Campus-wide Network Infrastructure Management
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Network infrastructure management: Challenges
fibre/UTP cables and switch ports use (availability)
wireless coverage and AP specifics
wiring centre / equipment room layout
data centre management
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Infrastructure management systems
a.k.a. Cabling management software (CMS),
a.k.a. Network modeling software (NMS),
a.k.a. Physical Layer Management (PLM)
are meant to store enterprise-wide information on network equipment
along with details of cabling usage and availability.
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
In this presentation:
History, practices, experience
System features and requirements
Comparative analysis of commercially available network modeling systems
Implementation, practical results and challenges in infrastructure
management
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
What this presentation is NOT:
a comprehensive analysis of the PLM systems on the
market
an effort in promoting or advocating of any product
mentioned
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Network infrastructure documentation…
… as we know it
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
The good…
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
The good…
Convocation Hall to Rothman Centre path
Location
Rm. 142
Rm. 272
Rm. 124
Rm. 25A
bsmt
bsmt NEMA
bsmt cage
bsmt rm.14
rm. 1069
rm. 52
rm. 129A
machine rm.
Lockers
The Hub!!
rm. 3
bsmt
Stage
FROM eqipment
#
USER-306
1A
PAA-0134-01F-01 1A
F24-0134-02B-04 13B
F24-0134-02B-01 3A
F24-0135-1BA-03 3B
F48-0135-1BA-01 37A
F48-0038-1BA-01 37B
F96-0038-1BA-01 55A
F24-0088-1BA-01 7B
F96-0088-1BA-01 15A
F96-0103-1BA-01 15B
F96-0103-1BA-01 61A
F96-0104-1BA-01 13B
F24-0104-1BA-01 3A
F24-0132-1BA-03 3B
F24-0132-1BA-01 5A
F96-0006-01A-01 61B
F24-0006-01A-01 7A
F24-0033-1BA-01 7B
F96-0033-1BA-02 5A
F96-0073-01A-01 17B
F96-0073-01A-01 5A
F96-0078-03A-02 17B
F96-0078-03A-01 B3
F24-0036-GRA-01 11B
F96-0036-GRA-01 65A
F96-0009-1BA-04 17B
F72-0009-1BA-01 A3
F24-0010-1BA-01 15B
F24-0010-1BA-04 1A
PAA-A010-1BA-01 1B
PAA-A010-01A-01 1B
Cable
STPATCH
0134F-02B-01F-01(1)
STPATCH
0135F-0134-03(3)
STPATCH
0038F-0135-01(37)
STPATCH
0038F-0088-01(7)
STPATCH
0088F-0103-01(15)
STPATCH
0104F-0103-01(13)
STPATCH
0104F-0132-01(3)
STPATCH
0006F-0132-01(5)
STPATCH
0006F-0033-01(7)
STPATCH
0033F-0073-03(5)
STPATCH
0073F-0078-03(5)
STPATCH
0036F-0078-01(23)
STPATCH
0036F-0009-01(17)
STPATCH
0009F-0010-01(3)
STPATCH
0010F-A010-01(1)
STPATCH
STPATCH
CH-Rothman
#
TO equipment
1B
13A
3B
3A
37B
37A
55B
7A
15B
15A
61B
13A
3B
3A
5B
H5
7B
7A
5B
17A
5B
17A
11B
11A
65B
17A
3B
15A
1B
1A
1A
1A
PAA-0134-01F-01
F24-0134-02B-04
F24-0134-02B-01
F24-0135-1BA-03
F48-0135-1BA-01
F48-0038-1BA-01
F96-0038-1BA-01
F24-0088-1BA-01
F96-0088-1BA-01
F96-0103-1BA-01
F96-0103-1BA-01
F96-0104-1BA-01
F24-0104-1BA-01
F24-0132-1BA-03
F24-0132-1BA-01
F96-0006-01A-01
F24-0006-01A-01
F24-0033-1BA-01
F96-0033-1BA-02
F96-0073-01A-01
F96-0073-01A-01
F96-0078-03A-02
F96-0078-03A-01
F24-0036-GRA-01
F96-0036-GRA-01
F96-0009-1BA-04
F72-0009-1BA-01
F24-0010-1BA-01
F24-0010-1BA-04
PAA-A010-1BA-01
PAA-A010-01A-01
USER-080
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
… the not so good…
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
… the ugly
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Storing infrastructure data:
(pre-PLM time)
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Legacy system: IsiCAD - Command
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
List of system requirements
The goal: to integrate equipment, cable and network management.
Basic
•
ability to manage both equipment and cable inventory in compliance with
ANSI/TIA/EIA 606 (Administration Standard for the Telecommunications
Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings) http://www.cablemgmt.com/tia.htm
•
graphic capabilities to represent campus maps and building floor plans along
with equipment layout and cable tunnels, conduits, pathways etc.
