HP Openview NNM: Scalability and Distribution

Reference  “HP Openview NNM: A Guide to Scalability and Distribution”,

NNM Scalability and Distribution Scalability is referred to –the configuration of NNM to perform well for a wide range of network sizes and degrees of complexity. Distribution of NNM is –an approach is to distribute the network management workload to multiple, usually remote systems.

NNM Scalability Advantages of scalability: –Scalability make it easier to adapt network management to handle new network changes and growth. –Distributed network management solution can reduce the management traffic overhead on congested or expensive network links. –Distributed solution makes it possible to share network management responsibility and resource requirements among multiple sites. –A scalable network management solution, properly configured, results in faster response times and better performance. –Improves network reliability by allowing local management actions even when contact is lost with a remote central management site

NNM Scalability Features Distributed Internet Discovery and Monitoring Management Consoles Support for viewing large map (the ‘panner’) On-demand Sub-maps Object Filtering Event Forwarding Distributed Threshold Monitoring

NNM Distributed Discovery and Monitoring Distributed discovery and monitoring is the ability to move much of the network discovery, topology monitoring, and status polling from the management station to one or more remote nodes.

NNM Distributed Discovery and Monitoring Consists of Management and Collection stations Management station makes network management functionality available to users, either directly or via one or more management consoles. Collection stations function as data collection points. A collection station typically performs: –network discovery –topology and IP status monitoring, –data collection, –local event correlation, and –event forwarding

NNM Distributed Internet Discovery & Monitoring Management Station A Collection Station A Collection Station B Collection Station n Changes in status and topology are relayed from the collection stations to the management station. Discovery and status polling occur at the local level. Managed Devices

NNM Management Consoles Management Consoles provide access to several operators to handle objects in the map (typically in a large network). Many operators simultaneously monitor network from the same topology database and sharing common discovery and monitoring processes at the management station. Operators can share one map, or have individual maps.

NNM Filters A filter is essentially a way to remove unneeded data from further processing. Filters result in less data to process, higher NNM performance, and improved usability for the operators. –for instance, to an operator whose only concern is the routers and hubs, a filter can be applied to the map, so that only routers and hubs appear.

NNM Filters Filters can eliminate unnecessary data at different points in the system: –Discovery filtering at any NNM station. –Exported topology filtering at the collection station. –Map filtering at the management station. –Failover filtering on the management station.

NNM Filters Filter TypePurposeApply on incoming data Reevaluate if filter changes Applied so data is DiscoveryLimit scope of Objects added to database. YesNoExcluded TopologyLimit information forwarded from collection station to management station. Yes Excluded MapShow only items of interest to operator on map. Yes Included FailoverLimit nodes polled by management station when collection station fails. Yes Included

NNM Event Forwarding Ability to forward events from collection stations to management stations. –general event or a threshold event Using the Event Configuration window, one can configure an event to be forwarded to any or all of the following: –NNM management stations –particular hosts, identified by hostname or IP address. –hosts listed (by hostname or IP address) in a specific file.

NNM Trend Data Collection Distributed data collection doesn’t reduce the load on a management station if the data is sent back to the management station in real time. NNM collection station supports storage of trend data in its local database. Data can then be transferred to a central relational database if required.

NNM Distributed Internet Discovery & Monitoring NNM Adv Edition A NNM Station C Dual-role station Domain A Devices NNM Adv Edition B Domain B Devices LAN data flow WAN data flow Filter in data path NNM Station D Collection station NNM Station E Collection station NNM Station F Dual-role station NFS Objects discovered & monitored by Station C Objects discovered & monitored by Station D Objects discovered & monitored by Station E Objects discovered & monitored by Station F