SolarWinds Redefines Network Configuration Management

Built specifically on the Windows platform, NCM is designed for installation on a Windows 2003 Server with SQL Server 2000 SP4 (or later), IIS V6 (or later) and uses the .NET 3.5 framework. The product can also be used with SQL Server 2005 Express, but that limits the database to 4GB and will only work with a single processor. For smaller networks with 50 or less devices, the SQL Server 2005 Express configuration should prove adequate.

The wizard-based installation is relatively straightforward, but there are very few caveats. Installers will need administrator privileges and will have to make decisions on how the product is to be integrated with Active Directory authentication and a few other Windows networking features.

Configuration takes a little more effort and is driven by a series of wizard-based dialog boxes. For proper configuration, installers will need to make sure SNMP is properly configured and the appropriate user accounts are configured.

To truly leverage the power of NCM, installers will want to integrate the product into Orion NPM. SolarWinds has reduced the integration process to a few simple steps and allows administrators to quickly integrate NCM into NPM and then use NPM as the superset for configuration management. Most installers will want to pursue that integration route to offer the best administrator and management experience.

After the initial setup, administrators will use the product to discover devices on the network. That discovery process leverages SNMP reporting and that is why it is so important to properly configure SNMP on the network and the associated devices. The network discovery builds a basic device inventory list, which administrators can add details to for additional information. The device inventory becomes the path to the management experience and is especially important for the product's real-time point-and-click interface. The product also offers a built-in Syslog Server and SNMP Trap Server, if an administrator does not want to rely on Microsoft’s network services.

Orion NCM provides built-in configuration management support for network devices from more than 16 different hardware vendors, including Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Motorola, Extreme Networks, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Adtran, Riverbed, 3Com, Aruba Networks, Juniper Networks, Foundry Networks and more. Additionally, users can easily modify or build device templates, enabling Orion NCM to work with products not already included and to manage highly heterogeneous environments. For devices that can be natively managed by NCM, the point-and-click interface makes quick work of any changes or policy definitions. Native device management also enables administrators to view real-time device status and statistics and build alerts around changes or problems.

NCM’s real power comes from the product’s network configuration policy management capabilities, which can be defined using wizard-like tools to simplify policy creation and deployment. Policies can ensure that device configurations comply with regulatory requirements, corporate policies or internal standards.