Environment Monitor Introduction

Environment monitors are available with widely differing capabilities. This section outlines the main features and provides a summary table matching the features to the specific make and model of monitor.

Integrated website

All network enabled environment monitors have an integrated website. The capabilities of the website tend to reflect the underlying features of the environment monitor.

Integrated websites are particularly helpful for managing remote locations. You can place the monitor anywhere on your network and still be able to access it as if it was in the same room.

Environment monitors with integrated websites also mean that you don’t need to install third party applications, you only need a standard web browser.

SNMP

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a standard for managing network enabled devices.

Any environment monitor supporting SNMP can be integrated into a wide range of network management software like HP OpenView, SolarWinds Orion or Nagios.

Log readings

Whilst the primary purpose of most environment monitors is to alert you to unusual environmental conditions, retaining a log of your environmental conditions can be very useful for future planning.

Once the data has been logged you can export the data from the environment monitor using CSV. You can then visualise the data using a tool such as Microsoft Excel or Open Office.

A number of environment monitors can log the environment data as well as graph the information in a highly accessible way. Whilst a data log is very useful, nothing beats a graph for quick and easy comprehension.

Graph

A number of environment monitors can log the environment data as well as graph the information in a highly accessible way. Whilst a data log is very useful, nothing beats a graph for quick and easy comprehension.

Server Shutdown

Whilst a number of environment monitors support sensor controlled relays, able to switch on and off a power supply to a device, few are able to safely shut down servers.

The main drawback of a sensor controlled relay when shutting down a none-abended server is that the server may not be in a state to safely shut down without data loss. By using a safe shutdown the server goes through its normal shutdown procedure that ensures that data is properly written to disk.

A relay can be very useful when a server abend has occurred. An abended server is unlikely to respond to a normal shutdown request.

Models

Sensatronics E4/E16

The Sensatronics E series devices are able to measure temperature only. The Sensatronics E4 can monitor up to 4 temperature probes. The Sensatronics E16 can monitor up to 16 temperature probes.

The temperature probes are available in regular and heavy duty varieties and in a variety of lengths up to a maximum of 2500 feet.

The regular temperature probes are ideal for data centre use in environments with a minimum of electrical interference.

The heavy duty probes have a stainless steel tip with shielded cable and can be used in more electrically noisy environments and outdoors. In fact, one customer used a heavy duty probe down a bore hole 500 metres into the earth!

The Sensatronics E series does not record a temperature log so it is usually combined with third party software, like Intellipool, to provide logging, graphing and alerting functionality.

The unit supports SNMP and is able to generate SNMP traps when a temperature threshold is exceeded.

Sensatronics EM1

The Sensatronics EM1 is an easy to use, fully scaleable environmental monitor that connects directly to your organisation's I.T. network. Probes collect temperature, humidity and/or wetness data and report back to the monitor.

The EM1 unit can support up to 4 temperature or temperature/humidity probes and 4 wetness probes.

The Sensatronics EM1 does not record an environmental log so it is usually combined with third party software, like Intellipool, to provide logging, graphing and alerting functionality.

The unit supports SNMP and is able to generate SNMP traps when an environmental threshold is exceeded.

Sensatronics Senturion

The Senturion is a plug and play 19” rack mount environment monitor. Supplied with built-in temperature, humidity and light sensors. The Senturion can take up to 8 additional probes.

The unit supports SNMP and is able to generate SNMP traps when an environmental threshold is exceeded.

AKCP sensorProbe2/8

The AKCP sensorProbe range provide high quality, fully featured environment monitors with a vast range of probes.

The sensorProbe2 supports up to two external probes. The sensorProbe8 supports up to eight external probes.

The sensorProbe range are highly functional devices that are able to log and graph environmental readings as well as alarm when things go wrong.

All probes are auto-sensed by the environment monitor and use CAT5 cable so that you can use your existing structured cabling to extend the range of your monitoring.

The sensorProbe8 is also available with either 20 or 60 extra dry contact ports.

AKCP securityProbe8

The AKCP securityProbe is a high quality, fully featured environment monitors with a vast range of probes.

The securityProbe8 supports up to eight external probes.

The securityProbe8 range are highly functional devices that are able to log and graph environmental readings as well as alarm when things go wrong.

The securityProbe8 supports the addition of a dedicated SMS modem for integrated SMS and MMS alerting.

The securityProbe8 also supports up to four additional cameras so can function as a security solution for your data centre.

All probes are auto-sensed by the environment monitor and use CAT5 cable so that you can use your existing structured cabling to extend the range of your monitoring.

The securityProbe8 is also available with either 20 or 60 extra dry contact ports.

Summary

For a simple and easy way to choose an environment monitor that fits your requirements, please go to the Environment Monitor Product Finder.

[1] The AKCP sensorProbe2 logs probe readings but does not store them in permanent memory. A device restart will lose all logged readings. The sensorProbe8 does log  the readings into permanent memory