Nexcom NexBlade HS416

So far the NexBlade is looking good, but we found it seriously lacking in the remote monitoring and management department. With no support for browser access, the system can be accessed only by using the bundled Nexcare utility. The utility provides basic levels of access and can connect to the chassis management blade over the network or COM port. It opens with a simple table revealing the status of the chassis fans, temperatures and voltages. Simple graphics show all installed components, and individual power supplies can be switched on and off. Server blade power can be controlled, the blade servers can also be hard reset, the boot device sequence selected and thresholds for fans, temperatures and voltages used to send out email alerts. At present, Nexcom doesn't offer any software for OS imaging and deployment. However, we were advised it's working with Amphus with a view to providing a customised version of its ManageSite software as bundled with the Tatung servers.

There's no doubt Nexcom is delivering a very good hardware specification for the price, especially as the review unit included pairs of dual Xeon and dual Opteron-equipped server blades. Unfortunately, management facilities are its Achilles heel. A comparison with RLX's superb Control Tower 6G shows how Nexcom needs to address this area if it wants to take on the big players in this market.

Author: Dave Mitchell