Network Management Overview IACT 918 July 2004 Gene

Network Management Overview IACT 918 July 2004 Gene Awyzio SITACS University of Wollongong

Definition of a Data Network • A collection of devices and circuits for transferring data from one computer to another • Enables – Resource Sharing – Centralised data storage 2

Role of the Network Engineer • Responsible for – Installing – Maintaining – Troubleshooting • As networks expand – So do the size and number of potential problems 3

Role of the Network Engineer • Sheer volume of information can become unwieldy • Overall goal of network management is help network engineers – Deal with the complexity of a data network – Make sure the data can across the network with • Maximum efficiency • Maximum transparency 4

Implementation of a Data Network • Having a network does not automatically guarantee that everyone in an organisation can share resources • The network plan needs to ensure the network meets the organisations communication needs 5

Implementation of a Data Network • After developing the plan the network engineer needs to – Build – Maintain – Expand – Optimise – Troubleshoot • The network 6

Overview of Network Management • Network management is the process of – Controlling a complex data network – In order to maximise efficiency and productivity • International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) defines five (5) functional areas – Fault management – Configuration Management – Security Management – Performance Management – Accounting Management 7

Overview of Network Management • Fault management – Locating and Fixing problems or faults • Configuration Management – Setting up network devices • Security Management – Controlling access to information • Performance Management – Measuring performance of network hardware, software and media • Accounting Management – Tracking individual and group utilisation of network resources 8

Network Management Architecture Performance Management • The ISO/ITU model Fault Management Configuration Management – 5 Main subsystems Network Management Security Management 9 Accounting

Network Management Protocols • Essential factor in network management – Ability to acquire information from and effect change to network devices • A simple protocol would – Define common data formats and parameters – Allow for easy retrieval of information • A more complex system – Add change capability – Add security • Advanced management system – Remote management – Independent from network layer protocol 10

Interaction of Management Subsystems Error rates, Response times etc Fault Management Performance Management Configuration Details Traffic Levels Configuration Management Configuration Details Network Costings Security Management 11 Accounting

The Network Management Platform • A software package that provides generic functionality for a variety of network devices • Basic functionality includes – A GUI – A network map – A database management system (DBMS) – A standard method to query devices – A customisable menu system – An event system • Other features may include – Graphing tools – Application programming interface – System security 12

The Network Management Platform • A GUI – Standard GUI, platform will behave in a documented manner – Conformation by various vendors • A network map – Useful in all areas – Fault isolation – Physical and logical configuration – Graphical display of device and link performance – Can include autodiscovery and automapping 13

The Network Management Platform • A database management system (DBMS) – Applications can use for information storage – Relationships assists in diagnosis and maintenance • A standard method to query devices – Must be able to gather information from devices from many different vendors • A customisable menu system – Enables seamless extensions • An event system – Logs each event chronologically 14

Network Management Architecture – Brief • Three most common – Centralised – Hierarchical – Distributed 15

Network Management Architecture – Brief • Centralised – Platform on one computer system – Single centralised database – Complete backup to separate system for redundancy – Gives Network engineer a single point to view ALL alerts and events – Security easier to maintain – Lacks degrees of redundancy and fault tolerance – Traffic load on all network links connected to management site – Problems with scalability 16

Network Management Architecture – Brief • Hierarchical – Multiple systems • One acting as central server • Other acting as clients – Key Features • Not dependant on a single system • Distribution of network management tasks • Network monitoring distributed throughout network • Centralised information storage – Management tasks distributed between central server and clients – May make information gathering more difficult and time consuming – May result in some devices being monitored twice 17

Network Management Architecture – Brief • Distributed – Combines centralised and hierarchical approaches – Uses multiple peer platforms – One platform is the leader of a set of peer network management systems • Each peer platform can have a complete database of the network • Allows it to perform tasks & report back to a central system – Advantages • Single location for all information, alerts and events • Single location to access all management applications • Not dependant on a single system • Distribution of network management tasks • Distribution of network monitoring 18

Network Management Applications • The platform provides generic functionality for ALL network devices • Network management applications help the network engineer to manage a specific set of devices and services • Have the following goals – Effectively manage a specific set of devices – Avoid functionality overlap with the platform – Integrate with a platform through the API and menu system – Reside on multiple platforms 19

Choosing a Network Management System • A practical approach could be – Perform device inventory – Prioritise the functional areas of network management – Survey network management applications – Choose the network management platform 20

Choosing a Network Management System • Perform device inventory – Identify ALL devices on the network – Discovery of manageability – Prioritise mission critical devices 21

Choosing a Network Management System • Prioritise the functional areas of network management – Fault, config, security etc – Order will depend upon your organisational environment 22

Choosing a Network Management System • Survey network management applications – Find applications that help perform YOUR key areas of network management – Using apps designed to manage the devices you prioritised allows you to spend resources actively managing the network 23

Choosing a Network Management System • Choose the network management platform – Ideally all the applications chosen will work on at least one common platform – If you have a choice of platforms choose the one with an architecture that resembles the way your organisation plans to manage the network • Eg centralised, hierarchical, distributed 24