1. Network Management
Lesson 11 1

2. Objectives Exam Objective Matrix Technology Skill Covered
Exam Objective Number
What is Network Management and Why Do We Need It?
Documentation
Describe the purpose of configuration management documentation.
• Wire schemes
• Network maps
• Documentation
• Cable management
• Asset management
• Baselines
• Change management
4.5

3. Objectives Exam Objective Matrix Technology Skill Covered
Exam Objective Number
Network Monitoring
Given a scenario, use the appropriate network monitoring resource to
analyze traffic.
• SNMP
• SNMPv2
• SNMPv3
• Syslog
• System logs
• History logs
• General logs
• Traffic analysis
• Network sniffer
Categorize different types of network security appliances
and methods.
• NESSUS
• nmap
4.4
5.6
Network Optimization
Given a scenario, install and configure routers and switches.
• QoS
2.1

4. Objectives Exam Objective Matrix Technology Skill Covered
Exam Objective Number
Explain different methods and rationales for network performance optimization.
• Methods:
• QoS
• Traffic shaping
• Load balancing
• High availability
• Caching engines
• Fault tolerance
• CARP
• Reasons:
• Latency sensitivity
• High bandwidth applications
(VoIP, video applications, unified
communications)
• Uptime
4.6

5. What Is Network Management and Why Do We Need It?
Various actions, procedures, and methods related to monitoring, configuring, maintaining, supporting, and updating a network and its infrastructure
Importance
Detect and correct problems before they become obvious 5

6. Network Management Considerations
Reliability
Configuration
Accounting
Performance
Security 6

7. How likely that network will function properly Ensure reliability
Use reliable networking equipment
Regularly maintain network equipment
Wiring should be neat and orderly
Watch over routers
Check integrity of file servers 7

8. How network is laid out and how equipment is set up
Configuration
How network is laid out and how equipment is set up
Ring versus star topology
Equipment use and configuration affects network management
Virtualization versus actual servers 8

9. Keeping track of activity on network
Accounting
Keeping track of activity on network
By user
Performance measurements
Cost-benefit determination of resources and overhead devoted to network 9

10. How well the network is functioning Two components
Performance
How well the network is functioning
Two components
How to determine how the network is performing: Network monitoring; determine where performance overlaps with accounting
How to make the network perform better: New equipment, better procedures, and/or more efficient software 10

11. Security is part of network management
What measure to be taken
What technologies to use in securing network
Wired versus wireless systems
Determined by levels of user access to be granted 11

12. Types of Network Documentation
Network maps
Baselines
Wiring schematics
Cable management
Asset management 12

13. Policies and procedures
Types of Network Documentation (Cont.)
Change management
Policies and procedures
Configurations
Regulations 13

14. Network Maps
Network diagrams show either the physical layout or the logical layout of the network
Physical network diagrams
Logical network diagrams
Spreadsheets can be tied to information as an organizational aid to assist in correcting technical problems 14

15. A snapshot of what is going on in your network
Baselines
A snapshot of what is going on in your network
Comparison point
Baseline creation
Determine purpose
Establish objectives
Decide on devices to be included
Plan long term goals 15

16. Physical Network diagram

17. Logical Network Diagram

18. Windows 7 Performance Monitoring Software

19. Useful in troubleshooting and repairs
Wiring Schematics
Diagram of where all wires in network are in relation to the physical layout of the network facility location
Useful in troubleshooting and repairs
Wire run locations
Jack connections to ports and switches 19

20. Making sure all cabling is well organized and documented
Cable Management
Making sure all cabling is well organized and documented
Label and document
Jacks
Patch panels
Switches
Cables
Keep cables neat and orderly
Aids in troubleshooting and repairs 20

21. A basic inventory system
Asset Management
A basic inventory system
Label and document all equipment on a network
Aids in:
Detecting equipment theft
Troubleshooting and repairs 21

22. Documenting changes on the network
Change Management
Documenting changes on the network
Changes, updates, additions, removals
Clarifies planned changes versus fixes
Provides technical staff troubleshooting tools
Document changes to
Hardware
Software 22

23. Policies, Procedures, and Configurations
How various devices are configured
Policies and procedures
Concerning how network policy is documented and implemented
Creating network management policies
Factor in size of network
Consider the job network is to accomplish
Determine security needs 23

24. National and industry specific
Regulations
Rules and guidelines imposed on the company by outside agencies and/or organizations
Affect legal status of operations
National and industry specific
Strive to meet and exceed standards 24

25. Using Network Documentation
Determined by type of documentation
Configuration information
Policies and regulations
Procedures 25

26. Keeping Network Documentation Up to Date
Out-of-date documentation is worse than no documentation
Establish policies and regulations surrounding a regular maintenance program
Perform regular inventories of equipment and software
Reconcile to documentation 26

27. Act of watching a network and determining its current state
Network Monitoring
Act of watching a network and determining its current state
Packet sniffers
SNMP
Connectivity software 27

28. Packet Sniffers
Primary function is to capture data packets and deconstruct them to know their protocols and content
Shows error packets being sent
Creates statistics about types of packets passing and ports used
Wireshark is a widely used packet sniffer
Legal implications 28

