Network Management

Network Management Basics

Introduction

This chapter describes functions common to

most network-management architectures and

protocols. It also presents the five conceptual

areas of management as defined by the

International Organization for Standardization

(ISO).

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What Is Network Management?

Network management is a service that

employs a variety of tools, applications,

and devices to assist human network

managers in monitoring and maintaining

networks

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ISO Network Management Model

The ISO has contributed a great deal to

network standardization. Its network

management model is the primary means for

understanding the major functions of network

management systems. This model consists of

five conceptual areas

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Network Management Areas

The five network management areas are

Performance Management

Configuration Management

Accounting Management

Fault Management

Security Management

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Performance Management

The goal of performance management is to

measure and make available various aspects of

network performance so that internetwork

performance can be maintained at an

acceptable level.

 Performance management involves three main steps.

First, performance data is gathered on variables of

 interest to network administrators

Second, the data is analyzed to determine normal

(baseline) levels

Finally, appropriate performance thresholds are

determined for each important variable so that

exceeding these thresholds indicates a network

problem worthy of attention

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Configuration Management

The goal of configuration management is to

monitor network and system configuration

information so that the effects on network

operation of various versions of hardware and

software elements can be tracked and

managed.

Configuration management subsystems store

the information in a database for easy access.

When a problem occurs, this database can be

searched for clues that may help solve the

problem.

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Accounting Management

The goal of accounting management is to

measure network utilization parameters so that

individual or group uses on the network can be

regulated appropriately.

Such regulation minimizes network problems

 (because network resources can be apportioned

based on resource capacities) and maximizes

the fairness of network access across all users

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Fault Management

The goal of fault management is to detect, log,

notify users of, and (to the extent possible)

automatically fix network problems to keep the

network running effectively.

Fault management involves

 first determining symptoms and isolating the

problem.

Then the problem is fixed and the solution is tested

on all-important subsystems.

 Finally, the detection and resolution of the

 problem is recorded.

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Security Management

 The goal of security management is to control access

to network resources according to local guidelines so

that the network cannot be sabotaged (intentionally or

unintentionally) and sensitive information cannot be

accessed by those without appropriate authorization.

 Security management subsystems perform several

functions;

 They identify sensitive network resources (including systems,

files, and other entities)

 determine mappings between sensitive network resources and

user sets

 They also monitor access points to sensitive network resources

and log inappropriate access to sensitive network resources

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THE END