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Server 20/20 ™
RuBee Server Security and
Server Visibility Network





Server 20/20 -- a RuBee Visibility Network that provides real-time inventory of servers, disks, laptops and other IT assets as well as a high level of physical security with sensitive exit/entry detection of people and assets.

Server 20/20 is based on Visible Assets Weapons Visibility Network and product line (see Armory 20/20). Armory 20/20 has been installed and working for three years in numerous high security US sites (see Whitepaper).


Server 20/20 provides physical security and real-time inventory for assets, including servers, laptops, disk drives, confidential program manuals, classified materials, all stored within a server room using IEEE 1902.1, RuBee wireless systems and tags (to learn more about RuBee click here).

How Does Server 20/20 Work ?

1. "Security Smart" Tags Placed on Server and All Disk Drives


RuBee "Security Smart" asset tags are placed on the asset, in this case the server, inside the server in strategic locations (see Video) and on all security critical items especially disk drives. RuBee is magnetic so it reads though steel and has no effect (EMI) on the electronics in the server or disk drives. These tags have many advanced security features and options (see FAQ), or click on questions to see answers below.


2. Racks are Made RuBee Smart


A Sidewinder is a RuBee Router that manages read/writes to tags and connects to Dot-Tag via TCP/IP local network. One Sidewinder mounted in one server rack can manage four server racks. The steel server rack actually becomes the RuBee antenna and reads all tags on the rack even in inside the steel server.

3. Dot-Tag and Server 20/20 Read and Manage RuBee Smart Racks


A single Oracle 11G Dot-Tag server placed in any server rack, and can manage 100 + Sidewinders, 400 server racks and 4,000 to 10,000 RuBee tagged servers and disk drives. These server racks may be distributed over many different physical sites. The Dot-Tag server creates a virtual copy of all tags in the RuBee network, with rack location and server status, and any other tag data (temperature) stored in a database.

4. DoorGuard Provides Sensitive and Secure Exit/Entry Detection of Assets.

DoorGuard is a RuBee exit entry portal that can detect and read RuBee ID cards and RuBee asset tags as they pass though the portal. DoorGuard is a configuration of a RuBee Portal Platform (RP2) that works with single or double entrance doors (see FAQ or click on questions below for details).



Contacts:

John Stevens john@visibleassets.com 617-395-7601
Craig Weich craig@visibleassets.com 603-601-0333  

Updated Jan 13, 2010

What If Someone Removes The Tag ?

The answer Alarms go off. RuBee asset tags have a trip wire option, so when they are removed from an asset, they automatically go into beacon mode - they transmit a local signal that we read within seconds and can trigger an alarm event. We also recommend placing several tags on high valued assets, hidden inside the asset or attached internally. RuBee is not blocked by Steel so tags can be read inside of a server or laptop (See Video).

How Does a "Security Smart" Tag Work ?

RuBee tags are tiny computers with memory that can be programed to do just about anything you want to manage security. For example, tags can be set so an asset is permitted to exit the facility with an identified RuBee ID through door one, but not through door two. Security logic can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. RuBee Security Smart tags can be write locked so only an authorized person may change tag security status. Visible Assets has many years of experience providing advanced security systems and logic, with the Security Smarts built into the tag in some of the most secure facilities in the world. Click here to learn more about RuBee Security be sure to download our detailed Security White Paper.

Can The Tag Store Data About the Asset ?

Each tag comes with 500 bytes of static memory and can store maintenance information, serial numbers, manufacture and installed date. Tags can be commissioned with a hand held that can also read bar codes, or a laptop based commissioning station (see below). Each Tag has an Address similar to an IP address, as well as several other identity registers (Subnet Address, MAC Address). Tags can have as much as 5,000 bytes of storage. Its more like your laptop than an RFID tag. We also have low cost tags that only has the essentials (Address, Subnet).

What's the Battery Life and What about Sensors ?

Typical battery with normal use is 10 years, or 6 million reads and writes. Some tags (credit card ID) only has a 2 year battery life, and some tags have a battery life of 15 years. The batteries are not replaceable so tags can be sealed and meet standards like MIL STD 810G. Optional sensors can monitor temperature or shock to see if the unit has been dropped or miss-handled (see Armory 20/20 Video). This data maybe read with a handheld or by Server 20/20 when placed in a Smart RuBee Rack.

How Do I Commission Tags and Set Security Options ?

