1. Network Management 2 School of Business Eastern Illinois University © Abdou Illia, Spring 2007 (Week 16, Thursday 4/19/2007)

2. 2 Learning Objectives n List main elements in Centralized network management n Describe Centralized Network Management principles n Describe Manager-Agent communications

3. 3 Centralized network management ? n Remotely managing a network from a central point (for example a PC) : – Gathering data about network performance – Fine-tuning network performance – Diagnosing problems – Fixing problems – Controlling security – Etc. n Centralized network management is possible with: – Managed networking components, and – Communication systems based on Network management protocols

4. 4 Managed networking component ? n Managed Networking components – Have objects that can be managed remotely – Include software components that gather data about their operation. n Managed networking components can be printers, hubs, switches, routers, application programs, etc. Managed Switch Object Property Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Value Status On Off Software components inside

5. 5 Centralized network management Network Management Software (Manager) RMON device  The Manager (an application program) is used to communicate with managed components.  The RMON is a stand-alone device or a software running in a switch or a router  The RMON collects data on network traffic Switch * RMON = Remote Monitoring

6. 6 Centralized network management Network Management Software (Manager) Network Management Agent (Agent) RMON device Network Management Agent (Agent)  The Agents (software programs) acts on behalf of managed device  The Manager doesn’t communicate with the managed device, but rather with its Agent

7. 7 Centralized network management Management Information Base (MIB) Management Information Base (MIB) Management Information Base (MIB) Network Management Software (Manager) RMON device  The MIB is a data base on objects and their characteristics (properties, etc.)  There is a small MIB on managed device  There is a complete MIB on the manager’s computer.

8. 8 Centralized network management Management Information Base (MIB) Management Information Base (MIB) Management Information Base (MIB) Network Management Software (Manager) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) RMON device Command (Get, Set) Response Trap

9. 9 Summary Questions (Part 1) 1) List the main elements in centralized network management 2) Does the Manager communicate directly with the managed devices? Explain. 3) Explain the difference between a managed device and objects. 4) Where is the MIB (database) stored?

10. 10 Manager-Agent communications Network Management Agent (Agent) Network Management Software (Manager) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) n Communication between the Manager and Agents works through command-response cycles n The Manager sends a command n The Agent sends back a response

11. 11 Manager-Agent communications Network Management Agent (Agent) Network Management Software (Manager) n Get commands tell the Agent to retrieve certain information and return this information to the Manager. Example: Get status of port 1 and 2 on the switch n Set commands tell the Agent to set a parameter (a property of an object) on the managed device. Example: Set the status of Port 2 on the switch to “off”. Command (Get, Set)

12. 12 Manager-Agent communications Network Management Agent (Agent) Network Management Software (Manager) n Sometimes Agents do not wait for commands to send information n If the Agent detects a condition the Manager should know about, it can send a Trap message to the Manager Trap

13. 13 Summary Questions (Part 2) 1) In Manager-Agent communications, which device creates commands? Responses? Traps? 2) Explain the two types of commands. 3) What is a trap?