CIT 443: Enterprise Network Management
FCAPS: Configuration Management
Definition of
Configuration Management
Configuration management is the
process of obtaining functional data
from each network device, storing and
documenting that data, and
subsequently utilizing that data to
manage the operations of all network
devices
Fall 2007 2
Why Configuration Management?
Systems are as complex as they have
ever been
Networked systems must be configured
properly in order to function properly
Usually means the default configuration is
not sufficient
Managing how these devices are
configured and documenting these
configurations is extremely important
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Configuration Management Activities
Gather network configuration
information – How?
Store the data in redundant locations
Why?
Use configuration information to identify
& make necessary configuration
changes
Produce configuration reports
non-compliance reports
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Network Design Aspects of CCM
Initializing the network
Design and Implementation
Maintaining, adding and updating the
relationships between components
Graceful shut-down of the network
Others?
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Configuration Management Functions
1. Network Topology Control
2. Network Provisioning
Progress of New Equipment Installations
Progress of New Service Configurations
3. Inventory Management
4. Version Control
Device Configuration
Firmware Version
5. Configuration Control
Local
Remote
6.
Fall 2007
Network Documentation! 6
Expectations of
Configuration Management
Users:
Informed of changes in configuration
Scheduled downtime & periodic reports
Rapid response/resolution of problems
Network Engineers:
Predefined configuration attributes
Standardized protocols and interoperability
Network Administrators:
Change connectivity of network as required
Fall 2007 Users are unable to change configurations 7
Configuration
Management Information
Network Maps:
Documents physical & logical network design
Should be used as “background” for a fault management
system
Other Information?
Software Inventories:
Licensing Information
Support Contract/Contact Information
Other Information?
Hardware Inventories:
Make/Model
Serial Number
Property Accounting Tag Number
Support Contract/Contact Information
Fall 2007 8
Other Information?
Configuration
Management Benefits
Rapid access to vital configuration data
Disaster Recovery
Improved Fault Resolution
Framework for updating
connectivity/communications between
devices
Quickly determine how many devices of
a certain type of are on the network
Bug Fixes
Upgrades/Updates
2007
Fall
Other Benefits? 9
Configuration Management:
Manual Device Discovery
Time consuming and inaccurate
Missing nodes
Will you be current when you’re done?
Touch every node and collect the data
New devices?
Geographically disparate systems?
Large networks?
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Configuration Management:
Automatic Device Discovery
Passively listen for stations
Not as intrusive to users or BW intensive
Incomplete and least accurate of
automated methods
Likely more accurate than manual methods
Passively listen to switched connections?
Security Risk?
Fall 2007 11
Configuration Management:
Automatic Device Discovery
Ping and query all addresses within
range
Potentially Disruptive
BW Intensive
Find a single device then use a
management protocol to ask it who it
has talked to recently
Nmap/Nessus/Netstat
Fall 2007 Arpwatch 12
Configuration Management via SNMP
SNMP “Public” Community:
Gather information about the current network
environment
Read-Only
Password Required/Often Disabled
Default is “public”
SNMP “Private” Community:
Gather information about the current network
environment AND make changes
Read-Write
Password Required – Change from Default!
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Other Relevant Protocols
Telnet/SSH
TFTP/FTP
CORBA
TL1
SS7
Others?
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Configuration Management –
Network Elements
PBX
Hubs
Routers
Switches
Servers
Workstations
Firewalls
Wireless Access Points
Printers
Power Management Systems
Network SCADA Systems
Temperature Management Systems (HVAC)
Physical Security Systems
Home Appliances?
Others?
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Key Players
HP (OpenView)
Cisco (CiscoWorks)
IBM (Tivoli)
SolarWinds
AlterPoint (Device Authority Suite)
Voyence (VoyenceControl!)
SpectrumSoft (WNMS)
Micro2000 (RemoteScope)
Compuware (Vantage Solution Suite)
Others?
Fall 2007 16
Industry Trends
Automated Configuration Backup
Automated Configuration Updates
Redundant Configuration Management Systems
Mirror Sites and Redundant NOC(s)
Configuration Replication – “ghosting”
Others?
Fall 2007 17
Topics for Further Investigation
1. Configuration Management Protocols for Telecomm Networks
2. Configuration Management System Architectures
3. Disaster Recovery Planning – Best Practices and Lessons Learned
4. Corporate Implementations of Configuration Management Systems
5. Change Management Policies, Practices and Enforcement
6. IT Infrastructure Library & Service Management
Fall 2007 18
Reading
There are two Change &
Configuration Management (CCM)
Whitepapers posted to the course
website.
Read them for next time
Fall 2007 19