Introduction
Telemetry aids Object First in monitoring Out-of-the-Box Immutability (Ootbi) systems, helping us to provide users with disruption-free backup operations. By collecting and analyzing Ootbi operational data in real-time, telemetry accelerates the speed of issue resolution and improves operational efficiency.
What is Telemetry?
Telemetry is a service that collects, transmits, and analyzes operational data from Ootbi systems, allowing for effective tracking of both hardware and software performance, including system anomalies or failures. That information is subsequently sent from Ootbi clusters to Object First for real-time analysis. Playing a powerful role in improving support operations, telemetry paves the way for a proactive rather than a reactive approach to system health.
How Object First Uses Telemetry
At Object First, telemetry is a key feature of our storage solution that enhances system monitoring and support for all Ootbi appliances with valid support agreements. It requires outbound internet access via Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) on port 443 to send operational data to Object First. When enabled, telemetry reports provide updates to Object First support on hardware health, including heartbeat and operational status information.
As you’ll discover in the Benefits [SB1] section, telemetry simplifies troubleshooting, shares system monitoring responsibility with Object First, automates update notifications, and automates issue reporting. By tapping into the power of telemetry, organizations can refine Ootbi operations, avoid operational hiccups, and reduce IT workloads.
Details on the Data Collection Process
What we collect
At Object First, we gather only operational information related to the performance of your Ootbi environment to maintain optimal system functionality.
The information we gather includes:
Hardware Monitoring
Disk Status: Monitoring the condition and performance of your storage disks.
RAM Health: Tracking memory usage and integrity to ensure efficient operation.
Network Interface Issues: Identifying any potential problems with network connectivity that could impact performance.
Ootbi S3 and Cluster Operations
Capacity Monitoring: Assessing resources to help you manage capacity effectively.
Operational Logs and Service Status: Providing alerts and warnings, including on/off notifications, to keep you informed of system status.
What we don’t collect
We never collect backup data, including bucket contents or authentication credentials. Only hardware and service operational data is gathered. Telemetry does not provide remote access or remote management, ensuring client confidentiality and security.
Telemetry does not support inbound network access, and all communication is secure and one-way. Object First adheres to high security standards, including encryption and restricted access.
How we collect it
Telemetry data is transmitted securely to Object First telemetry servers through encrypted HTTPS[ES2] connections (port 443) and is automatically collected every six hours or immediately after critical events to ensure quick responses. Rest assured that this doesn’t burden your Ootbi’s operations or consume extra resources. Additionally, customers are welcome to inspect telemetry packages to gain insights into shared data.
Benefits of Using Telemetry
Simplifies troubleshooting and resolution processes
One key advantage of telemetry is its ability to detect and prevent issues before they escalate. By providing detailed data on system operations, telemetry enables Object First to monitor system health as actions unfold, allowing for early identification of problems. Furthermore, analyzing past telemetry data helps to spot patterns that indicate future issues.
With access to performance metrics and error logs, Object First can quickly diagnose issues and streamline data gathering, minimizing the need for service calls. Remote monitoring cuts down on on-site visits, speeding up resolution times. Ultimately, telemetry improves communication and helps manage systems more efficiently.
Proactive monitoring of capacity consumption
Telemetry allows for trend analysis, both for short and longer terms. If rapid growth in backup data or capacity limits being reached are detected, Object First can proactively reach out to discuss potential solutions. Our objective is not to sell additional storage but to optimize your storage utilization, including refining your Veeam settings to help you operate within your existing resources.
Shifts the burden of administration
Automatic updates & ticket generation
Once telemetry is enabled, your Ootbi automatically detects available updates, relieving your IT team of the need for constantly monitoring for available software updates. Conversely, if telemetry is not activated, your team will have to manually monitor for updates, which could result in delays and disruptions to your business operations if not updated in time. When telemetry is enabled, your Ootbi systems trigger automatic service ticket generation upon hardware failures. This significantly reduces the administrative burden of issue detection and reporting on your end and enables our team to immediately provide guidance on reported issues.
Note: If telemetry isn’t enabled, issues will only come to light when your team identifies them, reaches out for assistance, and provides us with data logs for inspection. Without telemetry, Object First can only react—and only when your IT team detects and reports an issue.
Object First Recommendation
We recommend enabling telemetry and allowing outbound internet access to improve Ootbi operations. This optimization incurs no extra cost, transfers administrative burdens from your IT team to Object First, and improves Ootbi operations without compromising data security. In a nutshell, it’s one of the easiest ways to get the most out of your Ootbi.
To Wrap Up
Telemetry is a pivotal tool for all Ootbi users, guaranteeing optimal system performance and minimizing unresolved issues. With telemetry, you can take a proactive approach to managing your Ootbi operations.
