Key features of Enterprise Server include:

• Network Benchmarking
• Network Access Proxy Service
• Management of Shared Workspace for Users
• Managing User Accounts and Privileges
• CMDB (Configuration Management Database)
• 3rd party Integration
• Enterprise Scalability

Network Benchmarking

Operational networks are in a constant state of change, so how do you maintain an up-to-date view of your network? Operator Edition’s automated benchmarking capability is designed to keep all network maps fully synchronized with the operational network. Network benchmarking can be configured to collect the following raw network data at pre-defined intervals:

• Configuration Files
• Routing Tables
• CDP Tables
• All L2 related data including CAM/ARP

Once data collection is completed, the network modeling engine will parse the data and update the computational model of the network. Any network changes will be computed, reconciled and then pushed to Operator Edition Workstation users. When users open an existing SmartMap in which some elements have changed since its creation, the updated computational model will highlight the differences and users can update the existing network map with the latest data with one-click. With current network data always presented in SmartMap, network engineers will always have the most accurate network maps available.

For networks with more than 5,000 devices, additional Enterprise Servers should be deployed as close as possible to the managed network devices. This will ensure network data consistency and shorten the time required to run benchmarking. 

Network Proxy

Using the Enterprise Server’s built-in proxy service, network engineers can access the operational network from anywhere, at any time. Proxy service can be used to discover network devices that are in DMZ for example. Available proxy services include:

• SNMP proxy
• Ping and Trace route Proxy

If required, Operator Edition workstation and Enterprise Server can use any UNIX or Linux box as a hop-through proxy for Telnet/SSH sessions.

Shared Workspaces

A workspace contains all the data required to manage a network from within NetBrain Operator Edition, including configuration files, network topology and network settings for live access and historical data. As mentioned above in the Network Benchmarking section, each workspace and its associated network maps are updated on a regular basis to reflect any changes in the operational network. A user created workspace can also be configured to be accessed by other engineers to collaborate and share network information about a problem or for network troubleshooting.

Enterprise Server hosts the shared workspace for multiple workstation users. The Operator Edition administrator can customize the shared workspaces based on the real network and user function, so that it is easier to work with. Workspace customization capabilities allow for:

• Partitioning of large networks into multiple workspaces and distributing them across different Enterprise Server platforms
• Creating logical groups for devices within each workspace, allowing users to quickly navigate to the area of interest
• Distributing the load across multiple Enterprise Servers for SNMP probing and benchmarking

Role Based Management

Configuring and managing user accounts and privileges is straight forward and simple to accomplish. Based on a users access requirements and their job function, the Operator Edition administrator can quickly configure different levels of functionality and access for each user. Using either Enterprise Server’s web console or the Workstation administrator interface, an administrator can define and enforce a comprehensive set of privileges or add, remove or edit any of the workspace elements to match the needs of each end user.

Typical role based management use cases include:

• Allowing network consultants temporary access to data as needed
• Hiding advanced functionality from basic users
• Enabling power users to co-manage NetBrain system
• Increasing the protection and security of sensitive network data

Operator Edition’s role based management ensures that both productivity and security requirements can be met at the same time.

Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Effective management of device configurations is essential to successful management of complex network infrastructures. Operator Edition’s intelligent configuration management moves beyond typical solutions that just backup, compare and restore configuration files. The key lies in the depth and granularity of the network data collected. NetBrain’s CMDB pushes both to the next level. Unlike the one device at a time approach used by traditional NCCM solutions to establish a known good baseline, NetBrain views the whole network as a single entity and benchmarks the entire operational network at once and then constructs a data-driven model. Comparing the configuration of the entire network rather than individual devices provides a deeper understanding of the impact of change on the infrastructure.

In addition to device configuration files, NetBrain collects and uses the most comprehensive set of network data in its CMDB:

• L3 Network Topology
• L2 Network Topology
• Configuration Files
• Routing Table
• CAM/MAC table
• Interface data

Once collected, NetBrain parses all the network data and maintains a comprehensive data model for the CMDB engine. All information in the CMDB is continuously updated with the results of regular network benchmarking. This broad spectrum of data enables Operator to reflect even most subtle changes in the operational network in real-time.

3rd Party Integration

NetBrain Enterprise Server integrates with many existing network management products, expanding the capabilities of those solutions to support your day-to-day network troubleshooting needs. Through a set of open APIs, the following integrations are supported:

• Configuration management solutions including: Opsware, Alterpoint and Ciscoworks RME NetBrain can leverage the existing configuration repository to reduce polling to live network
• Network Monitoring and Help-desk solutions including: Tivoli NetCool and HP Openview Enhance monitoring and help-desk tools with one-click network map and one-click documentation automatically generated through an open API
• Network Performance Management solutions including: VitalNet
• SmartMap can provide a launching pad to easily access historical network performance data or reporting inside your other performance management tools

Enterprise Scalability

For networks with a few hundred network devices (routers, switch and firewalls), one Enterprise Server may be enough. An array of federated Enterprise Servers can be deployed, to provide scalability for larger networks with tens of thousands of network devices, to increase throughput and response.

• Deploy multiple Enterprise Servers close to each target network for recurring benchmark service and network proxy service.
• Divide your network to a few workspaces, where each workspace is hosted by an array of virtual server federations.
• Deploy the master enterprise server closer to users workstations to increase response.