Video recording software captures data center sessions accessed remotely via KVM-over-IP

Aten International (Taipei) has announced the availability of new software that allows data centers to securely record remote access sessions facilitated through the company's KVM-over-IP switches. Aten's Control Center Video Session Recorder (CCVSR) software automatically records a video of the screen display and logs all key strokes and mouse clicks when servers are accessed through KVM-over-IP switch ports. Organizations can utilize CCVSR to trouble-trace IT incidents and audit compliance initiatives.

Aten is positioning CCVSR as a management tool to accompany KVM-over-IP switch installation without the need to install agent software on target servers. The company says the software records everything from the BIOS level to logging in; from running software applications to configuring any part of the operating system -- all actions are recorded and saved without exception. The CCVSR offers a central portal to automatically capture and play back video recordings of all data center resources that are accessed via KVM-over-IP switches. In addition, the software deployment is scalable and flexible to support server room set-ups of all sizes, giving IT managers the ability to start small and expand as needed.

Data centers can utilize CCVSR to capture evidence or trace the root cause of technical issues, playing back previous sessions to troubleshoot and resolve problems. The software can also be used to audit and control compliance procedures to ensure operational integrity. It allows IT managers to review every action that takes place on the server; if there is a server outage, IT managers can determine the root cause of the problem by replaying each user session on the problematic server. This is especially useful for organizations that utilize third-party vendors to support IT functions. The software quickly helps IT managers document every remote KVM session accessed from internal personnel and external contractors, providing full coverage of all actions in a bullet-proof system for future auditing.

"Today's data centers are increasingly complex and often require many different personnel and third-party vendors to ensure business-critical systems and applications are always up and running," explains Kevin Chen, president of Aten International. "With all of these moving parts, there is always the possibility of a technical glitch or human error that can impact operations. Most of the companies are looking for cause and evidence of IT incident and learn from it. With CCVSR, IT managers can easily play back a session and pinpoint where, when and if applicable, who was the root cause of a specific problem. The software is useful for audit and compliance functions."

See also: DCIM: Where the physical and virtual can meet