29. Wireshark Capturing Data Packets

30. Monitors network devices
SNMP
Monitors network devices
Constantly updates on the status of the devices it is running on
Can be used to interrogate any device running
May be vulnerable to hackers
Run only when needed 30

31. Connectivity Software
Connectivity monitoring software
Vulnerability testing 31

32. Connectivity Monitoring Software
Designed to monitor and track
Computers connecting to network
Computer ports is use
Protocols used
What other computers are connecting to
Creates graphical representation of active connections
The Dude
nmap 32

33. nmap Zenmap of a Local Computer Connected to a Network

34. Vulnerability Testing
The practice of testing a network by looking for ways that a network can be compromised either by accident, circumstances, or deliberate action
Additional use is tracking a compromised network to discover and fix breached locations
Penetration testing
Concerned with specific threats 34

35. Purpose is to test network capacity
Load Testing
The act of deliberately putting greater than normal demands on a network or the devices in a network to see how they will behave
Purpose is to test network capacity
Stress testing is deliberately loading networks or devices beyond the point where they can function properly in order to see what will happen 35

36. Programs that are designed to test the actual throughput of a network
Throughput Testers
Programs that are designed to test the actual throughput of a network
Tests a private network
Speed tests run on public networks
Purpose is to determine what the exact throughput is at any given time 36

37. Logs System logs History logs
Data files kept by operating system or its components
Records system, device, system event, and driver changes
History logs
Ongoing record of the activity in a specific device or on the network
Reference record of past activities 37

38. Logs (Continued) Event logs Event Viewer
Data files that contain information about events in an operating system, application, or other software component
Occurs when software program require a specific action
Event Viewer
Contains three main logs: Application, Security, and System 38

39. Windows 7 Event Viewer

40. Striking a balance between network performance and network cost
Network Optimization
Striking a balance between network performance and network cost
Reasons for network optimization
Latency sensitivity
High bandwidth applications
Uptime 40

41. Latency Sensitivity
Latency is the time needed for a packet to move from one location to another
Causes
Propagation
Media
Transmission
Processing
Storage delays 41

42. High Bandwidth Applications
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Allow voice and multimedia sessions
Video applications
Network video applications
Video surveillance
Video communications
Edutainment
Unified communications
Multiple technologies on same network 42

43. Uptime
The measure of how long a network and/or the devices on it have been running without any outages or being shut down
Downtime
Maximizing uptime/minimizing downtime
Optimizing network
Redundancy
Compartmentalization 43

44. Quality of Service (QoS)
Methods to Achieve Network Optimization
Quality of Service (QoS)
Traffic shaping
Load balancing
High availability
Caching engines
Fault tolerance 44

45. Quality of Service (QoS)
Network mechanisms allowing a network to reserve resources and control how resources are distributed
Bit rates
Delays
Jitters
Packet drop probabilities
Bit errors 45

46. Also packet shaping, is a tool for network optimization
Traffic Shaping
Also packet shaping, is a tool for network optimization
Controls and prioritizes traffic based on type of packet being passed
Increases usable bandwidth
Guarantees performance
Improves latency 46

47. Network management tool intended to minimize impact of high traffic
Load Balancing
Network management tool intended to minimize impact of high traffic
Spreads traffic evenly
Requires all devices to be connected to network in same way
Requires software component control
Common Address Redundancy Protocol(CARP)
Pooled devices use same IP address 47

48. A goal or concept in network optimization
High Availability
A goal or concept in network optimization
Refers to ability to keep network running reliably with minimal downtime
High redundancy
Alternate routes (paths) to every major location (segment) on network 48

49. Network caching system
Caching Engines
Network caching system
Caching server
Caching engine
Optimizes performance by retrieving data locally
Determines data to be stored locally
Tracks data commonly asked for 49

50. How a Caching Engine Works

51. Level of fault tolerance determined by cost- benefit analysis
The ability of a network to have a portion of the network fail but still continue to work at some level of functionality
Goal of redundancy
Level of fault tolerance determined by cost- benefit analysis 51

52. Summary
The network management functions of monitoring, configuring, maintaining, supporting, and updating a network are important in detecting and correcting problems
Network management considerations include facets of reliability, configuration, accounting, performance, and security
Documentation types include network maps; baselines; wiring, cable, asset, and change management; configurations; policies; procedures; and regulations 52

53. Summary (Continued)
Using network documentation depends on whether it is configuration information, policies and regulations, or procedures
Keep network documentation up-to-date
Monitor the network with packet sniffers, SNMP, and connectivity software
Connectivity monitoring software is designed to monitor network connections
Vulnerability testing is looking for ways that a network can be compromised either by accident, circumstances, or deliberate action 53

54. Summary (Continued)
Load and stress testing is putting greater than normal demands on a network to see how it will behave
Throughput testers are designed to test and determine the actual throughput of a network
Logs—including system, history, event, and event viewers—are data files created to record what a program has done
Network optimization is needed due to latency sensitivity, high bandwidth applications, and uptime 54

55. Summary (Continued)
High bandwidth applications encompass Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video applications, and unified communications
Uptime is maximized through optimization; downtime is minimized through maintenance
Quality of Service (QOS), traffic shaping, load balancing, high availability, engine caching, and fault tolerances are methods used to achieve network optimization 55