Module 2 - Design the Network Structure

Section 7 - Select a Network Management Strategy

CareTaker Publications: Solution

• Recommend that CareTaker purchase CiscoWorks Windows.

• In addition to recommending the CiscoWorks network management product, you should give CareTaker some basic training on how to use Cisco Connection Online and the CiscoConnect application within CiscoWorks. These tools will enable CareTaker to work closely with Cisco or a Cisco partner to keep the network functioning at maximum performance.

 
• CareTaker should define the service goals for the network. For example, what is the goal for downtime? Is it that the network should never be down or is there a more realistic goal that the network should be up 98 percent of the time? Once the goals have been defined, metrics for measuring the accomplishment of the goals can be defined. This process of defining service goals will also lead to the hardware and software maintenance policies such as next day, 7x24, and so on.

 
• CareTaker may already have a network management console installed in a central computer room or NOC. If not, you should recommend that it install a central console.

 
• If possible, engineers and planners should be assigned to proactively monitor the network even when it is not having a problem. In addition to checking for irregularities and bottlenecks, the staff should make sure that the data collection processes and reporting are working correctly, and adjust them if necessary. Assuming sufficient resources are available, the engineers or planners should compile baseline statistics approximately once a month and write a report that characterizes the current health of the network and the service level achieved in the last month.

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