Network Management Tool

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Running head: NETWORK MANAGEMENT TOOL

Network Management Tool
James Hicks
Devry University
Enterprise Network Management
Networking 420
Professor Ghani
April 30, 2012

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NETWORK MANAGEMENT TOOL

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Abstract

Cisco’s Prime LAN Management Tool enables users to view how devices are configured
without the devices themselves needing to be repeatedly queried. More important, it enables
users to back up and archive how devices are configured, to restore device configurations if that
ever is required, and to manage the distribution of software images to the devices. In addition,
element managers can receive event messages from the devices, which enables users to monitor
the various pieces of equipment across the entire network, not just one device at a time. Element
managers might also be able to automatically discover equipment that is deployed on the
network. Cisco Prime LAN Management Solution (LMS) offered as part of Cisco Prime
Infrastructure, delivers powerful network lifecycle management by simplifying the
configuration, compliance, monitoring, troubleshooting, and administration of Cisco networks.

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Network Management Tool

I chose to write about Cisco’s Prime LAN Management Tool and describe the primary
functional areas and the benefits that this tool can have for an Enterprise Network. Management
platforms are general-purpose management applications that are used to manage networks. The
functionality of management platforms is generally comparable to that of element managers.
However, management platforms are typically designed to be vendor independent, offering
device support for equipment of multiple vendors. Typically, the primary task of a management
platform is to monitor the network to make sure it is functioning properly. “Cisco Prime LAN
Management Solution (LMS) offered as part of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, delivers powerful
network lifecycle management by simplifying the configuration, compliance, monitoring,
troubleshooting, and administration of Cisco networks.”(Cisco, 2012) This innovative solution
offers end-to-end management for business-critical technologies and services. It aligns
management functionality with the way network operators do their jobs.
One of the primary functions that CPI offers is monitoring and troubleshooting tool that
allows you identify and fix any networking problems. This is done by monitoring the end users
with out of the box preconfigured monitoring dashboards. Another benefit that CPI offers is the
ability to compare configuration methods and compare and contrast those to pre-defined guided
work flows based on built in configuration templates that help reduce errors. This tool also offers
compliance and audit management by offering an upgradable compliance engine that offers
modeling of the industry, corporate, IT, and technologies policies and allows you to view and
manipulate the status of the network. CPI also offers comprehensive reporting, get real time
updated information allowing the network advisor to monitor the inventory, user tracking, and

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compliance, switch port usage, end of sale, PSIRT, and in other critical areas. Finally, it also
offers a work center that allows monitoring of the end to end life cycle of Cisco value added
technologies and solutions such as media net, energy wise, trust sec, auto smart ports and auto
smart install as well as identity.
Cisco Prime for Enterprise is an innovative strategy and portfolio of management
products that empower IT departments to more effectively manage their networks and the
services they deliver. Cisco Prime simplifies network management, improves operations
efficiency, reduces errors, and makes the delivery of network services more predictable. This is
definitely a bundled solution to help in the everyday management of a large network, this tools
allows the administrator or networking professional to have access to all areas of the network in
one database that not only monitors the network for you, but also allows you to see highlighted
areas that need to be fixed or adjusted so that additional errors and troublesome scenarios do not
present themselves. “Terminals, sometimes also referred to as device managers (not to be
confused with element managers), provide a user-friendly way for humans to interact with
individual network equipment. Terminals are used to log into equipment one device at a time,
view its current status, view and possibly change its configuration settings, and trigger the
equipment to execute certain actions.”(Clemm, 2007) Cisco Prime also allows the safety of the
network to be monitored and any possible weaknesses to be determined and fixed. Network
security is definitely a key area that needs to be monitored especially if it giving warnings so that
you are aware of the weakened network area and it also gives you a list of possible solutions.
One of the key aspects of Cisco Prime is the fact that you can troubleshoot with a Cisco
representative who will guide you if there are any areas that are misunderstood or you just need
troubleshooting assistance. Intrusion detection systems such as Cisco Prime help network

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providers to detect suspicious communication patterns on the network that might be indicative of
an ongoing attack. Attacks include attempted break-ins into routers or, much more common, into
servers, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks that could be caused by Internet worms designed to
overload and, hence, effectively shut down a service.
Cisco offers many tools associated with Cisco Prime those are; Collaboration Manager,
Network Analysis Manager, and of course the LAN Management Solution. These other tools
offer various troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities. I personally believe if you are using
Cisco equipment and have an enterprise network you can greatly benefit from having an
additional monitoring and management tool such Cisco’s Prime management software to keep an
eye on your equipment and processing techniques as well as having any hands on
troubleshooting solution with Cisco guidelines to follow. As a student in the Network
Management field striving to become a professional, I feel that this type of management tool is
extremely important for a large enterprise network.

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References

Cisco. (2012). Cisco Prime LAN Management Solution (Technical). Retrieved from
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11200/index.html:
Clemm, A. (2007). Network Management Fundamentals. In Network Management
Fundamentals (pp. 62-73). Retrieved from
http://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781256084068/pages/34121987

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