Cavea Identification introduces innovation for IT asset monitoring 
German RFID solutions supplier Cavea Identification GmbH is introducing a new innovation, Intelligent IT Server Rack, which uses RFID technology to monitor IT assets. The solution is the only one on the market applying the same technology to enable IT asset identification in any place and at almost any distance. Cavea’s solution combines the advantages of UHF RFID with easy installation and passive wireless sensing, exploiting UPM Trap™ UHF RFID tags. The UPM Trap™ tag is ideal for tagging small UHF near-field items and for bulk near-field reading.
The solution architecture is based on the electronic product code (EPC) global concept, and each object is labelled with a unique identifier, the EPC. Likewise, each IU slot is labelled with a sequential position identifier (SPI) and each rack with a special EPC known as a global location number (GLN). The combination of these IDs makes it possible to monitor physical IT objects within a DC and based on a standardized XML schema, each IU slot can be linked to and from almost any system.
IT asset monitoring with RFID doesn’t stop at the rack door. Depending on the degree of standardization (e.g. SAP) and the capabilities of the customer’s back-end administration, the entire lifecycle of assets can be tracked throughout the supply chain. IT rack inventorying can be executed automatically in around five seconds per rack, and integrated seamlessly with logistics and financial controlling.
Customers will benefit from a significant reduction in overall IT costs and a more efficient use of resources and equipment, while inventorying can be implemented without manual interaction. IT components that are moved can be automatically tracked, and automated security routines and checks for IT hardware can be enforced.
Due to the very simple antenna construction, installation of a Cavea-based RFID rack module is also possible in existing installations from different vendors, even in systems already configured and running. The Cavea RFID system can also function as the backbone for passive wireless sensors inside and outside the rack. RFID tags and wireless sensors are able to communicate via the same reader and antenna system in the rack, and simply by adding RFID/sensor tags to the rack the implementation allows almost any combination of new processes.
“Based on standard UHF RFID technology, we link each rack slot to the Internet of Things. This gives operational, administrational and financial organizations an almost real-time view over the inventory. A DC of any size can be audit-ready at any point in time,” says Dieter Kilian, General Manager, Cavea Identification GmhH.
