leveraging vendor websites: bringing websites into management solutions jim metzler...
TRANSCRIPT
Leveraging Vendor Websites:Bringing Websites Into
Management Solutions
617.969.8286www.metzlergroup.com
Agenda
Background Vendors Summary and
Recommendations
Web-Based Network Management
The Web: A world-wide, hyper-linked base of information
Web Based Management Leverages the investment in internet-based
technologies and standards the universality, openness, extensibility,
and pervasive features of Internet technologies
Web based access to access to managed devices
Management reports available over the Web
Development of web-based applications Simple integration of network management
applications— switch from function to function
Data integration among multiple management applications
Web-Based Network Management
Network Management Initiatives
Java Management API Initiative (JMAPI) Standard set of libraries, Java widgets, and
User Interface specifications Simplify development efforts
Web-Based Enterprise Management Initiative (WBEM) Goal: develop a data description/schema to
allow data to be accessed regardless of the original source of the data
Network Management Initiatives
Security Secure Socket Layer (SSL) currently provides
a secure channel between clients and servers
Push Technologies (e.g., Netscape’s NetCaster)
Allow applications to deliver updates of new or changed event information without human intervention
Directory Services (e.g., LDAP) Automate the decision of who has access to
resources
Agenda
Background Vendors Summary and
Recommendations
Vendors
NextPoint Concord
Communications 3Com Bay Networks Cisco
Web Strategy: NextPoint Networks
Goal #1: leverage NextPoint web site to provide world-class services to NextPoint customers Benefit: enhanced customer satisfaction with
NextPoint
Goal #2: architect the Web-based NextPoint S3 product suite to integrate with vendor Web-sites Benefit: enhanced customer productivity
Provide World-Class Services
Customer Training: on-line interactive tutorial
Tech Support: link from NextPoint S3 browser interface into Tech Support pages on the Web site
Search for Tech Tips Browse Software Release Notices Download Patches/Updates Use push technology to receive product bulletins
automatically
Hyperlink from device icon on NextPoint S3 topology map to equipment vendor’s Tech Support pages
Hyperlink from device icon to vendor’s Web-based device configuration screens (I.e., HTML pages are embedded on device)
Link to Vendor Web Sites Within NextPoint S3
Vendors
NextPoint Concord
Communications 3Com Bay Networks Cisco
Web-Based Network Management
Requirements: Continuous visibility of critical resources Automatic information distribution— no operator
required Summarize across resources
Advantages: Information-based management Scale information across business units/customers Scale information from operations personnel to
CEO
BandwidthAllocation
BusinessRequirements
Web-Based Network Management
Performance &Utilization
Information
Information-basedChanges End User
Impact
Planning Process
ReallocationReroutingUpgradeDowngradeLoad balancingContingency planning
Boston London
Hub
Router
Router
Router
Router
Chicago
Vendors
NextPoint Concord
Communications 3Com Bay Networks Cisco
3Com’s Web-Based Management Strategy
Add full-functionality proxy web capabilities to Transcend Enterprise Manager and other Transcend applications Today’s capabilities and more from the web—
not just read-only but also write/set/config Web-accessible documentation and reporting
Embed web servers in devices and probes A better, more friendly solution than Telnet
Web-based reporting in Transcend Enterprise Enterprise and other
Transcend applications
3Com’s Web-Based Management Experience
First major vendor to lay-out comprehensive strategy Networld-Interop Fall 1996
First major vendor with shipping Web-based applications
First major vendor with widely deployed embedded agent solutions Solutions for stackable devices, Summer 1997 Embedded Web being added to all new generation
devices Leading vendor in adding Web to element and
network management solutions
Priorities Moving Forward
To maintain the momentum along two fronts: comprehensive embedded solutions for new devices comprehensive proxy solutions for new
management applications
To provide: monitoring and configuration Web-based reporting comprehensive, interactive help systems ties to 3Com resources via Internet
Constraints in Embedded Web Development
Memory… Memory… Memory A big issue with today’s low-end volume devices
– Any cost is an issue, even memory– Memory budget for embedded Web can be 128KB
Java is inefficient— HTML is much “leaner” Fluidity of the Java Language
Shift from JDK 1.02 to JDK 1.1 is disruptive Browser compatibility has been an issue:
– Patches are required for Netscape operation [may be resolved by conference]
– What works with one release doesn’t work with the next– “Telnet-equivalence” means embedded solution must
be reliable with old and new browsers
3Com’s Innovative CoreBuilder 3500 Web-Based Interface
Common GUI across Layer 3 Switches full capabilities, superset of telnet and SNMP configuration wizards for key, complex functions bulk operations against multiple interfaces
Context sensitive, multi-media help system separately stored help files deployed on network-
attached server instant help on all dialogs plus general help video clips on various functions (VLAN
management, routing, Quality of Service)
Interactive Links to 3Com WWW Site
Applications and embedded solutions today have links to key 3Com WWW sites
Management agent upgrades and patches distributed via the Web
Solutions in progress to automate information push of key network management details upgrade notification and distribution application issues and resolution direct, automated sharing of HQ expertise with
end-users
Vendors
NextPoint Concord
Communications 3Com Bay Networks Cisco
Optivity
Switching
IP Optimized Networks AccessIP Services
Management
Application-Optimized Network Management
#1 in high-end element management in revenue
#1 in low-end network element management revenue and units shipped
#1 in embedded RMON device instrumentation
Network Management Leadership
Building From a Position of Strength!
