Bay Networks has delivered another key component of its application optimised network management strategy with the announcement of Optivity Network Configuration System (NCS) 2.0, a powerful multi-vendor system-oriented configuration management solution.
Optivity NCS combines the systems configuration and software image management components of NETarchitect with the multivendor, configuration management capabilities of NETconfigurator. The Optivity Network Configuration System delivers on the promise of application-optimised network management by enabling management of the network as a system rather than by individual device.
This systems-based approach to configuration management simplifies the implementation of policy-based networking by allowing managers to perform multi-device, multi-vendor bulk configuration modifications across the entire enterprise network.
Optivity NCS, a client-server solution, automates the replication of configuration information across multiple network elements. The system features rules-based verification of configuration information and allows for automatic network configuration validation.
The system also includes an automated software inventory collection and distribution component that automates the tracking of network device configurations and software images. These capabilities enable network-wide system configuration and will significantly reduce the cost and risk of implementing changes to enterprise networks.
The network manager`s ability to accurately deploy and manage additional equipment and services will increasingly make managing and configuring the network more effective.
"The powerful combination of NETarchitect and NETconfigurator under the umbrella of the industry`s leading network management solution, Optivity Network Management System provides customers with critical functionality that takes into account the multi-vendor nature of enterprise networks," said Bay systems engineer Sirshem Moodley.
"System-wide configuration and software image management are two of the most critical issues facing network managers today as they look toward prioritising mission critical applications.
"Effectively managing the development and distribution of network device configuration across a heterogeneous network environment and managing the version control of image files is becoming an increasingly complex task as the size and complexity of switched inter-networks continue to grow.
"The Optivity Network Configuration System addresses this critical requirement by providing system-oriented configuration management solutions for mixed vendor environments," said Moodley.
The Optivity Network Configuration System is a powerful system-oriented configuration management solution, which combines the strengths of NETarchitect and NETconfigurator into a single configuration solution, enabling customers to effectively provision the network to support the system-wide features in Bay routing switches, routers and intelligent edge devices.
NETarchitect is Bay`s system-level management suite which automates the configuration of sophisticated ATM networks, reducing the possibility of errors associated with manual configuration and simplifying the network manager`s job.
The NETarchitect technology included in Optivity Network Configuration System 2.0 offers customers enhanced configuration file management adding support for nearly every Bay product line including Accelar routing switches, BayStack and Centillion family of switches, BayRS routing software, BayStack shared media, and System 5000, 3000 and 2000 chassis-based network devices.
NETconfigurator is a flexible and easy to use Web-based interface solution that automates the configuration of heterogeneous, multi-device networks. Its wizard-based approach to bulk configuration reduces the complexity typically associated with multi-device management.
The platform-independent solution allows enterprise network managers and service providers to dramatically streamline their router configuration efforts. This product adds configuration editing capability for Cisco IOS routers as well as Bay RS routers supporting the Bay Command Console (BCC).
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