 | Monday, September 8, 2008
Issue 902 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is the new benchmark test report from ODIN technologies which says passive UHF RFID tags and readers can perform very effectively to track IT assets in data centers and other environments. The tests also found major performance discrepancies among tags and readers, so good performance and system success cannot be taken for granted.
RFID Update is reporting live from Las Vegas today, where RFID World 2008 will officially kick off this evening. Look for a recap of all the announcements made at the show later in the week. In the meantime, if you haven't already, please take our quick (less than seven minutes) survey about marketing in RFID.
Lastly, note the new classified listing for a SkyeTek webinar on Tuesday, September 23rd at 2 pm EST covering Real-Time Visibility of Assets and Inventory using RFID. |
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RFID Benchmark Tests Prove Positive for IT Asset Tracking
By John Burnell
Passive UHF RFID technology has matured and improved enough to consistently meet the growing demand for IT asset management systems, according to a new performance benchmark study by ODIN technologies, an RFID integration firm headquartered in Dulles, Virginia. The benchmark measured the performance of different Gen2 tags and readers to identify servers, blades, laptops and other IT assets in data center and user environments. Excellent read rates could be attained for all the use cases tested -- but not by all the tags and readers.
"Performance ranged from knocking the cover off the ball to a complete strikeout," ODIN president and CEO Patrick Sweeney told RFID Update. "The results showed there is still the need for some thoughtful up-front work on the physics of implementing RFID to track IT assets."
ODIN has produced 12 benchmark test reports on various different RFID technologies and use cases, including a recent evaluation of metal-mount tags (see 'Myth Busted' -- Tests Find RFID Works Well on Metals), which were used exclusively in the IT asset tracking benchmark. Sweeney rates the data center environment an eight on a scale of one (easiest) to 10 (hardest) for the challenge of obtaining accurate RFID reads. "We found the difficulty is not so much that the IT assets to be identified are made of metal, but from the metal's proximity to other metal on racks, servers, etc.," Sweeney said. "What's encouraging is that we found RFID for IT asset tracking can work 100 percent of the time without human intervention."
The benchmark evaluated seven different metal-mount Gen2 passive RFID tags that are available now to end users, plus several other models that are expected to be introduced at this week's RFID World show in Las Vegas. Two handheld readers and one fixed-position reader were also evaluated. Tests simulated IT asset tracking in both data center and office environments. Tagged assets included servers, racks, blades, routers, PCs and laptops.
"Performance results were actually pretty consistent among different assets," Sweeney said. "One of the biggest variables to performance was the footprint of the tag. Some assets, like blades, have very little room available to apply the tag, and users only have a few options for small tags they can use."
Sweeney said the wide range of performance that was observed in the benchmark tests is consistent with what he hears from end users who have implemented or are evaluating real-world systems. "Some people have 100 percent read rates and are getting full ROI in three or four months. Others struggle to get the performance they need," he said.
ODIN's various benchmark tests have shown that RFID performance has significantly improved, so organizations that previously considered RFID for asset tracking but dismissed it because of poor performance should reconsider. Passive UHF technology is improving at least twofold every year, according to Sweeney.
"When organizations talk to us about RFID IT asset tracking, the same two questions always come up: 'Does it work?' and 'Is there any benefit to using RFID over bar code?' This benchmark answers yes to both questions," Sweeney said.
Hewlett-Packard brought attention to RFID systems for IT asset tracking earlier this summer when it announced it would preinstall Gen2 tags its ProLiant and Integrity servers and support RFID in its OpenView Asset Center software as part of a new asset management service offering (see HP Launches RFID Service for IT Assets). Shortly after, the Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC), a non-profit industry association, launched an initiative to develop standards and other resources to help financial institutions implement RFID for IT asset tracking and other uses (see Banking Interest Climbs for RFID, Spurs Standards).