Source: IDC 1997
Web-based Network Management Embedded Web: Configuration, monitor, fault
– “Out of the box” manageability Network-System Management
Universal Web access to all Optivity applications
Web-based network performance monitoring RMON 2
“Hot links” to critical resources, WEB site and professional and support services
Single GUI for multi-device, multi-vendor management– Discovery, topology, traffic monitoring and configuration
Service Level Management Web interface to top-down service level management
Web-Based Network Management
Evolving Network Element Management
Simplification Through “Webification” Device: Embedded HTTP servers
– Reporting, monitoring and configuration– Deliver instant NM “Out of Box
Manageability ” Network: Web-based reporting,
monitoring and configuration– HTTP, HTML, JAVA– “Hot links” to critical resources
– Service and support, “best practices”
– Web-based RMON2 monitoring – Interface for RMON2 probes
– Embedded HTTP in probes for JAVA-based remote LAN monitoring
Web-based GUI Interface for Configuration of Multiple Devices types and Vendors
Web-based GUI delivers intuitive front-end to cryptic configuration tools
Multi-vendor, multi-device for “real world” networking environments
Wizards, dialog boxes, help, etc.
Cookie-cutter approach to rapid configuration delivery
Web-Based Configuration Management
Web-Based Performance & Traffic Management
Web-based report setup and generation offers universal access to information
Access from virtually any station, anytime, anywhere
“Physical” reports: media- specific information
ET, FDDI, FR, TR “Logical” reports: network
and application layer reports Traffice statistics, TopN reports
“General” reports: statistics for any media utilization, network availability
Evolve “best of breed” element management to “best of breed” network-system management
Link application service levels to the underlying network-system
Drive the simplification of network-system and service management
Simplify
Web-basedNetworkSystemMgmt.
Service Level Management
Delivering Application-Optimized Network Management
Vendors
NextPoint Concord
Communications 3Com Bay Networks Cisco
Intelligently bringing Cisco’s vast CCO information resource actively into the management process
Automated exchange of TAC case data drawn from inventory, CCO login, and management application to automatically harvest user, device and problem info to pre-populate trouble ticket and allow on-line follow-up
CCO links to inventory and Service contract information, allows customer to inventory / reconcile which products have currant service contracts on them
External Information Playing an Increasing Strategic Role
External Information Playing an Increasing Strategic Role
Context aware searching for new image software on CCO, allow quick identification of what’s new, and how it applies to device in your network
Context aware searching for known software defects affecting device in your network
CCO linked periodically updated tips and hints window
IOS upgrade analysis linked to CCO for accurate planning of network upgrades
Inventory information linked to CCO bug reports for determining which devices pose what error risk to the network
User selected discovery of all known bug listed on CCO for particular configuration a device(s). Search can be focused on a date range or severity
Defect reports assessable by date, device, image type, or severity
Proactive network image audit detailing image bug status and deferrals
Hardware and software upgrade prerequisite requirements are linked in from CCO to determine ability of device to accept new image
Understand the Impact of Upgrades
NEW!Improved Upgrade Planning
Run analysis of image based on CCO filtering criteria or known image
Generate Upgrade Analysis Report detailing hardware upgrades required before download
Inventory information is automatically checked against Cisco’s on-line database of IOS and Catalyst software year 2000 certification listings to determine your network’s level of year 2000 compliance
Lists network by device List software running
and first certified version Can drill down
directly to specific device
Dynamic Reporting of Y2K Status
Agenda
Background Vendors Summary and
Recommendations
Summary & Recommendations
Some vendors are making significant strides in leveraging their Web sites to facilitate Network Management.
Some are not. Explore how your primary vendors leverage
their Web sites Encourage the laggards to do more