Automated configuration change monitoring and policy analysis

The number one cause of network problems is human error in the change process.

IT staff spend a significant amount of time in understanding the network infrastructure, what is changing, how the devices are configured, and who is changing what.

Netcordia NetMRI cuts costs and improves network reliability and reduces troubleshooting times by providing automated management of network changes and configurations.

In addition, the configuration analysis features of MRI help network managers meet new IT conformance legislation for audit requirements.

The NetMRI appliance is a fully self-contained hardware and software system, already preloaded with the operating system, database, web server, custom analysis software and a rich DiagnosticBase of industry best practices.

Every day NetMRI auto-discovers, auto-reports, and assists in identifying, preventing and solving problems - providing remarkable information on potential performance and security problems.

Installation typically takes less than 30 minutes and the product is fully scaleable - from NetMRI Campus 200 handling up to 5,000 ports or 200 routers and switches - to NetMRI Enterprise 2000 handling up to 60,000 ports or 2,000 routers and switches.

Reports

INVENTORY / TOPOLOGY

On a periodic basis, NetMRI autodiscovers the network, collecting the key data it needs to build a network database consisting of the inventory, parameters, current statistics and topology. With one click, NetMRI displays your network inventory current within the past 24 hours. >>more detail

BEST PRACTICES

NetMRI's built-in DiagnosticBaseT incorporates industry best practices based upon the leading manufacturer's recommendations, thresholds, and specifications. Selecting and clicking a highlighted issue, shown on the left in the red tabbed box, provides details on the likely nature of the problem. Some issues also provide built-in recommendations and relevant links to the manufacturer's specific technical web resources. >>more detail

PATH DIAGNOSIS

The Path Diagnostic Chart can be limited to layer 2 only, or layer 2 and 3 on any given path. Problems along these particular Paths are identified explicitly by NetMRI, and by selecting them additional relevant details are provided. This can include specific recommendations and links to the manufacturer's specific technical web sites. >>more detail

CONFIGURATION ANALYSIS

NetMRI contains a powerful mechanism called Configuration Analysis, which allows engineers to automatically verify the correctness of each configuration file of their infrastructure devices against one or more configuration policies. This feature can be used for day-to-day configuration management or can be used for network auditing purposes. Examples include testing of Access Control Lists for inclusions or exclusions, interface parameters or names, Telnet vs SSH access, RIP settings, or any other configuration parameters to be verified daily as operating or not. NetMRI displays configuration differences in an auto-highlighted side-by-side comparison. This quickly draws attention to configuration differences NetMRI has discovered on a continuous basis. NetMRI also supports the automatic archiving of configurations for routers, switches, switch-routers, VPN concentrators, wireless access points and communication servers. This not only guards against the loss of current configurations after a hardware failure, but also provides the basis for automated comparisons. >>more detail

NETWORK SCORECARD

NetMRI performs considerable analysis of the collected network device information, correlating and comparing it to industry accepted Best Practices from the leading manufacturers. The result is a daily assessment, called a Network Scorecard, presented in a clear format, with a single rolled up metric or score. All technologies examined roll up into the Network Scorecard summary. >>more detail

VoIP ANALYSIS

NetMRI's optional VoIP module collects call detail records (CDRs) from the IP PBX. This information is integrated with the analysis from the SNMP Data from routers, switches, gateways, WAPs, etc., to give a converged view of the network. VoIP call errors are localized based upon NetMRI's knowledge of the network topology, and then correlated with all network device Issues across the specific call path reporting errors. This integrated VoIP and IP infrastructure analysis quickly identifies where and what is causing the errors.

Network engineers can drill-down to quickly and effectively trouble-shoot a VoIP problem. Starting with a VoIP threshold exception, the engineer drills down to see all of the affected users. Focusing in on a particular IP Phone the engineer may see excessively high jitter and examine the analysis results for all devices along the Call Path associated with that IP Phone. For example, the configuration for the switch adjacent to the IP phone may have been changed, resulting in a QOS mis-configuration. >>more detail