Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin

Data center management solution for capacity planning and resource management to maximize operational performance

Cadence Reality DC (formerly Future Facilities 6SigmaDCX product line) is a software platform for performance-aware design and operational planning of data centers through digital twin technology. The offering consists of two software solutions that enable designers, owners, and operators to balance the need for reliability and efficiency in data centers.

Overview

Cadence Reality DC Design enables engineers to design the next generation of data centers, inside and out, with physics-based simulation powered by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), while Cadence Reality DC Insight empowers IT and Facilities Management Teams to collaborate on data center energy and performance optimization via a web-based portal when the data center is operational.

Cadence Reality DC Insight consists of two modules. This datasheet covers Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin.

Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin, functions as a searchable archive of all IT assets that can be used to manage power, space, weight, and network port capacity (Figure 1).

Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin provides tools to manage IT moves, installs, and decommissions. The software includes customizable, automated reports that offer actionable insights to all data center business units. The software uses live data visualization and reporting tools to help data centers control cost, reduce risk, utilize capacity, align teams, and effectively manage the lifecycle of key assets.

The network property sheet for a cabinet displayed within Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin
Figure 1: The network property sheet for a cabinet displayed within Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin

Benefits

  • Oversee an up-to-date view of all IT deployment plans from all users in one place
  • Manage power and data port connectivity, including the impact of future plans on panel phase balance, breaker loading, and failure analysis of critical components
  • Identify and troubleshoot potential data center layout issues, such as mismatches in zone IT load
  • Effortlessly populate the model with smart library items as IT and cabinets are deployed to accurately reflect the data center

Features

Operational Insights

Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin allows users to visualize the impact of upcoming projects on data center capacity and resources and ensure data centers can effectively track and plan power, space, weight, network port capacity, IT deployment, and decommissioning (Figure 2).

Visually track and plan power, space, weight, network port capacity, IT deployment, and decommissioning
Figure 2: Cabinet view in web-based tool displaying IT connections and power information

Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin connects to commonly used tools and systems, such as data center infrastructure management (DCIM), environmental monitoring systems, IT service management (ITSM), ticketing software, simple spreadsheets, and more, to ensure it is seamlessly and automatically kept up to date.

Smart Operations

The software includes a “go or no-go” assessment system for IT deployment in the form of a traffic light system. The traffic light system advises where users can place specific IT equipment based on the IT requirements and rack resource availability. The software automatically calculates rack availability in terms of power, space, weight limit, and port availability. Red indicates no availability for specified IT deployment, yellow denotes possible availability with some flags to be considered by the user, and green indicates availability for deployment (Figure 3).

Displayed traffic light system during asset deployment
Figure 3: Displayed traffic light system during asset deployment

The interactive web-based tool allows users to customize shareable reports and dashboards populated with data and charts that visualize key metrics, such as power, cooling, and space, for one or multiple data centers (Figure 4).

Dashboard showing metrics on energy cost, PUE, and assets
Figure 4: Dashboard showing metrics on cooling and space availability per zone

IT deployments are coordinated through a centralized, virtual loading bay where users can view available IT assets and deploy specific IT equipment to any data center. ITSM integrations allow upcoming IT changes to be imported directly to the loading bay, ready for deployment within Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin.

Connectivity Matters

Power connections from utility to cabinet and cabinet to IT can be visualized in the software via the power network diagram. Key power metrics are retained in the software, including circuit phase type, distribution voltage, failover current, nominal power supply, and more. The software automatically checks the power system for overload to ensure safer asset deployment in terms of power. By connecting to live power monitoring systems, the software can aggregate and visualize historical data to ensure teams can plan deployments better.

Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin includes crucial data network connectivity information. It provides data on port-to-port connections and connections between devices, such as patch panels, server storage units, switches, firewalls, routers, and enclosures (Figure 5). These connections are visually represented in a diagrammatic and tabulated format. The quantities for copper and fiber network ports can also be defined on IT equipment and racks.

Data network diagram for port-to-port and device connections displayed within the software
Figure 5: Data network diagram for port-to-port and device connections displayed within the software

Upgrade from Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin to Cadence Reality DC Digital Twin and Enable CFD Physics-Based Simulation

When safeguarding data centers, CFD analysis offers data center operators additional insight in making informed capacity planning decisions and assessing long-term effects on data center resiliency. Physics-based simulation, powered by CFD, allows the cooling load and airflow to be accurately considered in capacity utilization and deployment decisions. Cadence Reality DC Asset Twin users can opt to engage in additional project-based simulation services or upgrade to the fully calibrated Cadence Reality DC Digital Twin to run regular simulations and maximize data center performance.

Cadence Services and Support

  • Cadence application engineers can answer your technical questions by telephone, email, or internet – they can also provide technical assistance and custom training.
  • Cadence-certified instructors teach more than 70 courses and bring their real-world experience into the classroom.
  • More than 25 Internet Learning Series (iLS) online courses allow you the flexibility of training at your own computer via the internet.
  • Cadence Online Support gives you 24x7 online access to a knowledgebase of the latest solutions, technical documentation, software downloads, and more.
  • For more information, please visit support and training.