DESIGN OF A REAL-TIME WEB-BASED DATA CENTER MONITORING SYSTEM
Abstract
The increasing dependence of universities on digital infrastructure has elevated the
significance of robust data center management, particularly in the areas of server
performance, energy efficiency, e-waste reduction, and environmental sustainability. This
project presents the design and implementation of a web-based University Data Center
Monitoring System tailored to the needs of academic institutions such as the University of
Delta, Agbor. The system was developed using PHP and MySQL for the backend,
HTML/CSS/Bootstrap for the frontend, and JavaScript with AJAX for dynamic client-server
interaction. The objective was to create a system that can monitor real-time metrics including
CPU usage, memory load, power consumption, temperature, humidity, and the state of
hardware e-waste disposal across multiple university data centres.
Data collection was conducted through simulated inputs and mock datasets structured around
commonly used server metrics and environmental indicators. The system architecture
incorporated administrative roles and school-specific dashboards, enabling authorized
personnel to oversee and manage data center components with role-based access control. The
design employed modular and scalable principles to allow future upgrades such as IoT sensor
integration and cloud synchronization.
Performance evaluation of the system revealed a responsive and user-friendly interface with
effective backend data handling and visualization. It also demonstrated efficiency in real-time
updates using AJAX, enhancing the responsiveness and reliability of monitoring tasks. The
project contributes to the broader field of campus-based IT sustainability and infrastructure
management by proposing a practical tool for mitigating downtime risks, improving resource
utilization, and enabling greener IT practices in Nigerian universities.
This work not only advances the use of open-source technologies in university data
infrastructure but also supports institutional goals of digital transformation and environmental
responsibility, laying the groundwork for future enhancements such as AI-powered predictive
maintenance and cloud-integrated monitoring frameworks.
Keywords: Data center monitoring, web-based system, university IT infrastructure, energy
use, e-waste, environmental metrics, PHP-MySQL, real-time dashboard, sustainable
computing, Nigerian universities.
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