[Digitalor White Paper 2] Evolution and Analysis of Data Center Asset Management Technologies

Classification of Cabinet-Level Asset Management Technologies

First-Generation Technology: Contact-Based Electronic Tags

Developed using "1-Wire" technology from the 1980s and 90s, these tags rely on physical I/O line connections. They involve multiple contact points on a circuit; currently, only Dallas Semiconductor (USA) produces these chips. Major issues include communication interruptions or severe equipment damage caused by wear, dirt, oxidation, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) at the contact points. Furthermore, because the chips are supplied by a single source, supply chain costs remain high. The lack of an industrial cluster effect has prevented large-scale market adoption.

Second-Generation Technology: Non-Contact RFID Tags (Contactless Smart Cards)

Non-contact cards do not require physical I/O connections, effectively solving the poor user experience, high maintenance costs, low reliability, and high failure rates associated with first-generation contact tags. Represented by NXP’s 13.56MHz technology, RFID smart cards and tags have achieved massive market

scale over the last decade; currently, 13.56MHz RFID-based bank cards are used globally. However, because IT assets in a cabinet are placed very

close to one another,　RFID readers often "misread" adjacent tags. Consequently, data accuracy typically peaks at only 80%–90%.

Third-Generation Technology: MC-RFID Passive Active RFID Tags

Invented in 2013 by James Liu, MC-RFID is the world’s first RFID technology to achieve millimeter-level precision positioning.

It solves the dual challenges of application reliability and data accuracy—two bottlenecks that previously hindered the large-scale adoption of

automated RFID asset positioning and inventory products in data centers. MC-RFID represents a disruptive innovation in the field of intelligent management.

Summary

In conclusion, the primary issue with First-Generation technology is poor reliability; the primary issue with Second-Generation technology is

poor data accuracy. Third-Generation technology (MC-RFID) introduces targeted technical improvements based on its predecessors,resolving their

respective flaws to ensure both high reliability and high accuracy.

The Value of U-Level Asset Management Technology

• U-Level Real-Time Positioning: Utilizing original MC-RFID technology, the system achieves precise U-level positioning with 100% accuracy. By providing acoustic and optical guidance, it helps data center managers find target devices instantly, significantly shortening maintenance time and improving operational efficiency.

• High-Volume Rapid Onboarding: When IT assets are mounted in the cabinet, the U-level intelligent module detects the electronic tag information and automatically synchronizes the asset data to the management software. The product is designed for simplicity—labels are "plug-and-play." Using the provided handheld terminal to bind tags to assets saves over 90% of the time compared to manual entry.

• Automated Synchronization of Asset Changes: Whether new assets are added, old ones are decommissioned, or equipment is moved from one cabinet to another, the system automatically identifies the removal and re-installation locations. It generates log entries and uploads them to the platform automatically.

• Real-Time Cabinet Capacity Management: The system monitors the U-level utilization of individual cabinets and the entire data center in real-time. This allows for quick queries of available U-space, optimizing cabinet capacity and maximizing the customer's Return on Investment (ROI).

• Real-Time Asset Inventory: Thanks to its distributed architecture, the system performs inventories extremely quickly—within 3 seconds. Importantly, the inventory time does not increase as the number of assets grows.

• Real-Time Asset Security Monitoring: If an unauthorized change occurs, alarms are triggered immediately both at the corresponding U-slot on the management module and in the system backend. The system also sends immediate alerts if an asset is moved out of the machine room.

Comprehensive Benefit Analysis of the MC-RFID Asset Management System

1）運維人力節省39%                         2）人力成本節省53%

Practical Application Results of the MC-RFID Asset Management System

A major internet enterprise implemented the MC-RFID-based U-level automated asset management system and services in its data center. As a result, the client can now monitor IT equipment in real-time, significantly enhancing device security. Additionally, they can monitor the capacity of every cabinet in real-time, improving resource utilization and achieving fully automated operations and maintenance (O&M)

• • A financial enterprise implemented a U-level IoT digital system based on MC-RFID, effectively enhancing its real-time monitoring capabilities for cabinet resources and IT equipment, while improving both O&M management efficiency and return on investment (ROI).

• A large enterprise customer integrated the MC-RFID-based U-level asset management system into its micro-module products. This enabled automated management of cabinets and IT assets, marking the start of the data center's evolution toward automation and intelligence.

Conclusion:

The U-level asset management system, powered by MC-RFID technology, enables customers to achieve automated management of facility equipment. By providing real-time monitoring of devices and cabinets, it effectively enhances O&M efficiency, reduces operational expenditures, improves profitability,

and guarantees asset security.