Network management

NETWORK PROVISIONING,

OPERATION, INSTALLATION

AND

MAINTENANCE

NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Network management is mostly a combination of local and remote configuration and management with software.

Network management includes the deployment, integration and coordination of the hardware, software, and human elements to monitor, test, poll, configure, analyze, evaluate and control the network and element resources to meet the real-time, operational performance, and Quality of Service requirements at a reasonable cost.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT ….(contd)

Network management has three functionalgroupings:

Network Provisioning. Network Operation. Network Maintenance.

FUNCTIONAL FLOW CHART

NETWORK PROVISIONING

Planning and Designing a network.Analysis of traffic and performance data. Responsibility of Engineering group to provide quality

and well managed service.Management decides modifications in provisioning.Management tools like ping are beneficial for planning

purposes.

In telephone industry also known as circuit provisioning.Design of trunk is done by application programs written in

operation systems. Planning systems and inventory systems are integrated with design systems to build a system of systems.

To disconnect a circuit, it is co-ordinated by planning systems and the freed components are added to inventory system.

Design system is made aware of all available components for future design.

Eg: TIRKS by Bell Systems.

In network communication, provisioning is done by packet switching.

Provisioning is based on performance statistics and quality of service requirements.

Each packet has independent path and are switched based on the loads in the links.

Excess packets are stored in buffers or retransmitted or are discarded.

In WAN, complex ATM technology is used. Provisioning is based on virtual circuit.Switches are cell-based knowing VP-VC of each

session connection to the neighboring nodes.Architecture is either centralized or distributed.

Following are the three challenges faced by theservice providers: Improving service levels. Profitably introducing new services. Migrating from IPv4 to IPv6.

NETWORK OPERATIONS

Network operation include analysis and management of various problems, trouble-shooting.

Gathers statistics and generate reports for management, system support and users.

These operations are monitored by NOC which is the nerve centre of network management operations.

Following are the various functions of network operations:

Fault Management.Configuration Management.Performance Management.Security Management.Accounting Management.Reports Management.Inventory Management.Data Gathering and Analysis.

Fault Management:

Detection and isolation of problems causing failure.Self-healing or failure appropriate alarm.Responsibility of I&M group.Trouble ticket is used to track problems in network. Periodic analysis of data is done to establish

problem patterns for necessary actions.

Configuration Management:

There are three sets of configuration of network-Static Configuration: It is a permanent

configuration. The network would bring it up if it is started from an idle state.

Current Configuration: Running configuration.Planned Configuration: For future changes as the

network changes.

Performance Management:

Data should be regularly updated to increase performance of the network.

Traffic management helps in tuning the network and also in detecting trends and planning future needs.

Security Management:

It involves security access, data access and data flow in the network.

Secured communication is another area of concern.Involves security of data integrity, message

protection, data confidentiality.Certain necessary policies and procedures are

applied.A security database is established by NOC.

Accounting Management:

It deals with statistics of the network and useful in identifying hidden cost.

Cost of operations for an information management service is based on the service that it provides to the rest of the organization.

Network is configured so the generated traffic is gathered from monitoring segments.

Report Management:

Keeps in check the status of network and system operations. Helps in planning.

Budgeting is done for capital expenses.Includes network availability, system availability,

customer satisfaction.Reports should be made to be kept appraised of

upcoming technologies.

Inventory Management:

An efficient database system is an essential part. Use hierarchical and scalar based data systems.Includes details of all the components.An object oriented relational database is helpful.

Data Gathering and Analysis:

Data is collected: planning and obtaining useful

information on key quality characteristics produced by process.

Data is analyzed: process of inspecting, cleaning,

transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision making.

INSTALLATION AND

MAINTENANCE

INSTALLATIONInstalling a network includes cables, devices,

connecting software.More the network is complex, more difficult is to

install it.Pre-determine the required space, topology, data.The network I&M group deals with all the

activities related.This group is a service arm of the Engineering

group.

Centrally store your dataShare access, zero duplicationRemote access from homeOff-site backup of dataRouter and switches installationPower and data trunking and InstallationWireless LAN & WAN set-upFirewall installationsManages virus scan & spyware ProtectionSecure wireless WEP & WPA encrypted

MAINTENANCEMaintaining a secure network connected to the

Internet is difficult.Hackers can scan and attack wide sections of the

Internet at a time.As consumer connection increases, more

vulnerabilities available for exploitation.Maintenance is necessary for network facilities to

ensure safety.Cost effective support services.

Small businesses are more dependent on computers and the Internet than before and the threat to business computers is changing.

Data or information needs to be maintained.Maintaining with cost effective parameters.Real-time visibility into network issuesImproved uptime, security and performance

monitoring.The ability to add or improve capabilities based on

changing requirements.Rapid response time for replacement hardware.

Agreement:

The Network Installation and Maintenance Agreement is an agreement between a provider of services and a client, whereby the provider is engaged in the business of providing services involving design, installation, and maintenance of computer networks for a client.

The Network Installation and Maintenance Agreement outlines the terms, conditions, and obligations required of the provider of the services.

REFERENCES

Chapter 1 and 11 of Network Management Principles and Practice - Mani Subramanian.

Paper on dlink support services.Paper on the SANS Institute Reading Room site.Google wikiYahoo answers.

THANK YOU!