Out-of-band characterization of server utilization via remote access card virtual media for auto-enterprise scaling

A method for characterizing server utilization out-of-band via remote access card virtual media, the method comprising:

• prompting a user to select at least one desired parameter comprising at least one of at least one performance parameter and at least one process parameter, at least one polling interval, and at least one managed host server system to observe, using a remote application running on a remote management client;
• sending the selected at least one desired parameter and the selected at least one polling interval to a remote access card disposed in the selected at least one managed host server system, using the remote application running on the remote management client via at least one remote access card administrative command through an out-of-band dedicated remote access card network interface card;
• connecting a plug-and-play virtual drive, having an auto-run data gathering executable, to the selected at least one managed host server system at the selected at least one polling interval via a plug-and-play virtual media interface between the remote access card and the selected at least one managed host server system, using firmware of the remote access card, the plug-and-play virtual drive emulating at least one of a remote drive disposed in the remote management client and a local virtual key disposed in the remote access card;
• collecting the selected at least one desired parameter from the selected at least one managed host server system at the selected at least one polling interval, using the auto-run data gathering executable that writes to the at least one of the remote drive and the local virtual key at least one result of the collection of the at least one preselected desired parameter;
• and
• detecting the at least one result of the collection of the selected at least one desired parameter written to the at least one of the remote drive and the local virtual key, using the remote application.

A method for characterizing server utilization out-of-band via remote access card virtual media for auto-enterprise scaling, the method comprising:

• prompting a user to select at least one desired parameter comprising at least one of at least one performance parameter and at least one process parameter, at least one polling interval, and at least one managed host server system to observe, using a remote application running on a remote management client;
• sending the selected at least one desired parameter and the selected at least one polling interval to a remote access card disposed in the selected at least one managed host server system, using the remote application running on the remote management client via at least one remote access card administrative command through an out-of-band dedicated remote access card network interface card;
• connecting a plug-and-play virtual drive, having an auto-run data gathering executable, to the selected at least one managed host server system at the selected at least one polling interval via a plug-and-play virtual media interface between the remote access card and the selected at least one managed host server system, using firmware of a service processor and a virtual media engine of the remote access card, the plug-and-play virtual drive emulating at least one of a remote drive disposed in the remote management client and a local virtual key disposed in the remote access card;
• collecting the selected at least one desired parameter from the selected at least one managed host server system at the selected at least one polling interval, using the auto-run data gathering executable that writes a performance snapshot text file to the at least one of the remote drive and the local virtual key, the performance snapshot text file comprising at least one result of the collection of the selected at least one desired parameter;
• repeating the collection of the selected at least one desired parameter from the selected at least one managed host server system at the selected at least one polling interval, using the auto-run data gathering executable, using the firmware of the service processor and the virtual media engine of the remote access card until the remote application sends at least one remote access card administrative command to stop collecting the selected at least one desired parameter from the selected at least one managed host server system;
• detecting the performance snapshot text file comprising the at least one result of the collection of the selected at least one desired parameter written to the at least one of the remote drive and the local virtual key, using the remote application that copies and parses the performance snapshot text file comprising the at least one result of the collection of the selected at least one desired parameter for at least one relevant field and populates at least one of a spreadsheet and a database for at least one of plotting purposes and analysis purposes;
• and
• analyzing at least one trend from the at least one of the spreadsheet and the database to at least one of predict when the selected at least one managed host server system should be scaled, predict at least one impact of at least one upgrade before purchase, do a cost/benefit analysis, and link to a vendor for at least one sales recommendation.