Data centers are complex systems that require sophisticated operational management approaches to provide the availability of digital services against the backdrop of cost and energy efficiency. To achieve this, data center telemetry data is required since, as is commonly said it is not possible to manage what cannot be measured. This paper details how it is possible to construct the key data center infrastructure management (DCIM) elements of monitoring and measuring by a combination of available opensource software tools that permit both scalability and an environment where analytics can be employed on the data center operation, which can offer relevant insight into energy efficient operational practices.