Data center control plane provider, RackN, from Austin, Texas, has released RackN Digital Rebar Platform version 4.4. The new release includes two new customer-driven features with cloud-like functionality. Firstly, resource pooling which would simplify bare metal consumption APIs. Secondly, secure boot which is the last link in an end-to-end security automation chain.
“Fortune 500 companies are choosing RackN Digital Rebar Platform as the foundation for their next generation infrastructure designs, and this version of RackN moves closer to delivering the vision of a completely self-managed, autonomous and continuously integrated data center,” said Rob Hirschfeld, co-founder and CEO of RackN. “Our Infrastructure as Code offering automates service chaining to enable control and security throughout the entire management process – implementing a control plane for heterogeneous infrastructure creating full control and deep economic gains.”
Bare Metal Cloud, Automation & Security
As said, RackN’s Digital Rebar v4.4 provides users with two new capabilities. In more detail, these include the following:
Infrastructure Resource Pooling – providing APIs that create a ‘bare metal cloud’ consumable by tools like Terraform. Pooling creates capabilities that abstract Machines into resource groups that can be allocated generically from a single API making the system more elastic. This functionality would enable cloud-like behavior because operators can request a Machine based on an attribute map rather before assigning a specific Machine(s). The Pooling system also provides operator Workflows for allocation and reallocation processes.
Benefits for operators would include controls and transparency to monitor while optimizing and managing end-user consumption in a scalable way. This balance reflects the RackN focus on self-management by helping infrastructure operators create SaaS like offerings.
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Secure Boot – ensuring customers no longer have to choose between security or automation. Previously, most companies disregarded the risk of disabling the TPM because it would be difficult to automate. This created security risks compromising operating systems especially in edge locations, says RackN. Compliance issues emerge. RackN would solve this flaw by enabling an intrinsically trusted, data center out of the box.
RackN’s Digital Rebar version 4.4 specifically, allows for fully automated processes from first boot to full cluster in “under an hour with advanced features making infrastructure secure by default.” A 100% compliance pass will now be standard. Additionally, out of band management passwords, tls certs, VLAN will all be secured by default with this new upgrade.
