Network Management: Concepts and Definitions, Exams of Biology

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Chapter 12

Network

Management

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Correct answers

Network Management - answer The process of operating, monitoring, and controlling the network to ensure it works as intended and provides value to its users Firefighting - answer When network managers spend more time dealing with breakdowns and immediate problems Can be avoided with proper planning and organization of the network and its staff to do more preventative work than reactive troubleshooting

Managed Networks - answer The single most important element that contributes to the performance of a network is a managed network that uses managed devices Managed Devices - answer Devices such as switches and routers that have small on board computer to monitor traffic flow as well as the status of the device itself and anything attached to it. Such devices are programmed to report any potential issues back to the network manager such as increased volumes of traffic or potential device failure Network Management Software - answer Network management software stores, organizes, and analyzes information sent to it by the managed devices on the network. Common practice is to purchase devices that all have managed software and a CPU built in, however if a mix of managed and unmanaged devices is used, unmanaged devices are usually on the top level access layer, and managed devices are usually placed on the backbone Device Management Software - answer Designed to provide information about the specific devices on a network.

Used to monitor important devices i.e. servers, routers and switches and report information related to traffic volume, or errors in the network System Management Software - answer Collects reports from all devices and helps identify the root cause of an issue. Instead of receiving a long list of errors, System management Software will attempt to send a concise message identifying the issue to a network manager Alarm Storm - answer When one failure generates several dozen problem reports. In an unmanaged network, an alarm storm can potentially cause more confusion and pinpointing the source of the error can prove to be more challenging Application Management Software - answer Builds on device management software, but instead of monitoring systems, it manages applications. This is useful in organizations that require certain data to have priority on the network to ensure "mission critical" functions necessary to run the business are always working properly

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) - answer Protocol standards to ensure hardware across vendors can understand and communicate each other Each SNMP device has an agent that collects information about itself and the messages it processes and stores the information in a database called the "management information base". Network management software is connected to the MIB *SNMP protocol may be standard but the MIB configuration is not, so devices from different vendors in actuality may not work as expected Remote Monitoring (RMON) - answer Remote Monitoring SNMP software enables information to be stored on each device to keep traffic off the network and won't transmit unless the information is needed Load Balancing - answer Acts as a traffic manager at the front of a server farm and makes sure when traffic arrives it gets passed on to a server that isn't busy. Should a server on the network fail, traffic will no longer get sent to it, and the network will continue to operate. Load balancing also makes it much easier to add or remove servers without interrupting availability of services.

Policy Based Management (aka. application or traffic shaping) - answer Special software that allows for priority of certain information over the network when utilization levels are high. (e.g. video conferencing or order processing gets priority) Usually implemented with a combination of software and hardware and placed between a building and its backbone. Uses the Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities in TCP/IP and VLANs. Managed devices on the network must support QoS capabilities. Bandwidth Limiter/Shapers - answer Monitor traffic and slow down traffic from users who consume a lot of network capacity. Instead of analyzing the type of traffic, capacity management devices simply identify the source (IP Address) of high capacity users. Content Cacheing - answer A "cache engine" is installed that stores static web pages on the router so the data from commonly accessed pages doesn't need to be requested and transferred across the network every time a certain page is accessed, instead it gets transferred locally.

Content caching software will analyze traffic patterns over time to determine which bits of information should be stored over others. If network volume is high enough, proper utilization of cache engines can lead to savings by purchasing a WAN with a lower capacity. Content Delivery (Pioneered and developed by Akamai) - answer A special type of internet service that works in the "opposite"direction. Content delivery providers store web files for its clients closer to their potential users. Configuration Management - answer Managing the network's hardware and software configuration, documenting it, and ensuring its updated as the configuration changes. Common configuration activities are adding and deleting user accounts, and updating software. Desktop Mangement - answer Enables network managers to install software on client computers over the network instead of physically going to each computer. Used by large software vendors (Microsoft) to deliver updates and software patches. Typically costs more in the short term, but has significant long-term cost benefits.

Network Documentation - answer A document that keeps basic information about network hardware, diagrams, circuit placement, servers, devices, etc. Should include the type of device, serial numbers, vendor date of purchase, warranty information, repair history, telephone numbers for repair, and any additional information that a network manager would see as useful. (Should be used for software as well) Performance Management - answer Ensuring the network is operating as efficiently as possible Fault Management - answer Preventing, detecting, and correcting faults in the network circuits, hardware, and software. Network Operations Center (NOC) - answer A dedicated unit responsible for detecting, monitoring, and fixing problems in a large network. Usually staffed by a set of skilled network technicians that use sophisticated network management software. Problem Tracking - answer Allows the network manager to determine who is responsible for correcting any outstanding problems.

Problem Statistics - answer Used to see how well a network is meeting the needs of its end users as well as if vendors are meeting their contractual maintenance commitments. Availability - answer The percentage of time the network is available to users. Calculated as the number of hours per month the network is available by the total number of hours per month. Downtime - answer Times when the network is unavailable because of faults, routine maintenance and network upgrades. Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) - answer The number of hours or days of continuous operation before a component fails. Mean time to Repair (MTTR) - answer Average number of minutes or hours until the failed device or circuit is operational again. MTTR= MTTDiagnose + MTTRespond + MTTFix Service Level Agreements (SLAs) - answer Established between clients and their common carrier and ISP.

Specifies the exact type of performance and fault conditions that the client will receive. Addresses topics such as Mean time to Fix and Availability percentages. End User Support - answer Solving whatever problems users encounter while using the network. Three main functions... resolving network faults, resolving user problems, and training. Typical Types of Errors - answer Hardware failure, user error, software compatibility Total Cost of Ownership - answer A measure of how much it costs per year to keep one computer operating. Includes actual direct cost of repair parts, software upgrades, support staff members needed to maintain the network, install software, administer the network, training, and technical support. Also includes the indirect cost of time "wasted" by the user when problems occur, or when the network is down. Avg. estimated cost per year for a Windows computer on a network is approx. $7000 with a range anywhere between $5000-$10000.

Network Cost of Ownership / Real TCO - answer Examines only the direct cost of operating computers, omitting ambiguous values such as "wasted" time. NCO estimates put actual costs of a Windows computer on a network in the $1500-$3500 range. The most expensive component of cost ownership is usually personnel, so investing in more reliable hardware is usually the wiser long-term decision. Charge-Back Policy - answer When one department uses a larger amount of network capacity, part of their budget becomes allocated to the IT department to sustain WAN costs. Five Steps to Reduce Network Costs - answer 1. Develop standard hardware and software configurations for client computers and servers

2. Automate as much of the network management function as possible by deploying a solid set of network management tools
3. Reduce the cost of installing new hardware and software by working with vendors

4. Centralize help desks
5. Move to thin-client or cloud-based architectures