Meet Audit-Buddy 

As datacenters host some very expensive and powerful technology, maintenance is crucial. The air going into the servers must be constantly monitored to ensure that it meets the specifications of the machine. If the environment becomes unfavorable, equipment can fail.

This topic is discussed in Purkay Labs' whitepaper, Introducing AUDIT-BUDDY. The paper states that the most common approach that datacenters take in measuring their air levels is to have facility managers walk around with thermometers. Wireless sensors provide another way of collecting data. The problem with these two methods is that the accuracy of the air quality measurements is skewed. These practices add logistical problems and RF clutter to the whitespace around the servers, throwing the readings off.

Massachusetts-based startup Purkay Labs developed Audit-Buddy as a solution to these problems. The company refers to the technology as "the only stand-alone monitor that measures free air quality outside the server rack."

By taking temperature and humidity readings at multiple heights, Audit-Buddy can help facility managers optimize their operating performance and ultimately lower their operating expenses. The device is being marketed as a low-cost alternative to more comprehensive datacenter monitoring systems.

Audit-Buddy uses three TH1 (temperature and humidity) modules with fans to draw external air into the unit so that it can assess the quality of air around the servers. In doing so, hot spots and other irregularities are identified. The data collected by Audit-Buddy is then relayed to facility managers so that they can pinpoint any problems and make the decisions needed to improve the overall efficiency of the datacenter.

Facility managers in a rush can use Audit-Buddy's "QuickScan" mode to conduct a quick survey of the air quality in an area. This mode takes one-minute air samples of different locations to give a detailed assessment. A manager surveying a 5-rack aisle can get the air readings in about 15 minutes. For those with more time on their hands, the "LongScan" mode can be used, which gives time-stamped data for trend analysis and long term monitoring.

A unique feature that comes with Audit-Buddy is the ability to pre-program the TH1 modules. Specific location names can be input into the device and when the air readings for one location are complete, it will prompt the user to move it to the next location by name. It can do this for up to 32 different locations, after which, the information can be saved to a USB flash drive and exported for analysis.

Purkay Labs is highlighting Audit-Buddy's uniqueness, but IBM has come up with a very similar device: a tri-level temperature and humidity measurement system. However, unlike the fixed-location Audit-Buddy, the IBM prototype can navigate the entire datacenter floor, allowing it to create a 3D thermal map of the entire space. Based on the same design as the iRobot Roomba vacuum, this computer-assisted robot can perform a complete survey in about an hour. The data is then fed into IBM software and turned into an efficiency report.

Interestingly, the CEO and founder of Purkay Labs, Indra Purkayastha, was a senior VP of product development at iRobot from 2007 to 2012.

For those on the fence about which of the two devices would fit their datacenter needs best, it comes down to time spent gathering the readings versus time spent moving the device around. Price, of course, also comes into play. The Audit-Buddy retails for around $1,450 while pricing on the IBM robot hasn't been disclosed. The robot is said to have cost about $700 to build, but factoring in development costs, the on-board computer and the software, expect the retail price to be several times that.

In the official press release, Purkayastha said: "Proper data center airflow management is essential for a data center. Purkay Labs designed and developed AUDIT-BUDDY as an inexpensive tool to solve problems experienced by managers of data centers of every size: increasing heat loads and server density. AUDIT-BUDDY enables data-center and IT managers to get a handle on data-center temperature and humidity levels at a price that will satisfy senior management."