5.2. NMS Suites
We use the term
"suite" to mean a software package that bundles multiple
applications into one convenient product. In this section, we discuss
NMS software, which is one of the more important pieces of the
network-management picture. Without it, the agent software in the
previous section is virtually useless. NMS products allow you to have
a total network view of your servers, routers, switches, etc. In most
cases, this view is a graphical representation of your network, with
lots of neat labels and icons. These packages are very configurable
and work in almost any network environment. With this freedom,
however, often comes a big price tag and a confusing setup process.
Some of the products focus more on the network side of management
(i.e., devices such as routers, hubs, and switches). Others go a step
beyond this and allow you to customize server and workstation agents
to integrate nicely into your NMSs. Keep in mind that the bigger
packages are for larger, more complicated networks and require
extensive training. Be sure to take some time to research the
packages before purchasing; if at all possible, get trial versions.
The rest of this section lists some of the more common NMS packages.
Platforms
Solaris, HP-UX, Windows NT/2000
Pros
Great mid- to large-business SNMP suite. While it can be complicated,
it is manageable with a little help from OpenView support. Has a nice
graphical map and event-monitoring system. Can do some historical
trend analysis. Price seems right and can be trimmed by obtaining a
license for a limited number of managed nodes.
Cons
Not many third-party application plug-ins available.
Platforms
Solaris, HP-UX, Windows NT/2000
Pros
If you're a Fortune 500 company looking to implement OpenView
on steroids, ITO is your product. It is very user-centered. Maps,
events, and more can be displayed or hidden based on a user's
profile. The event system is more like a ticket center. A wealth of
third-party "smart plug-ins" are available.
Cons
Price can be very high. Made for serious enterprise companies. Not
many people can properly implement this without training or outside
consulting help.
Platforms
OS/390, Solaris, AIX, Digital UNIX, Windows NT (Intel and Alpha)
Pros
A truly distributed network-management solution. It has the ability
to detect problems at the source before they affect users.
Cons
This is a heavyweight management system that requires extensive
investment and resources to implement and operate.
Platforms
Windows 98/NT/2000
Pros
Great for small to midsize companies. Contains everything you need to
get an NMS up and running in your environment. Price is very
reasonable, and it's loaded with features.
Cons
Network map could use a little work. Doesn't give a realistic
representation of your network.
Platforms
Many platforms, including Unix and Windows NT
Pros
BMC has developed knowledge bases for managing most aspects of the
enterprise, including networks, databases, and servers.
Cons
The knowledge modules are useful, but proprietary. The cost tends to
be on the high side. Does not use SNMP as its native language.
Platforms
Unix, Windows NT/2000
Pros
Can help you manage your entire IT business -- everything from
traditional network management to your Oracle database system.
Cons
This is another heavyweight management system that can take
substantial time, resources, and money to implement.
Platforms
Solaris, HP-UX, Windows NT
Pros
Uses behavior models (finite state machines) to model real-world
network situations. NerveCenter is designed to be a standalone
polling engine, or to be used in conjunction with OpenView's
graphical map. Perl subroutines can be compiled into the polling
engine for later use.
Cons
Takes more effort to maintain than OpenView, and tends to be more
complicated to operate.
Platforms
Solaris
Pros
RiverSoft, the company behind OpenRiver, boasts that their NMS
provides "interventionless network management." They also
provide true layer 2 and 3 network discovery. Despite the
product's impressive abilities, it is priced very reasonably.
Cons
Currently available only for Solaris (although RiverSoft is planning
a Windows NT release).
Platforms
Any Unix platform with an ANSI C compiler and the GTK/GDK toolkit
installed
Pros
This free NMS comes with several nice features, such as a mapping
tool (not auto discovery) and integration with SQL.
Cons
This project is still in its infancy (but there are many planned
features that will make it a robust NMS solution).
Platforms
Most Unix platforms, Windows NT
Pros
Tkined is a free
extensible network management platform. It provides a network map and
tools to perform discovery of IP networks. It can also perform
management of devices with SNMP and non-SNMP standards
( ping, traceroute, etc.). Tcl
is used to extend and add functionality to Tkined.
Cons
You must be familiar with Tcl to extend this package.
Platforms
Any platform that supports Java
Pros
OpenNMS is an attempt to provide users
with a truly open service and network-management product. It is
written in Java and is released under the GNU Public License (GPL).
It supports network discovery and distributed polling, among other
things.
Cons
This project is still in its infancy.
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