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The Network Data Collector is a telnet and SNMP-based data collector for Cisco devices which is used by customers to collect data for Net Audits. It provides a robust method of not only collecting the data but also creating the device list, defining and verifying access for the devices, monitoring data collection with real-time statuses, and uploading the data to CCO for report generation.
Traditionally, the time consuming aspect of data collection has been the creation and validation of a device list. Network Data Collector provides an easy to use graphical interface capable of assisting the user in the creation of a device list.
The Network Data Collector is available from CCO for any customer entitled to a Net Audit. It will be designed to run on Windows NT and Windows 2000, and should be installed as administrator. The customer installs the tool on a Windows workstation and configure the software using a simple graphical user interface. Set up involves creating a device list either manually, by importing from an NMS, or by discovering the devices on their network. The user is able to set the telnet access for these devices, validate access to these devices, and schedule data collection. The software provides real-time feedback to allow monitoring of data collection. The software uploads the collected data to CCO.
The following are important facts to keep in mind about the Network Data Collector tool:
New audit types are frequently being added to Network Data Collector. The current set of audits supported are:
The screenshots shown in this manual are based on a Router Stability Audit.
The Net Collection Wizard is an easy installation process for installing Network Data Collector on your computer. See Chapter 3, "Installing Network Data Collector", for more information.
Network Data Collector relies upon and maintains an ongoing relationship with the following Cisco utilities:
The following table displays the relationship between Network Data Collector and the above components.
| Component | Relationship with Network Data Collector |
|---|---|
CMF | The underlying framework of Network Data Collector. |
CiscoWorks 2000 | Network Data Collector uses the Process management (start/stop processes), User Management (add/delete user) and Device Connectivity (ping, trace route, etc.). |
RME | Network Data Collector uses the device import code and database of RME. All Network Data Collector tables are added into the RME database. In addition, the access information for devices like passwords, etc. are taken from RME tables only. |
NATkit | Network Data Collector uses NATkit's "'Device Discovery" as one of the optional device import methods under the "Device Import" branch. Both NATkit and Network Data Collector use the same poller code. |
The following sections provide a brief description of each of the above components.
The Common Management Foundation (CMF) is a collection of integrated subsystems, execution environments and shared libraries that provides services and infrastructure for web-based applications. CMF provides client and server components used by an increasingly broad spectrum of Cisco applications, including Network Data Collector.
CMF components include:
CiscoWorks2000 is a family of Web-based, management platform-independent products for managing Cisco networks and devices. CiscoWorks2000 products provides inventory, configuration, and software management capabilities, traffic management, graphical device management, wide-area and VPN monitoring, automated user and network discovery (including VLANS, ATM, LANE), network topology maps, path trace analysis, as well as knowledge integration with Internet resources such as Cisco Connection Online (CCO).
CiscoWorks2000 currently supports three application suites. You can customize CiscoWorks2000 for your network to include any or all suites. For more information about specific CiscoWorks2000 products, refer to your online help or CCO.
The CiscoWorks2000 Server is a common set of management services which are shared by more than one management application. The CiscoWorks2000 Server is part of CD One in CiscoWorks2000.
The CiscoWorks2000 Server is comprised of many technologies and services. These services include:
The CiscoWorks2000 Server is designed as a three-tiered component that includes:
Application suites enable the system and network services in order to make use of them. Runtime services are enabled by default. This occurs when a suite is installed and an application that requires the service enables it. Enabling network services also enables the system services component automatically. CiscoWorks2000 Server applications appear integrated in the CiscoWorks2000 desktop.
CiscoWorks2000 operations are performed from a browser connected to the CiscoWorks2000 Server. The desktop provides a single access point to:
Online help also contains a search engine, which enables keyword searching on the help topics, an index, from which you can look up typical network tasks, and a glossary that defines CiscoWorks2000 terms.
The Resource Manager Essentials (RME) package provides an enterprise solution to network management. This suite of web-based network management tools enables administrators to collect the monitoring, fault, and availability information needed to track devices that are critical to the network. RME also provides the administration tools needed to rapidly and reliably deploy and upgrade Cisco devices.
RME is based on a client/network architecture that connects multiple web-based clients to a server residing on the network. As the number of devices on the network increases, additional servers or collection points can be added to manage network growth with little impact on the client browser application.
By taking advantage of the scalability inherent in the intranet architecture, RME supports multiple users anywhere on the network. The web-based infrastructure gives network operators, administrators, technicians, Help Desk staff, IS managers, and end users access to network management tools, applications, and services.
RME lets you do the following:
Cisco's Network Analysis Toolkit (NATkit), a leading-edge enhancement to ANS support offerings, is based on the recognition that many network management operations are most efficiently handled with technology.
NATkit is a Web-based network problem avoidance and troubleshooting application that has built-in intelligence to help engineers prevent (or isolate and resolve) networking problems faster than ever before. NATkit performs as a proactive, real-time troubleshooting application that resides at the customer site.
NATkit delivers critical network information to ANS customers and to Cisco's ANS engineers, collecting network data through Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) requests, Telnet commands, and Syslog event messages to produce consolidated informative reports accessible through a web browser. Network data is available onsite to the customer and is updated through customer-controlled task scheduling. Network data is also encrypted and downloaded daily to Cisco for analysis by ANS engineers.
As a result, NATkit enables Cisco customers to maintain a high level of network management process integrity. The information NATkit provides allows our ANS experts to become more knowledgeable about the daily activities on customer networks. NATkit enables ANS engineers to provide proactive support capabilities, in order to maintain a high level of preventive and remedial support. In turn, it helps optimize the network reliability, performance, and uptime of the customer.
Posted: Mon Mar 25 14:57:44 PST 2002
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