Network Management Fundamentals - Back to the Basics
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The document outlines the fundamentals of network management, covering various protocols like ICMP, SNMP, and Windows management protocols, alongside flow-based technologies and Cisco IP service level agreements. It emphasizes the importance of a structured network management framework, such as FCAPS and ITIL, and highlights how SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor can assist in monitoring and managing network performance. Additionally, it addresses the specific functionalities and applications of various management protocols within network operations.
Network Management Fundamentals - Back to the Basics
- 1. Network Management – Back to the Basics Fundamentals of Network Management © 2013, SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved. 1
- 2. Agenda 1. The Fundamental Protocols of Network Management 2. Windows Management Protocols 3. Flow Based Protocols 4. Cisco IP Service Level Agreements 5. Network Management Framework 6. How SolarWinds can help you? NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 2
- 3. Network Management Fundamentals - ICMP » Internet Control Message Protocol – control protocol used to send error messages » Ping - one of the more common ICMP utilities » Tests the reachability or availability of a device or host on the network » Measures the round-trip time (RTT) for messages between host and destination » Number of hops required to complete the travel from source to destination as well as information about the connection’s packet loss. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 3
- 4. Network Management Fundamentals - SNMP » Simple Network Management Protocol – polls the Management Information Base (MIB) of network devices to obtain performance statistics. » An SNMP trap allows a network device to notify a network management system (NMS) of an event through an SNMP message. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 4
- 5. Network Management Fundamentals - MIB » Management Information Base - A virtual database of management information available on a network device that can be queried using SNMP to retrieve device information » Object Identifier (OID) - the location of the specific data that you are running the query on NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 5
- 6. Network Fundamentals - Telnet » Telnet command is primarily used as a mechanism for accessing a UNIX or Linux system’s command‐line interface. » Used for connecting to a network device’s command‐line management interface. » Telnet functionally operates as both a management protocol and a data transfer protocol but lacks key encryption capabilities that ensure its data is secure in transit. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 6
- 7. Network Fundamentals - Secure Shell (SSH) » Opens a secure connection to the command in-line interface and the protocol can be leveraged for: Single‐line command execution File transfer, manifested as SCP, SFTP, or rsync Port forwarding or tunneling Creation of VPN connections, enabled through the OpenSSH distribution Web browsing via the SOCKS protocol Remote directory mounting, manifested as SSHFS NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 7
- 8. Network Fundamentals - Syslog » Syslog is a logging standard for error messages, warning messages, and other system messages that are sent to the NMS from network devices such as switches, routers and firewalls. » Benefits: Event-driven Automated analysis of events from disparate sources Used for incident response and compliance verification. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 8
- 9. Windows Management Protocols » The Microsoft Windows Operating System (OS) leverages its own suite of protocols for communications between Windows servers and workstations. » These protocols layer atop core TCP and UDP to enable server and service communication across an IP network » Windows Management Protocols: • Remote Desktop Protocol(RDP) • Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) • WS-Management NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 9
- 10. Windows Management Protocols - RDP » Remote Desktop Protocol - Streaming protocol that connects remote users to applications on a centralized set of server desktops. » Enables it to pass updates across very low‐bandwidth connections. » High‐use connections can remain in the data center, with only the resulting presentation data being submitted to the user. » The interactivity also makes the protocol highly latency‐insensitive. » As a result, monitoring needs for RDP tend towards aggregate statistics over and above specific session details. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 10
- 11. Windows Management Protocols - WMI » Windows Management Instrumentation - Windows OS had developed the WMI protocol as a proprietary alternative to SNMP. » WMI operates much like SNMP in that WMI can be used for gathering metrics data and updating certain configurations. » It is much different than SNMP in that, WMI’s reach is limited to the Windows OS and installed applications. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 11
- 12. Windows Management Protocols - WS- Management » WS‐Management can much more easily pass WMI data over firewalled networks. » WS‐Management layer is implemented atop the traditional WMI/DCOM stack, enabling exposure to the stack through the structured Web Service. » When enabled, this architecture retains the former WMI/DCOM compatibility with traditional WMI scripts and application infrastructures while adding the ability for SOAP‐aware clients to interact with the server via a Web‐friendly transport. » Hence traditionally unmanageable systems—such as those in DMZs or on Extranets—can now be managed through WS‐ Management‐enabled NMSs. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 12
- 13. Flow Based Protocols » Flow technologies can reveal key data like : who and what are consuming network traffic, where the traffic is coming from, and when traffic is being consumed. » Helps you keep a check on the network usage, implementation of network and IT security policies, and trending and Quality of Service (QoS) purposes. » Most IT infrastructure vendors support the generation of network flows NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 13
- 14. Flow Based Protocols (Contd…) » Widely known flow technologies : Cisco NetFlow, Juniper J- Flow, IPFIX, sFlow, and Huawei NetStream. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 14
- 15. Cisco IP Service Level Agreements (IP SLA) » Gives you the ability to measure performance from many different points in your network at the same time giving you a perspective from the standpoint of the device on the network performance. » Leverages the code built into the IOS of network devices and allows you to measure transport metrics from one Cisco device to another. » Really useful in a geographically distributed network that needs monitoring from a central location. NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 15
- 16. Network Management System - NMS » Hardware and/or software that allows and IT administrator to monitor and administer a network Network device discovery Network device monitoring Real-time intelligent alerting » Built on a network management framework 16
- 17. Network Management Framework - FCAPS » The International Standards Organization (ISO) has defined a network management model and framework referred to as FCAPS (fault, configuration, accounting, performance, security) • Fault Management – monitoring and management of faults that occur in a network • Configuration Management – management of network device configurations and changes • Accounting Management – billing management • Performance Management – monitoring and management of the efficiency or utilization of the network • Security Management – controlling access to the network and network devices NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 17
- 18. Network Management Framework - ITIL » These practices include a framework for application, service, and security management. • Service Support – ensure that applications are available to end users • Service Delivery – how well the applications are being delivered to end users • Security Management – ensure that unauthorized or unintended access of sensitive applications data is not obtained • Infrastructure Management – change and configuration management • Application Management – ensure that applications are enabled to provide service and delivery to end users • Software Asset Management – software configuration management and accounting NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 18
- 19. 6. How SolarWinds can help you? » SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) makes it easy to quickly detect, diagnose, and resolve performance issues and delivers real-time views and dashboards that enable you to visually monitor network performance at a glance. • Simplifies detection, diagnosis, & resolution of network issues – before outages occur • Tracks response time, availability, & uptime of routers, switches, & other SNMP-enabled devices • Shows performance statistics in real time via dynamic, drillable network maps Includes out-of-the-box dashboards, alerts, reports, & expert guidance on what to monitor & how • Automatically discovers SNMP- enabled network devices & typically deploys in less than an hour NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 19
- 20. Helpful Resources We invite you to learn more about SolarWinds Network Management Software Explore the FEATURES of SolarWinds NPM • Network Fault, Availability & Performance Monitoring • Network Device Discovery, Mapping • Alerting, Reporting & Intuitive Dashboards --- Click any of the links above --- NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 20
- 21. Thank You! NETWORK MANAGEMENT- BACK TO BASICS 21