1. AutoDiscovery Device Attributes Discovery Ports Discovery CDP Neighbours Discovery Layer 3 Hosts Discovery

2. Introduction Reliable monitoring and efficient use depends on the accuracy of the entered data that describe the network and the network devices. AutoDiscovery function aims: Easing the initial database population Updating - topology, new devices and relevant data Discovery on hop-by-hop basis Better overview and control over the process No retrieval of the entire network Possibility of clear database organisation in the system

3. Location A Location 1 Router 1 Location A3 Router B Serial 0 Serial 1 Router A Router C Router D Serial 1 Router A Serial 0 Router A2 Router A1 Router A3 notesnotes… PC1 PC2 PC3 PC4 PC5 M M

4. Principles AutoDiscovery functions are performed on the Device objects or their Ports Data is read and retrieved via SNMP Result are shown in the Message panel AutoDiscovery functions perform following actions: Attempts to find the discovered Devices in the database Device already exists in the database -> update of the object properties and Links Device does not exist in the database -> Device is created in the Discovered Folder, located underneath the Device on which the AutoDiscovery service was initialised. Links are being set to the discovered Devices/Ports, depending on the type of initialized AutoDiscovery function.

5. Device Attributes Discovery Setting the Name information for every SNMP enabled device For Cisco Systems devices, finds serial number and model information Plans for the future… Deeper and intelligent analysis Discovering type of the device and manufacturer Discovering device attributes (type of hardware, type of OS, memory and storage size…)

6. Ports Discovery Discovers all network interfaces (ports) with following attributes: short and full name of the port description of the port bandwidth SNMP ID Port objects are updated or created under the Device in the information system hierarchy and each Port is linked to the parent Device SNMP ID – index to member in OID list - the most important port attribute Optional selection of automatic PortDiscovery function on the Devices on daily basis Persistent interface indexes

7. CDP Neighbours Discovery Based on CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) Discovering neighbour devices Creating the Links between Devices CDP offers the information about models of these devices, as well as connected ports The final result is creating Links between two Ports of neighbouring Devices, which represents the topological connection in this part of the computer network Cisco only up to now - waiting for the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and MIB…

8. Layer 3 Hosts Discovery Started on routers (Layer 3 device) or router ports Discovers all IP address of end devices (hosts) on adhering local segments (sub-networks) Based on ARP table NetIIS system gets the address range in the adhering sub-network. This address range is pinged, in order to refresh the router’s ARP table, from where IP and MAC addresses of end devices are retrieved NetBIOS and DNS names are requested from host devices, which are set in the Device name A new object type Device is created within the Discovered Folder, which presents the local sub-network, under a name based on the IP address and length of the mask split with an under score (e.g. 10.1.2.0_24)

9. Layer 2 Hosts Discovery Initiated on the switch (Layer 2 device), Discovers IP addresses of end devices (hosts) connected to the switchports. Needs the VLAN number and IP address of the default- gateway; optional address range for pinging Gets information of the MAC addresses and the corresponding switch port from the switch forwarding table Ports with one accompanying MAC address are analysed An ARP table is read from the default-gateway from which IP addresses are paired with previously read MAC addresses

10. AutoDiscovery Summary Device Attributes Discovery Ports Discovery CDP Neighbours Discovery Layer 3 Neighbours Discovery