Debugging issues with DDF files in Data Center Operation

Terminology

DCO: Data Center Operation

DCE: Data Center Expert

Device: A physical piece of equipment that we monitor, for example, power, temperature or humidity on.

Sensor: A measuring entity for a device, for example current on phase L1, return air humidity.

Measurement: A specific measurement for a sensor, has a timestamp.

Sensor Mapping (DCO): For power distribution devices there is a feature in DCO where you can take a specific sensor and say which circuit that sensor monitors. This is called sensor mapping
and is not the same as what happens in the DDF files.

Typical steps to verify that the DFF is correct

1. Verify if the device shows up in Data Center Operation

Go to Planning > Device Association > Unassociated Devices.

If the devices do not appear in DCO, check the following:
- Verify that the external system configuration points to the correct Data Center Expert server.
- Verify that the device is in Data Center Expert, and verify that you can see the devices using the DCE web services.
- The device types that DCO does not understand are shown with type Unknown. See DCE Sensor Mapping to DCO

2. Verify that temperature and humidity sensors are shown in DCO

The sensors are listed underneath each devices in the Unassociated Devices view. It is not necessary to associate the device to see the temperature and humidity sensors.

Only temperature and humidity sensors that have a sensor type in the list below are recognized by DCO.
Temperature sensor types:
EXTERNAL_TEMPERATURE
SUPPLY_AIR_TEMPERATURE
RETURN_AIR_TEMPERATURE
INTEGRATED_TEMPERATURE
RACK_INLET_TEMPERATURE
UNIT_TEMPERATURE

Humidity sensor types:
EXTERNAL_HUMIDITY
SUPPLY_AIR_HUMIDITY
RETURN_AIR_HUMIDITY
INTEGRATED_HUMIDITY
UNIT_HUMIDITY

Note

Normally when you associate a device from the unassociated devices view, the device disappears from the list. The devices however remain in the list if it has related temperature or humidity sensors as they are shown as children in the tree structure.

Note

Temperature and humidity sensors are only shown when the 'Retrieve sensors' checkbox on the second page in the configuration wizard is checked.

3. Verify that power and amps measurements are shown in DCO

On the device of interest, right-click and choose Properties. In the properties dialogue, unfold the External Systems entry and select the Device subpage.

The power and amps measurements should show here. It is not necessary to associate the device to see if the power and amps measurements are recognized.

For the measurements to show a number of requirements must be satisfied:

• The DDF file must list the InputPhaseCount and OutputPhaseCount, and they are expected to be the same. Furthermore the BankCount is also needed in some cases.
• The following power sensors are recognised by DCO: 
  • OUTPUT_POWER_WATTS
  • OUTPUT_POWER_TOTAL_WATTS
  • MODULE_OUTPUT_POWER
  • MODULE_BREAKER_POWER
• The following amp sensors are recognized by DCO: 
  • MODULE_BREAKER_CURRENT
  • OUTPUT_CURRENT
  • OUTPUT_CURRENT_TOTAL
  • INPUT_CURRENT
• Make sure that the DDF adheres to the following table

Example list of power sensors and how DCO understands them

Single phase rack PDU or phase-phase rack PDU, with one bank (PhaseCount: 1, BankCount: 1):

Single phase rack PDU or phase-phase rack PDU, with three banks (PhaseCount: 1, BankCount: 3):

Three phase rack PDU, with one bank (PhaseCount: 3, BankCount: 1):

 Modular PDU (PhaseCount: 3, BankCount: 3):

Next steps

If the correct sensor types are not available for use in DCO, you can request a DDF modification.

Please note that we cannot provide a timeline for these requests.