•
Industrial strength multi-user ODBC relational database as a repository to all
information pertinent to the network infrastructure
•
scalability (should not impose any limits to inventory database expansion or
shrinkage)
•
well-developed standard GUI with options to be customized by user
•
multiple users with concurrent access
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
List of system requirements
CAD graphics capabilities
the system should be capable of being used with or without CAD files or a mixture
of both
the system should import and export CAD files supporting both the latest AutoCAD
file formats (.DWG and .DXF)
avoid the necessity to have a CAD application present or any CAD experience to
use the system (CAD systems are typically very complex)
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
List of system requirements
User Interface
the application should have a full and open Application Programming Interface (API)
the GUI is customizable by the user
the system is capable of defining any number of item types (i.e., patch panel,
faceplate, workstation or port)
the system should be capable of creating a custom property window for each type
of item with any number of user-defined fields for recording data about an item
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
List of system requirements
Desirable extras
•
SNMP-based network auto-discovery and auto-mapping
•
Means of documenting wireless infrastructure
•
Integration with other operational support systems such as help desk (e.g.,
Remedy ARS) and logical network managers (e.g. Spectrum, HP Open View)
•
Web interface
•
Ability to look up and retrieve data from any third-party database or file over a
TCP/IP network
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Comparative analysis
of infrastructure modeling systems:
A. The legacy system
Cambio Networks Inc. COMMAND 5.1 – a legacy system U of T used, along with
netRunner - a new product run on Windows rather then UNIX platform
Command 5.0 version adopted by Pinacl, an UK company
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Comparative analysis
of infrastructure modeling systems:
B. A class of products that are meant mainly for equipment inventory management.
N/A - ClickNet 4.0 from ClickNet Software Corp.
http://www.netsuite.com/: NetSuite from NetSuite Development Corp.
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Comparative analysis
of infrastructure modeling systems:
C. A number of products specifically designed and profiled for telecommunication
industry (with special emphasis on WAN facilities management).
Cable-Master from Angeles Group, Inc.
http://www.architel.com/: Objectel from Architel Systems Corp.
http://www.xiox.com/: FMS for Windows by XIOX Corp.
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Comparative analysis
of infrastructure modeling systems:
D. GIS-focused or fully functional AM/FM/GIS products - expensive. Still some of them
should be considered viable choice for the campus NMS
http://www.enghouse.com/ : CableCAD and GeoNet from Enghouse Systems Ltd.
Also they recently announced a number of industry applications (NetWORKS, etc.)
worth attention. Markham, Ont. based.
CX-P21-CM from Cadix International, Inc.
http://www.adc.com/ : FiberBase 4.0 - fibre network management software from ADC
Telecommunications.
http://www.cadtel.com/: SpatialBASE - network documentation and engineering tool
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Comparative analysis
of infrastructure modeling systems:
E. A class of NMS products integrated with common office tools like MS Office, Visio
and AutoCAD. Most come with hardware based means for circuit analysis.
http://www.uwo.ca/its/projects/archive/docit.html/ - docIT product distributed in
Canada by CMS International. Was implemented by University of Western Ontario
(CANHEIT 2003 presentation)
http://www.itracs.com/ - (former Cablesoft product called Crimp) by now developed
into iTRACS v7.0
http://www.systimax.com/ - iPatch System Manager Software; like the above product
is a part of a complex cable management system
http://www.rittech.com/ - RiT PatchView is a physical layer management solution.
Allows to monitor mission critical connections and all networked devices
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Products in this intermediate list were assessed and compared
regarding the following system requirements
Basic
cost effectiveness (complex issue to be defined and discussed separately),
functionality: comprehensive infrastructure support including horizontal systems,
backbone/riser systems and campus systems,
"open concept" design (a simple scripting engine for customization and additional
functionality),
quality 24x7x365 technical support
Desirable add-ons
cable test result storage and management,
cable lengths calculation,
circuit information,
cable path information,
Moves, Adds and Changes management,
multi-floor designs.
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
The ‘shortlist’ was comprised of A, D and E groups:
PatchView (RiT Technologies)
docIT (CMS Intl.)
iTRACS (Cablesoft)
NetWORKS (Enghouse)
iPatch (Systimax)
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
The shortlist of CMS was comprised of A, D and E groups
from the above and be read as follows:
PatchView (RiT Technologies)
iTRACS (Cablesoft)
iPatch (Systimax)
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Implementation
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
VWC – Virtual Wiring Centre
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Case study: Campus security network (U of T police)
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Implementation notes
Defining infrastructure model: time consuming but pays in the end
Porting data from legacy systems: CSV files vs. SQL programming/scripting
Customizing infrastructure model: a big effort (schema, datastores, graphic,
equipment templates etc)
Training users: a good investment
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Conclusions
A robust long term infrastructure management plan is a serious investment, $30-100k
For large infrastructure inventories, cost-effective management system are end-toend architectures: termination hardware, connectivity monitoring tools, cabling
management software. This appears to be a global industry trend.
Buying from partner companies: VAR benefits vs. product becoming too ‘vendor
specific’
Best available PLM products tend to “runtime” (as opposed to authoring) or integrate
common applications under one umbrella, thus minimizing proprietary code and TCO.
A centralized service model seems to be a good solution for large institution. UTCNS
is ready to offer infrastructure management services to other departments.
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary
Thank You
Vladimir Kouptchinski
Ph. 416 978-5448
v.kupchinsky@utoronto.ca
CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary