What Are the Functions of Network Management?

Network management is the most important means to ensure the reliable operation of the network. The network management system ^[1] can provide rich, professional, and customized network management functions according to user needs.

The network management function enables comprehensive monitoring and management of the network. With the expansion of the network scale and the diversification and complexity of application technologies and products in the network, network owners and maintenance personnel are increasingly looking for high-end, professional and personalized network management functions.

Chinese name: Network management functions

Foreign name: Network Management Functions

Network Management Function Definition

Network management functions include the use, integration, and coordination of hardware, software, and human resources to monitor, test, configure, analyze, evaluate, and control network resources.

ISO defines the five basic functions of network management in the ISO / IEC 7498-4 document and is widely accepted. These five functions are: fault management, configuration management, billing management, performance management, and security management. These five functions are the most basic functions of network management, referred to as FCAPS. ^[2] Network management also includes other functions, such as network planning and management of network operators. The implementation of these functions is related to the actual network conditions.

Five basic functions of network management functions

In the actual network management process, the functions of network management are very extensive, including many aspects.

The five major functions of network management are:

Fault Management Network Management Function Fault Management

Fault management is one of the most basic functions in network management. When a component in the network fails, the network manager must quickly find the fault and eliminate it in time.

Network fault management includes fault detection, isolation, and correction, including the following typical functions:

Maintain and check error logs
Accept and respond to error detection reports
Track and identify errors
Performing diagnostic tests
Correct mistakes

Configuration Management Network Management Function Configuration Management

Configuration management is responsible for initializing the network and configuring the network to provide network services. Configuration management is a group of related functions necessary to identify, define, control, and monitor the objects that make up a communication network. The purpose is to achieve a specific function or to optimize network performance. This includes:

Set parameters related to routing operations in open systems
Management of Managed Objects and Managed Object Group Names
Initialize or close a managed object
Collect information about the current state of the system as required
Get information on important system changes
Change the configuration of the system

Accounting Management Network Management Function Accounting Management

Charging management records the use of network resources and is designed to control and monitor the costs and costs of network operations. Includes the following features:

The charging management function can estimate the fees and costs that users may need to use network resources, as well as the resources that have been used.
The network administrator can specify the maximum cost that the user can use, thereby controlling the user's excessive occupation and use of network resources.
When a user needs to use resources in multiple networks for one communication purpose, the total cost can be calculated through the charging management function.

Performance Management Network Management Function Performance Management

Performance management is used to evaluate system performance such as the operating conditions of system resources and communication efficiency. Its capabilities include monitoring and analyzing the performance mechanisms of the managed network and the services it provides. The results of the performance analysis may trigger a diagnostic test process or reconfigure the network to maintain network performance. Performance management collects and analyzes data about the current state of the managed network, and maintains and analyzes performance logs.

Typical functions include:

Collect statistics
Maintain and check system status logs
Determine system performance under natural and artificial conditions
Operation to change system operation mode for system performance management

Security Management Network Management Function Security Management

Network security management includes the management of authorization mechanisms, access control, encryption, and encryption keywords, as well as maintaining and checking security logs. Includes the following features:

Create, delete, and control security services and mechanisms
Distribution of safety-related information
Reporting of safety-related incidents

Network management functions extend auxiliary functions

Network management should also include some other functions, such as: the realization of other network management functions is related to the actual network conditions. ^[3]

Network management function shows network topology

The network management system first has the function of automatic discovery of networked devices, and by using IP and IPX network color-coded hierarchical views, a network layout map is established.

Network management function port status monitoring and analysis

Monitoring and analyzing the port status of network equipment is a key function that any network management system must have. Through the network management system, network managers can easily obtain port status expansion data, bandwidth utilization, traffic statistics tables, protocol information, and other network performance statistics tables.

Graphical analysis of network performance and status of network management functions

Any network management system has flexible curve and chart analysis capabilities, enabling network managers to quickly grasp the network operation status and quickly record relevant data. At the same time, the analysis results can be output in the form of files or used in spreadsheets and other Data analysis tools.

Network management function troubleshooting and alarms

Fault diagnosis and alarm are one of the important management functions of the network management system. The network management system is equipped with a large number of network management software, which can quickly, comprehensively and intelligently detect the entire network status. It can not only determine the connection or disconnection of all devices in the network, but also can detect the traffic distribution of the entire network Determine the position of the bottleneck of network communication, in order to adjust the distribution of network equipment in time, adjust the working time of network equipment, and make the network work in the best state. Fault diagnosis in the network is through the threshold management of network status parameters, which generates an alarm or event notification for a variety of network devices. Event filters compress events into useful information to speed troubleshooting.

Network management functions simplify network device management

Under the network management system environment, simplify the management of switches, routers and other equipment.

VLAN Network management function with the ability to configure VLANs

Generally, the VLAN configuration of the switch is implemented directly on the switch, and the VLAN is configured between the switches through the network management system, which makes the configuration of the VLAN easier and faster.

Summary of Network Management Functions

With the continuous development of network technology and the continuous improvement of application levels, higher requirements have been put on network management ^. The functions of network management system ^[4] are also continuously enhanced, and the concepts, technologies and methods of network management are constantly Innovation. In short, through the network management system, the ultimate goal is to improve the availability and reliability of the network, thereby improving the efficiency of network operations and reducing management costs as a whole. ^[5]