Proactive Communications, a provider of enterprise-class communication capabilities, reportedly announced that it is deploying a new automated remote management system that uses satellite data links provided by Iridium Communications Inc. for out-of-band backup access to remote communication network sites.

 

Data Technology Solutions, an Iridium value-added reseller, is providing the system, which uses ARM technology developed by Uplogix (News - Alert), an Iridium value-added manufacturer. The Uplogix system relies on Iridium's global satellite circuit-switched data service.

 

Deployed in the operations center, the Uplogix Control Center delivers real-time monitoring and management capabilities, offering a unified view of what’s occurring in a distributed infrastructure. As an element manager for Uplogix ARM (News - Alert) appliances, the control center also serves as the gateway between the SRM appliances in the network and existing IT management systems.

 

The control center is deployed on a pre-configured, dual CPU, rack-mountable server, and includes an embedded Oracle (News - Alert) database engine. With its Web-based graphical user interface, control center puts IT administrators in control of real-time data to easily manage, configure, and control all network devices and servers connected to Uplogix ARM appliances.

 

'The Iridium (News - Alert) satellite data link acts as a secure ‘back door' to provide a secondary means of accessing devices and systems if the primary connection has been lost,' Michael Guidroz, president of DTS (News - Alert), said. 'This ensures rapid restoration of service to the network, as well as a substantial reduction in IT support costs.'

 

'Our mission-critical satellite communication sites are located in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, natural-disaster areas and remote geographic locations, which are not readily accessible for maintenance and repair,' Larry Hall, chief operations officer of Proactive Communications, said. 'With Uplogix's Iridium-based ARM, our customers can restore network connectivity within minutes, without dispatching a technician to the location. It also gives our customers unprecedented visibility into the status of their network nodes.'

 

'Our ARM solution combines the local access and control of a console server, the in-depth monitoring and diagnostics of systems management software and the intelligence of an on-site technician into an integrated remote management appliance,' Mark Piening, vice president of marketing, Uplogix, said. 'We have designed it to ensure internal security and management policies are always observed, even during a network outage.'

 

 'Iridium's global coverage area, reliable network and low-latency satellite circuit-switched data service, with very small, low-cost hardware, provides an ideal medium for this out-of-band solution,' Greg Ewert, executive vice president, global distribution channels, Iridium, said.. 'It's another great example of how our growing ecosystem of value-added partners is developing and deploying new Iridium-enabled technologies to solve real-world problems for users around the world.'