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Ralph’s DC Visualization provides an interactive graphical interface for managing your data center floor plan and rack layouts.

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Overview

The DC Visualization module lets you:
  • View data center floor plans with rack positions
  • Manage rack placement with drag-and-drop
  • Inspect individual rack contents and layouts
  • Add and configure racks directly from the visual interface
  • View both front and back of rack equipment

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Accessing DC Visualization

Navigate to Data Center visualization from the main menu to view your data center layout.

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Managing Your Data Center Layout

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Finding and Viewing Racks

1

Select Data Center

From the DC Visualization page, select your data center from the dropdown.You’ll see all racks displayed on a grid representing the floor plan.
2

Locate Specific Racks

Racks are displayed with their names and positions on the grid.Click on any rack to open the detailed rack inspector view.

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Edit Mode

Enter Edit mode to make changes to your data center layout:
1

Enable Edit Mode

Click the Edit button in the top toolbar.
2

Modify Rack Positions

  • Drag racks to new locations on the grid
  • Rotate racks using the rotate button
  • Rename racks by clicking the pencil icon
3

Save Changes

Click Save when you’re done to persist your changes.

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Adding Multiple Racks

You can quickly add several racks at once:
1

Enter Edit Mode

Click Edit to enable editing.
2

Add Racks

Click on empty grid positions with the “plus cursor” to add new racks.Each click creates a new rack at that position.
3

Configure Racks

Edit each rack individually:
  • Set the rack name
  • Configure orientation
  • Adjust position if needed
4

Save All Changes

Click Save to create all the new racks.

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Rack Inspector

The Rack Inspector provides a detailed view of individual rack contents.

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Opening the Rack Inspector

Click on any rack in the DC visualization to open the inspector view.

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Rack Inspector Features

Dual-Side View
  • View both front and back sides of the rack simultaneously
  • See equipment orientation (front-mounted vs. back-mounted)
Equipment Details
  • Asset model and specifications
  • Service environment information
  • U position and slot allocation
  • Quick links to asset details
Visual Layout
  • Color-coded assets by service or status
  • Blade system slot visualization
  • Empty U positions clearly marked

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Editing Assets from Rack View

From the Rack Inspector:
  1. Click Edit asset on any equipment
  2. The asset form opens with all details
  3. Make your changes
  4. Save to update the asset
Changes appear immediately in the visualization.

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Data Center Grid Configuration

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Extending the Layout

To accommodate more racks:
1

Go to Data Center Settings

Navigate to Data Center → Data Centers and select your data center.
2

Adjust Grid Size

Modify the grid dimensions:
  • Columns - Number of horizontal positions
  • Rows - Number of vertical positions
3

Save Configuration

Click Save to apply the new grid size.

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Rack Configuration

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Rack Properties

When configuring a rack, you can set:
  • Name - Unique rack identifier
  • Server Room - The room where the rack is located
  • Orientation - Direction the rack faces
  • Column/Row Number - Grid position for visualization
  • Accessories - Patch panels, organizers, etc.

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Rack Position and Orientation

Position (U-Level)
  • Standard equipment: U position (1-42 typically)
  • Back-mounted equipment: Position 0
  • Blade servers: Use slot numbers for same U position
Orientation
  • Controls which direction the rack faces in the floor plan
  • Affects cable management and access planning

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Asset Visualization Features

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Color Coding

Assets can be color-coded by:
  • Service environment
  • Asset status
  • Model category
  • Custom tags

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Blade System Visualization

For blade chassis:
  • Individual blade servers shown in separate slots
  • All blades at the same U position
  • Slot numbers displayed clearly
  • Empty slots marked as available

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Interactive Elements

  • Hover - See quick asset information
  • Click - Open detailed asset view
  • Search - Find specific assets by barcode/name

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Video Tutorial

Watch this video demonstration of the Rack Inspector:

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Common Workflows

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Planning a New Installation

1

Check Available Space

Use the DC Visualization to identify racks with free U positions.
2

Reserve Position

Note the rack name and available U positions for your new equipment.
3

Add the Asset

Create the asset with the planned rack and position (see DCIM Guide).
4

Verify Placement

Return to DC Visualization to confirm the asset appears correctly.

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Reorganizing Racks

1

Document Current State

Take note of current rack positions and equipment.
2

Enter Edit Mode

Enable editing in DC Visualization.
3

Move Racks

Drag racks to their new positions on the floor plan.
4

Update Labels

Rename racks if needed to reflect new naming conventions.
5

Save and Verify

Save changes and verify all equipment is correctly positioned.

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Tips and Best Practices

Plan Your Grid: Size your data center grid larger than current needs to allow for expansion.
Use Consistent Naming: Adopt a rack naming convention (e.g., “DC1-R01”) for easy identification.
Regular Reviews: Periodically review the visualization to ensure it matches physical reality.
Remember to click Save when in Edit mode - changes are not automatically persisted!
  • DCIM - Managing data center assets
  • Dashboards - Visualize asset data

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