Network Management Software

1
Network Management Software

• Ted Shelton
• INSS 690
• Professional Seminar

2
Outline

• Thesis/Abstract
• History of Networking
• Forces of Change
• Network Management Solutions
• Future of Network Management
• Conclusions

3
Abstract

• Enterprise network management software will
  change the way we acquire, deploy, administer,
  and maintain organizational network solutions.
• NMS Features
• No new investment in user terminals
• Improved Satisfaction (Faster Problem Resolution)
• Control of Security, Y2K, Euro Remediation
• Makes up for lost staff

4
History of Networking

• First Paradigms (1963-Present)
• theory of data networking, initial deployment
• Proliferation (1984-Present)
• heterogeneous network standards and devices
• Recent Trends
• The Sixth Generation (1995-Present)
• Doing More With Less

5
Forces of Change

• BPR
• Efficiency Improvement
• ROI and Cost Accounting
• Globalization
• Worldwide businesses need worldwide networks.
• Agile Competition
• Functional, Responsive IT Support Systems
• Leaner, quicker, smarter, predictive, proactive

6
Management Solutions

• Capabilities
• feature sets
• Decision Points
• organizational requirements vs product
  capabilities
• Solutions

7
Capabilities

• Help Desk
• Remote Control
• Software Inventory
• License Management
• Software Deployment
• Asset Discovery
• Asset Management
• Performance Monitoring

8
Decision Points

• Network Size
• Geographical Dispersion
• Network Significance
• Client Server Diversity
• Operating System Support
• Functionality Requirements
• Support Requirements
• Scalability Expansion

9
Solutions

• Upper Tier
• Tivoli, Unicenter
• Mid Tier
• OpenView, LanDesk
• Lower Tier
• SMS
• Point Solutions
• (not considered due to time limitations)

10
IBM TIVOLI

• MANAGE. ANYTHING. ANYWHERE.
• Capabilities
• Nearly Complete Feature-Set
• Multi-Platform
• Tivoli Director
• Limitations
• Limited Application Support
• Lack of Web-Based Interface
• Large-Scale Software Deployments
• Resource-Intensive!

11
CA Unicenter

• The First Step and the Last Word in Total
  Enterprise Management
• Capabilities
• Multi-Platform
• Option-based Approach with Framework
• Widest Array of Application Management Plug-Ins
• Specialized Visualization Tools Web-Based
  Interface
• Limitations
• Ranked Second to Tivoli in Cost
• Neugents strategy may congest the network
• Large-Scale Client Software Deployments

12
HP OpenView

• Works Right Now!
• Capabilities
• Framework-based Approach
• Multi-Platform
• Focus is on critical application Quality of
  Service
• Supports broad range of application plug-ins
• Limitations
• No built-in help desk or remote control functions
• Desktop Administrator uses Flat-File Database
• SNMP-based Network Management

13
Intel LanDesk

• the best Desktop Management package PCWeek Labs
  has seen
• Capabilities
• Web-Based Management
• Most major functions, including AV License
  Meter
• Claimed to support 250-50,000 clients
• Can use three major enterprise database back-ends
• Unattended remote control client management
• Limitations
• Supports primarily Microsoft Operating Systems
• No application management

14
Microsoft SMS

• We can do that too kind of.
• Capabilities
• Modular permits 3d party plug ins
• Can itself be managed by higher-tier products
• Bandwidth management via hierarchical site
  design
• Relatively easy to implement
• Limitations
• Microsoft Windows clients only
• Missing functions help desk, asset detection,
  etc.
• Scalability claimed to 100,000 clients, but not
  validated

15
Future of Network Management

• Network Support Outsourcing
• 3d party provision of network services
• Fee-for-use application support
• Application outsourcing (Web, Email)
• Intelligent Networks
• self-managing and -healing?
• The End of Enterprise Network Ownership
• If its not what your business does for a living,
  why waste the time?

16
Conclusions

• Limitations of Current Management Paradigm
• Increasing Enterprise Management Capabilities
• Competitiveness Opportunities

17
Questions