We have a standard commissioning station that runs on any PC and can be customized to include serial number data etc.. The same software can be used to set Tag Security options and write lock the tag. We have a hand held (see pRap Site and Video Server 20/20) that can also be used for commissioning. Finally we have a gRap station in use in armories that can be used for daily issuance checkin/checkout. Contact Visible for more information.

If RuBee Antennas Can Read Tags Through Steel and Water Is It Human Safe ?

The answer is yes RuBee is human safe. RuBee is many millions of times below the OSHA safe limits for RF exposure (40 nano watts) and has no OSHA issues and no other human safety issues. Human safety around RF has become an important topic. Many RF and RFID systems are required by OSHA to issue safety sheets with warnings, RuBee systems have no such requirement. Two independent papers have been published by the Mayo Clinic showing RuBee has no effect on pacemakers ICD's or medical equipment found in Operating Rooms. IEEE 1902.1 was classified by the FDA as a Class 1, Non Significant Risk (NSR) by the FDA in 2006.

What Does Real-Time Mean ?

The Server 20/20 application, is built on robust COTS products like Oracle Weblogic, and provides user initiated, on-demand, real-time updates of server physical inventory. Server 20/20 is based on Oracle can be used to set timing of physical inventory either at specified times every day, or on a fixed period (once an hour). Real-Time is seconds on reporting any unexpected exit or entry with DoorGuard (see below). We can also integrate to other existing systems via Oracle OBIEE.

How Accurate is the Server Physical Geo-Location Reported ?

Server physical location resolution is reported down to the server rack. Finer physical resolution is optional, however the number of racks serviced by a Sidewinder is reduced from four to two. Audit trails that meet DOD 5015.2 are provided for inventory as well as all events. DoorGuard (see below) is fully integrated into Server 20/20 application, and the RP2 Exit/Entry can be configured through the application.

How Do You Know RuBee Magnetic Waves Have No Effect on Disks or Server ?

We have tested it on servers and disks, but also we have independent studies (Mayo Clinic) that show no significant EMI on any electrical device, including pacemakers and ICD's. Because of Planks law (see RuBee Technology) RuBee does not require much energy to read and write to tags, yet it still goes through steel and water. A typical loop antenna system, installed on a server rack produces about 600 mGauss and a RuBee tag produces about 40 mGauss. The earths magnetic field is about 700 mGauss, and the EAS anti-theft systems seen in retail stores produces about 3,000 mGauss. RuBee tags and antennas are so weak they can not even effect or change the magnetic strip on a credit card. You may ask so how can we read and write digital data so well through steel and liquids with such weak signals ? We do it with advanced signal processing and noise suppression analytics. Many new design opportunities appear in the near field with magnetic waves over radio waves with RuBee -- physics is often on our side.

What About False Positives and False Negatives in Inventory Systems ?

The answer is we get them about once in a billion times. We have the ability to manage approximately 12 signal processing parameters on reads and writes in base stations that allow us to manage false positive and false negative probability based on background noise levels (see False Positive White Paper)

How Sensitive Is Detection - Can an Asset be Hidden and Trick the RuBee System ?

The answer is not easily. RuBee, in independent acceptance tests by customers, has consistently been at detection levels of 99% for hidden, smuggled assets, and in most cases at 100% detection, even if the asset is hidden inside a moving vehicle (see White Paper). RFID and RF systems consistently have a 10% to 20% detection rate with hidden assets. This is physics 101 (see RFID vs RuBee Video). RF is blocked by people, liquids and steel. RuBee is not RF it is based on magnetic signals that are not effected by liquids at all, and steel can actually enhance RuBee tag range (also see Video iBeam under water on RuBee Web Site). We also provide a Video demo of a laptop wrapped in Aluminum foil in a steel brief case that is detected by a DoorGuard system (see Laptop Video).

Can DoorGuard be Expanded to Wider Doors ?

A RP2 can be configured for wider doors as well as drive through gates 25 feet wide (see GateGuard for more details). RP2 can optionally provide human visibility, with access control and positive identity within the room (see RPM Video)

How Does DoorGuard Eliminate Tailgating and Enhance Security ?

With the PeopleCounter option it can eliminate the well-known “Tailgating” access problem (more than one person enters, with only a single card read, see Video of PeopleCounter). RP2's come with an optional UPS backup so power outage can not be used by an attacker.