Transcript Managing For Success - Ashton, Metzler & Associates

Leveraging Vendor Websites:
Bringing Websites Into
Management Solutions
Jim Metzler
[email protected]
617.969.8286
www.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 Network Management
 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
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
Link to Vendor Web Sites Within
NextPoint S3
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)
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
Web-Based Network Management
Reallocation
Rerouting
Upgrade
Downgrade
Load balancing
Contingency planning
Router
Hub
Boston
Router
Router
Router
London
Chicago
Information-based
Changes
Planning Process
Bandwidth
Allocation
End User
Impact
Business
Requirements
Performance &
Utilization
Information
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:
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


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

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full capabilities, superset of telnet and SNMP
configuration wizards for key, complex functions
bulk operations against multiple interfaces
Context sensitive, multi-media help system
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separately stored help files deployed on networkattached 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
Application-Optimized
Network Management
Switching
IP Services
IP Optimized
Networks
Management
Access
Building From a Position of Strength!
Network Management Leadership
 #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
Source: IDC 1997
Web-Based Network Management
Web-based Network Management

Embedded Web: Configuration, monitor, fault
– “Out of the box” manageability
Network-System Management
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
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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
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 Configuration Management
Web-based GUI Interface for Configuration of
Multiple Devices types and Vendors
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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 Performance & Traffic Management
 Web-based report setup and generation offers universal
access to information
 Access from virtually any
station, anytime, anywhere
 “Physical” reports: mediaspecific 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
Delivering Application-Optimized
Network Management
 Evolve “best of breed” element management to
“best of breed” network-system management
 Link application service levels to the
underlying networkSimplify
system
Service Level Management
 Drive the
simplification of
network-system and Web-based
service management
Network
System
Mgmt.
Vendors
 NextPoint
 Concord
Communications
 3Com
 Bay Networks
 Cisco
External Information Playing an
Increasing Strategic Role
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
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
Understand the Impact of Upgrades
 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
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
Dynamic Reporting of Y2K Status
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
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