Network Management: Concept
Network Management: Concept
Network management is the process of administering and managing computer networks. Various services provided by this discipline include fault analysis, performance management, provisioning of networks, maintaining the quality of service, and so on. Software that enables network administrators to perform their functions is called network management software. Let's discuss the concept of Network Management in detail.
What is a Network Management System?
A network management system (NMS) is a set of hardware and/or software tools that allow an IT professional to supervise the individual components of a network within a larger network management framework.
Functions of Network Management System:
Network management system components assist with:
Network device discovery
This function helps in identifying what devices are present on a network.
Network device monitoring
It refers to monitoring at the device level to determine the health of network components and the extent to which their performance matches capacity plans and intra-enterprise service-level agreements (SLAs).
Network performance analysis
It means tracking performance indicators such as bandwidth utilization, packet loss, latency, availability and uptime of routers, switches and other Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) -enabled devices.
Intelligent notifications
Through this function, configurable alerts that will respond to specific network scenarios by paging, emailing, calling or texting a network administrator.
What are the components of a Network Management System?
In computer networks, Network Management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the Operation, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning of networked systems. Network management is essential to command and control practices and is generally carried out of a network operations center.
Operation
Operation deals with keeping the network (and the services that the network provides) up and running smoothly. It includes monitoring the network to spot problems as soon as possible, ideally before users are affected.
Administration
Administration deals with keeping track of resources in the network and how they are assigned. It includes all the "housekeeping" that is necessary to keep the network under control.
Maintenance is concerned with performing repairs and upgrades—for example, when equipment must be replaced, when a router needs a patch for an operating system image, when a new switch is added to a network. Maintenance also involves corrective and preventive measures to make the managed network run "better", such as adjusting device configuration parameters.
Provisioning
Provisioning is concerned with configuring resources in the network to support a given service. For example, this might include setting up the network so that a new customer can receive voice service.
A common way of characterizing network management functions is FCAPS - Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security. FCAPS is the ISO Telecommunications Management Network model and framework for network management. We shall discuss FCAPS in detail in the next article, stay tuned for that.
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