* The DCML's mission
It’s a pretty tall task – integrating multivendor components of a large-scale data center. But that is the mission of the Data Center Markup Language.
This week’s Technology Update (https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2004/102504techupdate.html) takes a look at DCML – a proposed XML-based standard for describing the various components running in a data center and how those components interoperate. The proposed DCML standard will provide an inventory of data center elements, describe how those pieces interoperate and define the various policies that bind them together.
It encompasses a range of data center gear, including network and storage components; software infrastructure and applications; and Unix, Linux, Windows and other servers.
With this information tied together, companies will be able to more easily reproduce, rebuild or re-provision any portion of their data center environment.
Users will be able to automate time-consuming processes such as deploying, upgrading and patching servers. Also, for disaster-recovery purposes, DCML can be used as a blueprint to reproduce a complete data center infrastructure – including component dependencies, device configurations, operational rules and management processes.
Recently the specification’s ownership became part of the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards where it is expected to be finalized next year.
