Documenting the Existing Network - Starting Points

IACT 418 IACT 918 Corporate Network Planning

Overview

Why we need to manage networks Requirements capture and specification Documenting the network configuration.

Why Do We Need to Manage a Network?

The network is an important asset to the organisation  The larger the organisation the more dependent they are on the telecommunications network  This telecommunications network includes   PABX / telephone infrastructure mainframe, server, routers, bridges, hubs, hosts, terminals, modems  and other telecommunications devices

Why Do We Need to Manage a Network?

All these need to be managed within the organisation as a important part of the organisations infrastructure

Why Do We Need to Manage a Network?

Personnel who maintain and enhance this telecommunication network need to be  Well trained   Willing to adapt to changes in the objectives of the organisation as quickly as they can Staff turn over can be a major network management problem that needs to be monitored

Design

Many networks are composed of ad hoc network design Network components are often added by a small group within the organisation on a needs basis

Design

This then becomes a example of decentralised network configuration  Making network management more difficult   Especially if individual sections chose different and incompatible network components (often called proprietary solutions) Less of a problem if a standard has been used by the vendors who provided the network component

Design

As the organisation grows, so will the network  Changes need to be made and documented  Future growth projections need to be made The network is a capital expense  Ad hoc network planning should be avoided  The needs of individual sections of the organisation should be given appropriate attention.

Network Management Architecture

Performance Management ITU  Main subsystems Fault Management Configuration Management Network Management Security Management Accounting Planning

Network Management Architecture

Performance Management ITU  Main subsystems Fault Management Configuration Management Network Management Security Management Accounting Planning

Configuration Management

Set of middle and long range activities for controlling   Physical, logical and electrical inventories Maintaining vendor files and trouble tickets Support for provisioning and order processing Managing changes etc…

Sectionalisation of Networks

As networks grow larger there is a trend to divide the network into smaller segments This introduces several problems for managing the network

Sectionalisation of Networks

Separate voice and data management  Inventory control of shared resources is made more difficult Geographical spread of organisations  Where do we keep the inventories Lack of integrated addressing and naming  Too many views of the network  Physical, electrical and logical configurations

Processes and Procedures

Configuration management can be considered the central process of network management  All other areas are supported by configuration details

Error rates, Response times etc Fault Management Configuration Details Configuration Details Configuration Management Security Management Configuration Details Configuration Details New Configuration Planning Configuration Details Network Costings Performance Management Traffic Levels Accounting

Inventory Management

An automated inventory that provides a record of currently installed equipment and spares  Equipment (modems, switches, servers, workstations, phones)      Facilities (tie lines, trunks) Circuits (individual, groups, multipoint) Networks Services offered Customers  Provider, vendor, location and contact All of these need to be documented

Equipment Inventory

This needs to be updated to keep track of   Installed equipment and circuits Additions and deletions Can be used to  Generate reports of all equipment of a given model    Find the location of a unit with a certain serial number Generate cost reports based on circuit types Etc

Network Diagrams

The topology of the network at any given time can be extracted from the equipment inventory This shows     Network locations Controllers Computers Circuits connecting them

Network Diagrams

The configuration inventories can also provide   Circuit listings  Devices attached to each circuit Wiring diagrams

Vendor Control

Vendor information is required to allow the quick retrieval of  All equipment of a given vendor      Performance statistics for certain equipment from a vendor Contract expiration schedule Invoice verification Maintenance requirements Service statistics  Number of outages, Response time for repair, Repair time distribution, MTBF, MTTR, MTOR

Vendor Control

Vendor information helps to       Prepare for vendor negotiations Reduce costs by removing overpayments Reduce clerical costs Improve contract control Facilitate budget preparations Make equipment and vendor selection objective

Benefits of Configuration Management

Reduced redundancy Synchronised change management Unique names and addresses More efficient troubleshooting Easier capacity and contingency planning

References

Kornel Terplan, Communications Network Management Stanford Rowe, Telecommunications for management