HP updates dependency mapping software

Tech giant HP has updated its dependency mapping software to help customers figure out which departments are using which systems and applications, to enable chargeback programmes and other management tasks, says TechWorld.

Dependency mapping helps data centre architects uncover the connections between applications, servers and storage systems, so that when they consolidate systems, replace legacy gear or do virtualisation projects they don't accidentally break something in the process.

“We've found that most data centre managers know with a fair degree of accuracy about 80% of what's in their data centre. It's the other 20% that keeps them up at night,” says Jimmy Augustine, a group marketing manager in HP's software division.

PC World says HP's tool is called Discovery and Dependency Mapping Advanced Edition (DDMA). A data centre architect can enter an IP range and the software examines SNMP traffic, data packets and other data to map out the topology of the IT equipment. It also looks at executable files on servers to see which applications are installed.

The new feature is what HP calls a collector portal, a Web interface that lists the applications and dependencies the software has uncovered. Customers then manually enter which departments and services are using which applications.

The data can be used for chargeback purposes, because companies can now see what resources are being used by each department.