP
appliances, service processor gateways and PDUs, the hardware
switches are used together, IT personnel are able to achieve remote
and software combine to allow IT administrators to remotely access,
access, monitoring and control of target devices at different locations
monitor and control target devices on multiple platforms at numerous
and on different platforms. The unique hub-and-spoke structure of the
locations–anywhere, anytime.
DSView 3 software provides backup/load-balancing functions that
About Avocent Corporation
greatly reduce the possibility of interruption of remote management
services caused by software/hardware malfunctions.
Avocent delivers IT infrastructure management solutions that reduce
operating costs, simplify management and increase the availability
Finally, several EVA Air servers are located in the isolated operat-
of critical IT environments 24/7 via integrated, centralized in-band and
ing room. The addition of an Avocent AMX analog switch solution
out-of-band hardware and software. Additional information is avail-
provides IT staff members with individual control of the physically
able at www.avocent.com.
inaccessible servers.
Conclusion
After implementing a comprehensive Avocent solution, EVA Air
IT personnel were able to remotely manage a large amount of IT
equipment anywhere and at any time, thereby saving time traveling
between data centers, increasing operating efficiency and reducing
operating costs. The solution also reduced fault repair times and the
possibility of unplanned system shutdowns.
Avocent, the Avocent logo, DSView, AMX and DSR are registered trademarks of Avocent
Corporation or its affiliates in the US or other countries. All other marks are the property of their
respective owners. © 2010 Avocent Corporation. All rights reserved. 0510-EVAA-CS-EN