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1.11.5 Sun Microsystems’ Solstice Domain Manager

Sun Microsystems’ network management product family includes Solstice Site Manager (SM), Solstice Domain Manager (DM), and Solstice Enterprise Manager (EM) (see Figure 1-20).


Figure 1-20.  Sun Microsystems’ Solstice Enterprise management architecture (Courtesy of Sun Microsystems, Inc.)

Sun’s Solstice SunNet Manager (SNM), one of the most widely accepted network management platforms, plus Solstice Cooperative Consoles (CC), became the basis for Solstice Site Manager and Solstice Domain Manager.

Solstice Site Manager is designed to meet the requirements of smaller sites managing up to 100 nodes. Solstice Site Manager includes Solstice SNM 2.3, plus the sender portion of Solstice CC, which allows management data, including topological information, events, and traps, to be forwarded to the Solstice Domain Manager. Solstice Site Manager can also access Novell’s NetWare Management System, an agent residing on a Novell Server, and import topological information from Novell’s ManageWise network management console.

Solstice Domain Manager is designed to meet the requirements of larger or multisite environments. This product includes Solstice SNM 2.3, the sender and receiver portions of Solstice CC, and an advanced Layout Tool. Solstice Domain Manager may be used in one of three configurations: as a stand-alone platform for large sites, as a central manager connecting multiple Site Managers/Domain Managers, or in a cooperative (peer-to-peer) environment with other Domain Managers to manage an enterprise.

Key features of the Domain Manager include: event management, including event-based actions, scheduled requests, and alarm reports; and user tools, including the console, topological map, link management, as well as discover, layout, browser, and grapher tools.

Distributed network management is the foundation for the Solstice Site and Domain Managers. Multiple Site Managers can be deployed and can be connected to a Domain Manager. Multiple Domain Managers are also possible. In addition, the management of larger networks can be simplified by spreading the management load across two different types of agents: device-based agents and proxy agents that act as middle managers. The middle managers localize network management polling to minimize network management traffic.

Both the Site and Domain Managers include a number of integrated SNMP features, including: the Proxy Agent, Trap Daemon to translate and forward traps, the mib2schema utility for MIB translation, and support for the protocol operations enhancements for SNMPv2.

Solstice Enterprise Manager is the next generation network management platform from Sun. It is based on a distributed, object-oriented, client/server architecture that allows it to scale to manage large, distributed, or mission-critical networks. The client/server architecture provides true multiuser support. Security is based on defined users and groups. Access controls can be specified on a platform (all applications), on selected applications, or on an application-feature basis. For example, the SNMP Browser can allow GETs but not SETs. Multiple management servers, called Management Information Servers (MIS), can be deployed for scalability. Management Information Servers can communicate with each other to present a consistent view to the network operator.

Reference [1-37] provides further information on the Solstice family of management products.

1.11.6 Tivoli Systems’ TME 10 NetView

TME 10 NetView breaks down the traditional barriers between network management and systems management by providing tight integration with Tivoli’s complimentary TME 10 management applications. Combined with its ability to easily effect changes on many devices, a global support infrastructure, and the backing of hundreds of third-party vendors, Tivoli’s TME 10 NetView is a widely implemented management platform (Figure 1-21). Further, TME 10 NetView not only enables you to manage your network, it also positions you for planned and future growth with a complete systems management solution.


Figure 1-21.  Tivoli and IBM application integration (Courtesy of Tivoli Systems)

TME 10 NetView enables users to discover TCP/IP networks, display network topologies, correlate and manage events and SNMP traps, monitor network health, and gather performance data. TME 10 NetView meets the needs of small network managers and can grow with you to manage even the largest networks. By using the TME 10 NetView Mid-Level Manager (MLM) throughout your enterprise, you can scale TME 10 NetView in a truly distributed fashion, providing an effective means to reduce your total cost of ownership and keep network management traffic close to the source.

TME 10 NetView is rich in powerful features that provide you with pertinent, up-to-the-minute information. For example, TME 10 NetView Object Collections enable you to dynamically group resources by common characteristics such as resource type or location. Using Object Collections, you can monitor groups of devices without manually searching for them. Object Collections enable you to dynamically group network objects according to any logical scheme. You can view, for example, all down routers (exception reporting), all routers from a specified manufacturer (all Brand X routers), or all routers in a specified subnet. Unlike some collection facilities, TME 10 NetView Object Collections are dynamically updated in real time, eliminating human error and outdated information.

In a single action, you can centrally set and enforce policy to multiple network devices using the Agent Policy Manager. Changes to hundreds or thousands of remote devices take place in minutes instead of hours or days.

A sophisticated rules-based event correlation engine allows you to graphically build rules that define how you want to implement business policies. Events can be handled locally, centrally, or passed to other Tivoli applications for further correlation. In essence, the ability to implement business policies in the form of rules enables you to quickly diagnose root problems rather than report only symptomatic events. Further, exception reporting declares serious problems with specific network devices when defined thresholds are violated.

Reference [1-38] provides further information on TME 10 NetView.


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