In the fast-paced world of technology, automation is the key to efficiency and success. Small and midsize business owners know that managing IT infrastructure can be a daunting task, especially when it involves complex, manual processes, many times needed to manage rogue devices that do not have their management platform, but are addressable in some way Tangonet Solutions understands these challenges and developed an innovative solution to do just that. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Tangonet Solutions helped a Fortune 1000 company automate its appliance management, resulting in significant time savings and improved
The Client’s Challenge
Our client, a leading provider of multi-cloud data management, data protection, storage optimization, compliance readiness, and workload portability solutions, was facing a significant challenge. Their Fortune 100 global retailer customer struggled with the manual administration of over 3000 backup appliances. This process was time-consuming, error-prone, and required constant attention from administrators. The main hurdles included:
- Manual checks which took 2-5 minutes per appliance
- Device-by-device administration – extremely time-consuming and error-prone
- No real-time device status is available
Constraints - No key authentication (ssh-keys) allowed
- Lack of a Configuration Management Database (CMDB)
- Policies prohibiting the use of configuration management tools like Ansible
- The need for an agentless solution with no processes left running on appliances
- SNMP was not enabled for data extraction
Introducing the Command Center Solution
To address these challenges, Tangonet Solutions developed the Command Center, an automated appliance management tool. This innovative solution was designed to manage physical infrastructure components that support the SSH protocol, making it versatile and adaptable to various environments.
Key Features of Command Center
- Automated Engine: The Command Center allows IT administrators to interact with a list of nodes using provided credentials and scripts through a web layer or CLI. This automation significantly reduces the time required for appliance administration.
- Parallel Execution: The tool applies scripts to multiple nodes simultaneously, generating JSON reports or flagging execution problems.
- Template Support: It includes templates that facilitate automation in customized menus or non-standard CLIs, addressing the complexities of different environments.
- Script Repository: A centralized repository, managed with Docker, stores scripts created by administrators, allowing for easy reuse and scheduling.
- Flexible Management: Administrators can choose to manage appliances via a user-friendly CLI or WebUI.
- Minimal Resources: The Docker-based solution requires minimal resources and executes tasks in seconds, even for thousands of nodes.
- Open Source Technologies: Built with open-source tools like Git, Docker, GNU/parallel, Python, and Alpine Linux, the Command Center is easily customizable and upgradeable.
High-Level Architecture of Command Center
The solution’s architecture ensures it aligns with IT policy restrictions while providing a robust management tool. It involves:
- An NBU Appliance emulator to test scalability
- A simple permissions process and git-flow for script management
- Compatibility with existing infrastructure without requiring modifications
Significant Benefits Achieved
The implementation of the Command Center brought about significant improvements:
- Time Efficiency: Tasks that took hours now take seconds, freeing up valuable time for administrators.
- Scalability: The solution can handle over 3000 nodes efficiently, with the possibility of handling hundreds of thousands of nodes.
- Policy Compliance: It adheres to strict IT policies without compromising functionality.
- Centralized Management: Scripts are managed centrally, enhancing organization and control.
- Flexibility and Intuitiveness: Both CLI and WebUI options provide flexible management choices.
- Cost-Effective Customization: An open-source foundation allows for easy and inexpensive customization.
Experience the Power of Automation
This customized solution showcases the power of automation in IT management. By addressing the unique challenges of a global technology company, Tangonet delivered a solution that not only met but exceeded expectations. The result was a significant reduction in administration time, improved efficiency, and a scalable solution ready to handle future demands, at a fraction of the cost to build.
Do you have appliances and other devices that are currently unmanageable or whose management and administration functions are inadequate? Are you ready to transform your appliance management processes and boost your operational efficiency? Contact Tangonet Solutions today to schedule a call and learn how we can help your business achieve its automation goals. Click the button below to explore the full case study and discover the potential of the Command Center for your organization.
