Documenting the Existing Network - Starting Points

IACT 418 IACT 918Corporate Network Planning

Overview

Why we need to manage networksRequirements 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 designNetwork 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

ITU Main subsystems

Network Management

FaultManagement

PerformanceManagement

ConfigurationManagement

AccountingSecurity

Management

Planning

Network Management Architecture

ITU Main subsystems

Network Management

FaultManagement

PerformanceManagement

ConfigurationManagement

AccountingSecurity

Management

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 processingManaging changesetc…

Sectionalisation of Networks

As networks grow larger there is a trend to divide the network into smaller segmentsThis 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

FaultManagement

SecurityManagement Accounting

PerformanceManagement

Planning

Configuration Management

Error rates, Response times etc

Configuration DetailsConfiguration Details

Configuration Details

NewConfiguration

Configuration Details

TrafficLevels

Configuration Details

NetworkCostings

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 inventoryThis 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 redundancySynchronised change managementUnique names and addressesMore efficient troubleshootingEasier capacity and contingency planning

References

Kornel Terplan, Communications Network ManagementStanford Rowe, Telecommunications for management