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Welcome to the openDCIM WIKI

Data Center Management Basics
Data Centers have been around since the first computers were built, only they weren't called data centers, yet. However, there's a lot of talk about what exactly constitutes a data center. Is a closet with 1 computer in it a data center? What if it's in a cabinet? How about an office with desktop PC's lined up across shelved? Is there a minimum size to qualify as a data center? We, the openDCIM project, have adopted a very simple philosophy around it - if it's important enough for you to want to track it, it's a data center.

That being said, we have a very wide range of "clients" using openDCIM, with a very wide range of experience in data center management. Some of the fields and prompts in the application make some basic assumptions about the knowledge level of the user. To help bridge the knowledge gap, we have some helpful information. Not all of this is directly applicable to openDCIM, but is certainly part of the corpus of knowledge around data center management itself.

Glossary of Common Terms

Standards

Regulations

Client Requirements

 * Web browser that is reasonably standards compliant.
 * We do not support Internet Explorer 8 or earlier, in other words
 * Developers regularly test against the latest IE, Chrome, Mozilla, and Safari
 * Some mobile devices (tablets/phones) work decently. If you want to scan barcodes for input, I suggest looking at Bluetooth enabled scanners (around $200 and up).
 * Javascript must be enabled on your client
 * You must be connected to the network at all times - openDCIM does not work in a batch mode

Getting started

 * Some information about running this Cloud Native (in containers) is at https://wiki.opendcim.org/wiki/index.php/Kubernetes
 * First, make sure that you meet the System Requirements
 * Then, download from http://www.opendcim.org/downloads.html
 * Follow the installation instructions in the README file
 * Set up your database
 * Configure openDCIM to talk to your database
 * Log in for the first time. The first user to log in is the default administrator! (when using Apache authentication)
 * Follow the Configuration guide
 * Setting up background jobs (cron).
 * Ubuntu 15.04 specific installation notes
 * CentOS Installation guide
 * Why doesn't Translation work on my system? Everything is still in English
 * How to add your Site Contact information to the login and main pages.

Several videos exist on YouTube to guide you through the process of setting up and using openDCIM. Check it out here.

Specifically, a video of the installation process is available at:

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Upgrading

 * Simply untar the new version onto your server, configure, and browse to the site. The install.php will automatically run if it is present.  That being said, however, there are a few more steps involved in a "best practices" upgrade.

Integration

 * LDAP for Authentication and Authorization is available as of version 4.2.
 * RESTful API Documentation
 * Synchronizing Templates with the Repository
 * Integrating Local Reports to the Application

Shared Template Repository
One of the really nice bits about openDCIM is that there is a global online repository where other users can submit Device Templates according to the guidelines and then others can download those templates to their own installation. As the userbase for openDCIM grows, so does the repository.

Do not request an API Key for the repository unless you are submitting templates to it - there is no need for an API key if you are only going to pull templates from it.

openDCIM Repository

Basic Navigation

 * The Sidebar
 * Data Center Maps

Site Management

 * Managing People
 * Asset Ownership - Departments
 * Relationship of Department Contacts
 * Bulk Load Operations
 * Managing Data Centers
 * Managing Power Sources
 * Managing Power Panels
 * Creating your FloorPlan
 * Managing Cabinets (The container itself)
 * Navigating Cabinets (The items within the container)
 * Managing Power Strips
 * Managing Infrastructure Components
 * Managing Manufacturers
 * Managing Device Templates

Daily Operations

 * Entering Rack Requests (Users)
 * Completing Rack Requests (Admins)
 * Entering New Devices
 * Reserving Space
 * Documenting Power Connections
 * Documenting Network Connections
 * Creating a Work Order
 * Moving Devices to New Locations
 * The Storage Room (Surplus)