CIS-325 Data Communications

CIS-325Data Communications Dr. L. G. Williams, Instructor CIS 325: Data Communications

Chapter Sixteen Network Management CIS 325: Data Communications

What is Network Management? • Process of controlling, monitoring, and running the network • Concerned with both data and information • Information presupposes timely and accurate communication of data CIS 325: Data Communications

Management Tasks • General management: Planning, Organizing, Directing, Controlling, Staffing • Network management: All the same tasks, with specific focus • Good planning and organization reduces time spent controlling CIS 325: Data Communications

Ten Networking Commandments • 1. Thou shalt back up thy hard disk regularly • 2. Thou shalt schedule downtime before doing major work upon thy server • 3. Thou shalt keep thy network disk clean of old files • 4. Thou shalt keep an adequate supply of spare parts • 5. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s network software (and upgrade without a reason. (from Networking for Dummies, IDG, 1994) CIS 325: Data Communications

Ten Network Commandments, cont’d • 6. Thou shalt not steal thy neighbor’s software without a license • 7. Thou shalt train thy users • 8. Thou shalt not tinker with thine Autoexec.bat, Config.sys, or Startnet.bat unless thou knowest what thou is doing. • 9. Thou shalt not drop thy guard agains viruses • 10. Thou shalt write down thy network configuration in tablets of stone. (from Networking for Dummies, IDG, 1994) CIS 325: Data Communications

Fault Management • Detect fault quickly • Isolate from System • Repair/replace failed component • Predict faults based on patterns and history • Redundant components for ‘fault tolerance’ CIS 325: Data Communications

Fault Management Procedures • Concerned with the human side of network performance and fault mgt • Involves the management of complaints • Requires effective problem reporting and tracking procedures, as well as ongoing statistics on problem management • Need to track MTTR (mean time to repair) as well as MTBF (mean time between failures) CIS 325: Data Communications

Accounting Management • Keeping track of charges • Usage by individuals or groups CIS 325: Data Communications

Configuration Management • Managing and documenting hardware and software configurations • Network maps • System and subnet names and addresses • Group and user profiles and accounts • Detailed system and user documentation • Net initialization and graceful shutdown CIS 325: Data Communications

Performance Management • Ensuring the network is operating as efficiently as possible • Set limits such as throughput, response time • Monitoring activities on the net • Controlling by making adjustments • Stats important for planning CIS 325: Data Communications

Security Management • Encryption keys • Passwords and access lists • Detect unauthorized users • Maintain usage logs for audits • Provide users with confidence CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Management Systems • Collection of tools for Monitoring and Controlling • Hardware and software • Monitor status and performance of all components • S/W resident in components • Runs in background CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Management Entity • Collect and store stats • Xmit status to Control Center • Change unit parameters if necessary • Perform tests • Alert Central Control to problems CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Control Center • One unit in system designated • S/W here controls all NMEs • Provides user interface for Net. Manager • Often a backup system avail for emergiencies CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Management Software • Often self-configuring; they will search out active devices and include them in a logical map of the network (you must still develop a corresponding physical map) • Increasingly, network devices are “smart”; the record performance data and send it to a monitoring facility so that changes can be quickly and easily detected CIS 325: Data Communications

Technical Control • Availability is key • Needs • Automatic test and monitor • Restore or reconfigure - NOW! • Performance stats for planning CIS 325: Data Communications

Component Tech Control • Monitor traffic to/from a station • Line Monitor • “traps signals to provide precise oicture of line activity” • Generate test signals • Analog can measure attenuation and distortion • Protocol Analyzer • Active - simulates other hardware CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Tech Control • Too many line monitors to keep track of • System control integrates all monitors • Uses leased lines outside net • Remote control of h/w and s/w from Central Control • Central Control is interface for Manager • diagnose problems, isolate faults, restore ops CIS 325: Data Communications

Performance Monitoring • Second most key characteristic • Collect data about response time, throughput, and utilization • Use data to assess problems and develop solutions CIS 325: Data Communications

Component Monitoring • Response time monitor • portable • times event from send until answer is back • determines Min, Max, and Avg time • Hardware Monitor • measures what happens in a component • time of an event, or number of events • passive device CIS 325: Data Communications

Component Monitoring • Software monitors • s/w resident in a station • gathers and reports statistics • monitor complete events or take snapshots • no special hardware required • will affect system as it monitors CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Monitoring • Continuously measure and analyze parameters • Central monitor station • Data arrives by leased lines, not net • Data collection modules at each station • Able to monitor multi-vendor systems • Parameters listed in Table 16-3, p. 489 CIS 325: Data Communications

Network Management Standards: SNMP • Simple Network Management Protocol • Developed to manage TCP/IP networks • Devices collect info about themselves, store it in a mgt. information base (MIB) • Management station can monitor and reset MIB database • Single system can monitor 100’s of stations CIS 325: Data Communications

CIS-325 Data Communications