Cisco Active Network Abstraction 4.0

Transcription

1 Cisco Active Network Abstraction 4.0 Product Overview Cisco Active Network Abstraction (ANA) is a flexible, vendor-neutral network resource management solution for a multitechnology, multiservice network environment. Operating between the network and the operations support system (OSS) layer, Cisco ANA aggregates virtual network elements (VNEs) into a software-based virtual network, much as real network elements create the real-world network (Figure 1). Cisco ANA dynamically discovers network components and tracks the status of network elements in near real time. Cisco ANA also provides platform and network mediation services for both Cisco applications and value-added applications from Cisco partners. Cisco ANA offers service providers: Simplified integration of OSS applications with network information A flexible common infrastructure for managing network resources Consistent procedures and interfaces for all network elements Figure 1. Cisco ANA Operates between the Network and the OSS Layers All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 1 of 6

2 Features and Benefits The key capabilities of Cisco ANA are divided into three separate categories: Vendor-neutral network resource management Enabling platform for value-added network and service management applications Standards-based access to near real-time network element and network information Vendor-Neutral Network Resource Management Using its OSS-to-network mediation and distributed management platform features, Cisco ANA provides consistent, vendor-neutral network resource management functions for network elements from Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Juniper, Redback, and more. Cisco ANA allows you to implement a flexible common network resource management infrastructure, eliminating inconsistent and multiple network element management applications through features such as these: Network and network element discovery: Existence Discovery algorithm that makes use of topology discovery protocols (BGP, OSPF, CDP, and more); discovery of network element details by simply specifying IP address and authentication information; detailed network connectivity discovery of physical and logical relationships between network elements Fault monitoring: Distributed network element and alarm surveillance and processing; network element fault analysis; features enabled for network topology-based fault correlation by advanced applications Customizable network element configuration: Command Builder tool helps automate frequent tasks, reduce errors, and improve network operations Network Element Configuration Management and Archive feature: Enables backups of customizable number of network element configurations, comparison of differences between stored configurations, and restoration of user-specified network element configurations Network Element Image Management feature: Ability to apply network element operating system images to single or multiple network elements at the same time, image rollback and activation, and package management for network elements that are based on Cisco IOS XR Software Performance management: Near real-time data collection with user-selected parameters, open northbound API for advanced performance management applications, and real-time threshold-crossing performance analysis using threshold crossing alarms Security: Authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) capabilities for lifecycle management Enabling Platform for Value-Added Network and Service Management Applications Using its OSS-to-network mediation and distributed management platform features, Cisco ANA facilitates value-added management applications from Cisco and Cisco partners. These applications include Cisco Assurance Management Solution, IBM Tivoli Netcool, and Cramer6 OSS Suite. All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 2 of 6

3 Cisco Assurance Management Solution, combining products from Cisco and IBM Tivoli, is available only when integrated with Cisco ANA. Cisco Assurance Management Solution provides extensive topology-based fault analysis capabilities for rapid and extensive fault detection, isolation, and root-cause correlation. Its Manager of Managers feature helps operators focus on important network events, offering a combination of alarm reduction rules, filtering, customizable alarm viewing, and partitioning. These features can be extended to include Layer 3 Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)/VPN fault analysis, creating a comprehensive fault management offering for network elements, networks, and services. Standards-Based Access to Near Real-Time Network Element and Network Information Cisco ANA provides value-added applications with standards-based access to real-time information on the network, network elements, slots, and ports. This information supports networking technologies that include IP, Packet Over Sonet, Hot Standby Router Protocol, Ethernet IEEE Dot1Q / VLAN, Ethernet channel, MPLS, and routing protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Thanks to this access to information, Cisco ANA eases the integration burden associated with traditional network management systems through standards-based APIs that provide: Real-time mediation to network element/network inventory and discovery information, a key value-add to offline inventory applications Real-time, distributed alarm surveillance and domain-specific root-cause analysis within value-added fault management applications Real-time, workflow-enabled service activation and network configuration engine for valueadded provisioning applications and processes to push activation commands to network elements Table 1 lists the features and benefits of Cisco ANA 4.0. Table 1. Features Cisco ANA Features and Benefits Benefits Vendor-neutral network resource management Platform for value-added network and service management applications Network element inventory views cover both physical and logical inventory for supported network elements. Automatic discovery of network topology uses Cisco Discovery Protocol and BGP. Captures and forwards network element-level alarms to OSS/BSS systems for monitoring at the network operations or data center. Command Builder tool helps automate frequent operational tasks, reduce errors, and improve network operations. Soft Properties tool helps customize network element events and alarms to proactively monitor network element health. Work Flow Client tool helps customize service activation flow and network operations management. Provides a generic view of multivendor network elements and the ability to automate operational tasks using a GUI that simplifies network operator training. Network Element Configuration Archive provides ability to back up, compare, and restore network element configurations. Network Element Image Management provides ability to apply Cisco IOS and IOS XR images to Cisco network elements (vendor-neutral capability is planned). OSS-to-network mediation and distributed management platform features facilitate value-added management applications from Cisco and Cisco partners that include Cisco Assurance Management Solution, IBM Tivoli Netcool, and Cramer6 OSS Suite. All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 3 of 6

4 Standards-based access to realtime network element and network information Distributed and scalable architecture Provides real-time mediation to network element/network inventory and discovery data, adding value to off-line inventory applications. Provides real-time, distributed alarm surveillance and enabling technology for domain-specific root-cause analysis within value-added fault management applications. Provides a real-time, workflow-enabled service activation and network configuration engine. Standard WSDM based northbound interface provides a single network element mediation platform for all supported network elements. Standard northbound interface reduces OSS/BSS integration complexity. Eliminates use of a single point for computation in managing multivendor networks. Allows network operators to expand core networks, and manage them effectively, with low incremental cost. Hot standby system enables services management and business continuity. Platform Architecture The core technology of Cisco ANA provides end-to-end visibility of network resources, connections, and dependencies through a scalable and distributed management platform architecture consisting of virtual network elements (VNEs), VNE server units, and the Cisco ANA Gateway appliance (Figure 2). The building blocks of the Cisco ANA virtual network model are software-based VNEs that clone the characteristics and properties of their real-world counterparts. These entities run autonomously within Cisco VNE server units. Each VNE is assigned to manage a single network element instance using southbound management interfaces implemented by the network element such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) or Telnet. Messaging between VNEs is used for running different end-to-end algorithmic flows, providing information for root-cause and impact analysis, service path tracing, and other uses in value-added applications. The VNE server units can host thousands of VNEs and are interconnected to form a fabric that can intercommunicate with other VNEs regardless of which unit they are running on. VNE server units also allow for optimal VNE distribution, helping ensure geographic proximity between VNEs and their managed network elements. The Cisco ANA Gateway is a server unit through which all applications (including any OSS/BSS applications as well as service management applications for Cisco ANA and clients) access the system, enforce access control and security for all connections, and manage client sessions. In addition, it functions as a repository for configuration, network, and system events and alarms. The Cisco ANA Gateway is also used to map network resources to the business context, allowing Cisco ANA or service management applications for Cisco ANA to take information that is not directly contained in the network (such as VPNs and subscribers) and display it to northbound applications. All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 4 of 6

5 Figure 2. Cisco Active Network Abstraction Architecture System Requirements Tables 2, 3, and 4 list the Cisco ANA 4.0 system requirements. Table 2. Disk space Hardware Processor Memory System Requirements, Cisco ANA Gateway Recommended: 2x73-GB HDD Sun V490 DVD drive 2 10/100M Ethernet ports Solaris 10 compatible 4 Ultra SPARC IV Processors 1.35 GHz or better 16 GB 8 GB of Solaris SWAP per CPU Software Solaris 10 Customer-supplied Oracle 10g Table 3. Disk space Hardware Memory Processor System Requirements, Cisco ANA Unit Recommended: 2x73-GB HDD Sun V490 DVD drive 2 10/100M Ethernet ports Solaris 10 compatible 16 GB 4 Ultra SPARC IV Processors 1.35 GHz or better Software Solaris 10 All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 5 of 6

6 Table 4. Disk space Hardware Memory Software System Requirements, Cisco ANA Client 2 GB free disk space Pentium IV, 2.66 GHz Processor or better DVD drive Minimum screen resolution of 1024x768 pixels True Color (32 bit) setting 2 GB 512 MB of free non-virtual memory Windows 2000 or Windows XP Ordering Information Cisco ANA 4.0 software is targeted to service providers. For more information on Cisco ANA and ordering details, please contact the product marketing group at [email protected]. Service and Support Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco services help you to protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare the network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business. For more information about Cisco services, see Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services. For More Information For more information about Cisco Active Network Abstraction, visit contact your local Cisco account representative, or send an to [email protected]. Printed in USA C /08 All contents are Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 6 of 6