Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) with SparxEA

[Viking]

Hello,

I was looking for a ready-to-use DCIM-solution within SparxEA, but I did not find it.

So was thinking about implementing DCIM on my own.

The target solution should look like as described below (if my description is unclear there is a nice video showing what I am looking for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sHGR-8MOM):
•   Modelling of racks, patch panels, switches, cables, SFPs, and the rest.
•   Every item that has to be managed is an element (e.g. ports).
•   Also complex “elements” (like racks) should appear in the toolbox.
•   A grid would be useful. The grid should help to check how an element fits into another, e.g. a rack provides 42 RU and a patch panel consumes 2 RU. Furthermore also depth and width should be checked.

So my questions are:
(A) For my understanding complex elements (several single elements) can be created by (Profile) Helpers, a Model Wizard or via scripting. Can Profile Helpers be created by myself? How?
(B) How can fitting checks (grid) be implemented? Only by scripts? Can these checks be added to the (profile) Helper (see (A))?

Many thanks in advance, V.

[Geert Bellekens]

With "profile helper" you mean the ones you use to edit you stereotypes or toolboxes?
Those are completely custom. You can make your own helpers by writing an add-in and catching the doubleclick event, or add your own context menu.

To implement validation checks you can either use my EA-Validator add-in, or write your own add-in or scripts.

If you are writing an add-in to support building your model, you can include the validations as well.

Geert

[Viking]

With "profile helper" you mean the ones you use to edit you stereotypes or toolboxes?
Those are completely custom. You can make your own helpers by writing an add-in and catching the doubleclick event, or add your own context menu.
To implement validation checks you can either use my EA-Validator add-in, or write your own add-in or scripts.
If you are writing an add-in to support building your model, you can include the validations as well.
Geert

Many thanks for your reply, @Geert.

Because you say "doubleclick" I suppose we are talking about different things. The "Profile Helpers" are in the Toolbox "Profile". If I drag-and-drop for example "Add Toolbox Page" onto a diagram, it creates 2 Elements and 1 Relationship. This is what I mean with "complex element". In my case I would like to create a box with 42 ports in it, so 43 elements.

The question is: how can I create a Toolbox element that behaves like a Profile Helper.

Another question is: can I catch the event when a element (in this case the complex element above) is dragged into another element (composite / child: the shape of the addressed element changes than to tell the user, that it is the current "addressee")? Then I could implement checks (like EA does for composites).

[Geert Bellekens]

With "profile helper" you mean the ones you use to edit you stereotypes or toolboxes?
Those are completely custom. You can make your own helpers by writing an add-in and catching the doubleclick event, or add your own context menu.
To implement validation checks you can either use my EA-Validator add-in, or write your own add-in or scripts.
If you are writing an add-in to support building your model, you can include the validations as well.
Geert

Many thanks for your reply, @Geert.

Because you say "doubleclick" I suppose we are talking about different things. The "Profile Helpers" are in the Toolbox "Profile". If I drag-and-drop for example "Add Toolbox Page" onto a diagram, it creates 2 Elements and 1 Relationship. This is what I mean with "complex element". In my case I would like to create a box with 42 ports in it, so 43 elements.

The question is: how can I create a Toolbox element that behaves like a Profile Helper.

Another question is: can I catch the event when a element (in this case the complex element above) is dragged into another element (composite / child: the shape of the addressed element changes than to tell the user, that it is the current "addressee")? Then I could implement checks (like EA does for composites).

The term used for that is "pattern" I think.

Geert

[Viking]

The term used for that is "pattern" I think.
Geert

That looks similar, but not exactly what I am looking for. Maybe I am wrong.

For my understanding a pattern would create a rack. Another pattern would create the switch on an addtional diagram (maybe it is possible to create the switch in the diagram of the rack). Than I copy and paste the switch to the diagram of the rack.

But in this case I would not use the toolbox. It would be great if I could implement the same functionality as the Profile Helpers.

[Viking]

@Geert's answer is really helpful. But using the toolbox is better known by user than using patterns.

Does anybody know if the same behavior as the Profile Helpers (creating more than 1 element at once) can be implemented by myself? Probably only the Spaxians know the answer.

[qwerty]

More than one only through a pattern which can be shown in the toolbox. Or probably with an add-in.

q.

[Geert Bellekens]

IIRC you can add patterns that create multiple elements to the toolbox.

I haven't used that myself, but it should be documented in the manual somewhere.

Geert

[qwerty]

Yes, I use it for good and bad and it works as designed. It's ok but I prefer to limit its usage.

q.

[Viking]

More than one only through a pattern which can be shown in the toolbox. Or probably with an add-in.
q.

Thank you @qwerty.

Profile Helpers create more than one element and they are part of the toolbox. So are Profile Helpers a built-in technology?

[qwerty]

Profile helpers are some code in EA.exe.

q.

[Viking]

IIRC you can add patterns that create multiple elements to the toolbox.
I haven't used that myself, but it should be documented in the manual somewhere.
Geert

O.K. If I can add patterns to the toolbox then maybe this is what I am looking for. I found this only as part of the Model Wizard. I will try to find your suggestion.

[Viking]

Found !

A guy called qwerty_so described it here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/44586187/sparx-enterprise-architetc-pattern-integration-with-a-custom-toolbox

Thanks @Querty(_so).

[qwerty]

Well, that was me too. Sorry, my memory isn't that good any more :-)

q.

P.S. you could have given me an upvote ;-)