Lecture
Computer network administration — the performance of the many functions needed to control, plan, allocate, deploy, coordinate, and monitor the resources of a computer network. This term is typically applied to large-scale computer networks and communication networks, denoting the top-level maintenance and administration of these networks. Network management — is the process of administering and managing computer networks. The services provided by this discipline include fault analysis, performance management, network provisioning, and maintaining quality of service. Network management software is used by network administrators to carry out these functions.
It includes performing functions such as initial network planning, frequency allocation, predetermining traffic routes to support load balancing, distributing cryptographic keys, and managing configuration, fault tolerance, security, performance, and accounting information.
The International Organization for Standardization described the FCAPS model, which reflects the key functions of network administration and management:
The tasks of fault management are to detect, identify, and eliminate the effects of failures and faults in network operation.
Configuration management consists of configuring network components, including their location, network addresses and identifiers, managing network operating system parameters, and maintaining the network diagram; these functions are also used for naming objects.
Accounting management includes registering and managing the resources and devices in use. This function deals with concepts such as usage time and charges for resources.
Performance management serves to present real-time network operation statistics, minimize congestion and bottlenecks, identify emerging trends, and plan resources for future needs.
Security management — includes access control, maintaining data integrity, and logging. Its functions include the authentication procedure, checking privileges, maintaining encryption keys, and managing permissions. Important mechanisms for password management, external access, and connections to other networks can also be placed in this group.
Specific sets of these functions are implemented to varying degrees in the products of vendors of administration and management tools.
There is a large number of protocols that provide management of networks and network devices. The best known among them are: SNMP, WMI, CMIP, WBEM, Common Information Model, Transaction Language 1, NETCONF, and Java Management Extensions.
Network downtime can be very costly. In fact, industry research shows that the cost can run into thousands of dollars per minute, or more than a hundred thousand dollars per hour. Network outages don't just cause financial losses; they also have a negative impact on customer relationships. Slow and unresponsive corporate networks prevent employees from responding effectively to customer needs and issues. And customers who feel this lack of service can quickly leave. Network management helps avoid costly network outages, which helps save your company money and preserve customer relationships.
By tracking and examining every aspect of the network management service, an effective network management system performs many tasks at once. Managing IT networks frees up IT staff to focus on other tasks.
By focusing on network management, it's easy to identify threats and respond to them before they spread and affect end users. A network management system is also aimed at ensuring compliance with regulatory and normative requirements. Improved network security also leads to greater privacy on the network, giving users more freedom in how they use their devices.
Network management gives you a complete picture of how your network is performing. This allows you to quickly identify problems and resolve them.
There are several things you should be aware of in order to create an environment where network management can be carried out optimally. Your network is constantly changing. That's the reality of technology. It's important for businesses to add new technologies to remain competitive. This also means your network will keep evolving, so the network maintenance process for managing it needs to follow suit.
Network management today is far more complex than it was even ten years ago. We can expect it to keep adding new layers, and administrators will have to master increasingly complex skills to maintain networks.
Here are a few best practices to keep in mind. You'll add to them as needed:
There can be many challenges in network management. The reality is that the success of managing your network depends on careful planning and understanding your individual business needs. Choosing the best network management services to work closely with your business will help you overcome challenges quickly, because their expertise will help resolve issues in a shorter time. Many network components need to be taken into account. The most important aspect of a successful management strategy is thoroughly documenting everything and keeping records constantly up to date.
Network infrastructures can be complex. Because of this complexity, maintaining effective network management is difficult. Advances in technology and cloud computing have raised user expectations for higher network speeds and availability. In addition, security threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, varied, and numerous. And if you have a large network, it includes multiple devices, systems, and tools that need to work together seamlessly. As your network scales and your company grows, new potential points of failure appear. Rising costs also play a role.
In short, the list of challenges associated with network management is very long.
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