Topology-aware integrated network and switching management functions

Brief introduction

Cisco Fabric Manager is a web-based, easy-to-use, responsive application that enables switch and network management in an integrated way, simplifying the management of the Cisco MDS 9000 series switches in the storage Area network (SAN). Cisco Fabric Manager provides network-level management capabilities for storage administrators, including identification, multiple-switch configuration, continuous network monitoring, and troubleshooting. This powerful method can greatly shorten the setup time of the switch, improve the reliability of the whole network, and provide a wealth of diagnostic information to help solve network problems and configuration inconsistencies.

With the intuitive graphical interface of Cisco Fabric Manager, storage administrators can compare switch configurations, configure policy checks on the Cisco MDS 9000 series switches, set thresholds for reporting Third-party error management applications, and view the statistics and overall statistics for a single device in real time , as well as analysis of historical statistical data. All of these functions can be performed in a secure interface and can be managed remotely from any location.

Features of Cisco Fabric Manager

• Java application for embedded switches-integrates switches and network management into one of the performance tuning tools that are supplied with each Cisco MDS 9000 series switch.

• Matrix visualization-Performs centralized automatic recognition and displays the storage network topology, connectivity, and regional/virtual storage Area Network (VSAN) key annotations, enabling people to quickly understand network conditions and discover configuration issues.

• Multiple views, including matrices, devices, and summaries-simplifies configuration and monitoring of multiple switches and supports configuration replication.

• Fully configured multiple switches-provides integrated networking, switch and port-level configuration, simplifies zone, VSAN, IP Fibre Channel (FCIP), Small computer system interface (ISCSI), IBM Fibre Optic Connectivity (FICON), and Smart service configuration.

• Flexible monitoring and alerting-displays real-time and historical performance monitoring statistics in tabular and graphical format, and the configuration of thresholds based alerts, including Call home, facilitates quick response by the person concerned to the exception.

• Historical performance monitoring-provides tabular and graphical reports showing the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly traffic between inter-switch links (ISL), host and storage connections, and between certain fibre Channel source and target sites. The first 10 reports and daily summary reports that provide network-level statistics can greatly simplify network hotspot analysis.

• Powerful configuration analysis-performs zone consolidation analysis and configuration checking, simplifies problem resolution processes, facilitates successful consolidation of networks, and resolves configuration inconsistencies automatically.

• Network Diagnostics-Use fibre Channel ping and traceroute to detect network and switch operations, allowing administrators to quickly discover network connectivity and performance issues.

• Comprehensive security-use of the Simple Network Management Protocol version 3rd (SNMP v3), Secure Shell Protocol (SSH), and role-based access control (RBAC) to prevent unauthorized management access.

Equipment identification

Cisco Fabric Manager uses standards-based protocols to automatically identify all devices and connect one or more networks to each other. All available switches, host bus adapters (HBAs), and storage devices can be identified. Identifying information includes device name, software version number, vendor, ISL, Portchannels, and Vsan.

Topology mapping

Cisco Fabric Manager provides an accurate view of multiple networks by displaying a topology map according to device identification information. By dragging the mouse over the interface, the user can modify the layout of the topology map and highlight certain configuration information, such as regions, Vsan, and ISL that use thresholds.

A flexible view

The integrated network and switch management approach provided by Cisco Fabric Manager allows all switch statistics and standard configuration parameters to be displayed through a matrix view, a device view, and an overall view. The operator can see the relevant views and configuration parameters with just a click of the mouse.

Status and performance monitoring

Cisco Fabric Manager can use SNMP traps and device checks to provide continuous state and event monitoring for the Cisco MDS 9000 series. The new device will automatically be added to the topology map and clearly indicate the various modifications that adversely affect existing devices and interconnections in order to quickly identify and resolve the problem. To eliminate redundant record entries, network events are also filtered. The color coding and sorting capabilities also allow for further enhancement of the accessibility of critical event logging information.

Event Management

The Advanced event management configuration is another important feature of Cisco Fabric Manager. Remote monitoring (RMON) alert thresholds, event filtering, and call home settings enhance the ability to identify and communicate problems. In addition, these alerts can also be sent to Third-party error and alert applications to implement call dispatch, fault orders, and audit trail functions.

Diagnosis

Cisco Fabric Manager includes many of the industry-leading powerful Fibre Channel network diagnostics tools. These diagnostic tools, called Fibre Channel traceroute and fibre Channel Ping, can provide comprehensive connectivity analysis. With Traceroute, you can track paths from any two o'clock in a Fibre Channel network. The jump-by-hop delay calculation is shown in tabular form, and the switches in the path are highlighted in the topology map to help the operator quickly discover routing problems.