IT managers are continually searching for ways to improve network service and reduce the cost of maintaining their computing infrastructures.
In a typical enterprise environment, IT managers have a manageability software suite to help them. But software alone cannot solve all manageability challenges. In many cases, hardware-based manageability tools can provide additional capabilities.
This need for different software, firmware, and hardware management technologies often means that administrators have to juggle a variety of tools and applications as they attempt to handle large numbers of networked clients.
They often face a lack of interoperability and consistency, particularly in out-of-band, remote, and out-of-service situations.
Open Standards for Client Management
The Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware (DASH) Initiative is a suite of specifications developed by the DMTF that delivers open standards-based Web services management for desktop and mobile client systems.
DASH is a comprehensive framework that provides the next generation of standards for secure out-of-band and remote management of desktop and mobile systems in multi-vendor, distributed enterprise environments.
DASH enables the same tools, syntax, semantics, and interfaces to work across a full range of products — traditional desktop systems, mobile and laptop computers, blade PCs, as well as “thin clients.”
DASH allows the same management interfaces to be used, independent of system state. By using existing industry standard protocols, DASH facilitates interoperability over the network.
DASH also helps deliver more secure desktop and mobile management. It embraces industry standard network and transport layer encryption, authentication and authorization mechanisms, and establishes standard profiles for roles, authorization, and account management.
DASH shares a common foundation with the DMTF’s SMASH server management standards for consistency and reliability between data center and client management.
DASH’s integrated approach offers administrators increased simplicity and functionality in management solutions for the enterprise.
As the need for systems management tools increases, DASH is expected to be a widely implemented out-of-band management standard. Its components and functionality are being developed based on real-world needs.
DASH is positioned to integrate seamlessly into IT infrastructures, offering predictable interoperability — without the need for a limited set of proprietary hardware components.
Benefits of DASH for Administrators
A management tool or console that supports the DASH standard can monitor and control a DASH client system in a consistent, vendor-independent way. This means common management tasks can be done in the same way for many different clients.
DASH’s core functionality shortens the learning curve for administrators, provides flexibility for management tasks, reduces system complexity, and helps lower costs.
DASH enables several specific benefits, as outlined below.
Remote Power Control, Boot Control and Console Redirection
From a remote management console, administrators can power off, power on, or power cycle a client system.
They may want to power off systems to reduce energy usage. Or they may want power on a system, apply a patch, and power off again.
Remote Diagnostics
Help desk operators or administrators can remotely diagnose problems by remotely powering on a client system and redirecting the serial output to their remote console.
They can then specify the system boot from a diagnostic disk or device to perform troubleshooting remotely.
Discovery
From a management console, administrators can automatically discover the client systems they can manage with DASH. A managed client can then be queried in a standard way.
The console can also determine if a client supports DASH and which specific capabilities or features are accessible.
Asset Inventory
From their management tool or console, administrators can view hardware and software inventory for clients in the system.
For example, an admin can check the configuration of hardware components like memory or hard drives, or see what software and versions are installed. This inventory can be viewed whether a client system is powered on or off.
Remote System Health Monitoring
Administrators can remotely monitor the health of hardware components in the system, such as temperature, chassis intrusion, and fan operation.
AMD’s Support of DASH
As a board member of the DMTF, AMD is actively involved in defining and evolving DASH standards.
AMD’s commitment to open standards-based security and manageability translates into AMD technology-based solutions that keep businesses ready for new challenges without detracting from their everyday computing needs.
Additionally, AMD offers the AMD SIMFIRE™ Validation Test Suite — a set of interoperability testing tools that can be used by developers of firmware and management applications to ensure interoperability of their implementations with other DASH solutions across the industry.
These tools, which are jointly developed with other companies, address the need to shorten the time between the introduction of a new standard and the availability of interoperable solutions for end users.
They are immediately available to developers to help accelerate the implementation of interoperable DASH solutions.
These efforts provide firmware and management application developers with a set of tools for testing interoperability for DASH solutions, in order to help them bring products to market more quickly.
By enabling developers and vendors to test their systems management applications and implementations for DASH standards, these test tools help ensure solutions from multiple vendors can interoperate in an IT environment and allow existing IT administrators to seamlessly and predictably manage their hardware assets.
Learn more about and access the DASH interoperability tests.
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