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| RFID World 2008 Exhibitors | MTI Wireless Edge - see our RFID antennas - Booth 608
MTI Wireless Edge is the world's cutting edge antenna technology manufacturer and is dedicated to providing antenna solutions for any RFID application, including: Portal, Near-Field, Hand-held, Forklift, Passive/Active, Indoor/Outdoor and others. MTI offers a very large portfolio of over 100 antenna models. See our antennas at www.mtiwe.com | STRESS FREE RFID with ODIN technologies at Booth 501
Join us at RFID World -- Booth 501 and enjoy the ODIN technologies "STRESS FREE RFID" solution. As you know, we know how to make RFID EASY for you! Also, REGISTER TODAY for the "RFID for Managers" seminar presented by ODIN experts on Monday, September 8th. For more information contact hschuster@odintechnologies.com. | | | Webinars | Real-Time Visibility of Assets and Inventory using RFID
Traditional methods for tracking equipment, inventory, and field staff are labor intensive and inaccurate, creating operational inefficiencies. RFID based solutions can deliver accurate and timely information which provides you with the data you need to make sound business decisions. Join our webcast on 9/23 at 2 PM EST. Register Here | | | Upcoming Events | RFID World | Sept 8-10, 2008 | MGM Grand | Las Vegas, NV
Now in its 6th year, this industry leading event is recognized as the gathering place for the builders, buyers and sellers of RFID and other Auto-ID technologies. Registration now open! Special Early Bird Savings: Save $300 off registration. Offer ends July 31st. Don't miss out! | RFID Happy Hour at the MGM | 6 to 8pm | Sept 9, 2008
The September North Texas RFID Happy Hour will be held in conjunction with RFID World at the MGM Grand Hotel Conference Center. Sponsors of the RFID Happy Hour will be handing out RFID tagged swizzle stick invitations, which will give the holders a chance to win a Free Drink. www.northtexasrfid.com | Active RFID, RTLS & Sensor Networks 2008 | Nov 5-6 | Dallas
IDTechEx presents the only event in the world dedicated to the technologies of Active RFID, RTLS and Ubiquitous Sensor Networks. The conference will look at the key applications that are driving growth including manufacturing, healthcare, the military and security, postal and courier, and logistics. Find more information here www.IDTechEx.com/Active. | RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit, Nov 16-18, D.C.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) are pleased to co-sponsor this comprehensive overview of RFID and track-and-trace operational and implementation strategies for the healthcare supply chain. For more information, or to register, please visit -- http://meetings.nacds.org/rfid/2008/registration.cfm | RFID Executive Forum - Impact RFID, October 15, 2008 at UCLA
UCLA WINMEC will host its 2008 RFID Executive Forum. This Forum will bring academics, industry practitioners to discuss industry-specific modality of use of RFID and the application of RFID in their industry. For more information, please visit: www.winmec.ucla.edu/rfid/2008 | | | Products & Services | Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks
Meet the industry's most innovative award winning RFID solution that enables complete work-order traceability in manufacturing. Real-time web-based dashboards and multi-site monitoring for work-order pedigree and traceability, including proactive bottleneck management and real-time performance analytics optimizing shop-floor efficiency. All at the lowest TCO in the marketplace. www.omnitrol.com/WIP. | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | RFID Tags & Labels | Metal Mount RFID Asset Tag
NEW! Nox-tm4 RFID asset tag is a 1.5"x0.4"x0.12" UHF Gen 2 RFID tag designed for direct metal attachment. Perfect for tracking servers, laptops, or any other item requiring a rugged, micro-sized RFID Tag. Visit Simply RFiD at RFID World on Sept 8-10 for a sample, or read more here. | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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RFID Update is the RFID industry daily. Launched in early 2004 to provide timely analysis of RFID industry news, RFID Update publishes editorial briefings every weekday for the growing ranks of top level executives involved in the deployment of RFID. Each issue delivers the breaking news and analysis most pertinent to successful RFID implementations, allowing readers to understand global RFID developments as they happen.
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