Home > Articles > Cisco Certification > CCNA Routing and Switching > Network Management According to ICND2 Version 2

Network Management According to ICND2 Version 2

  • Article is provided courtesy of Cisco Press.
  • Date: Mar 26, 2013.

Article Description

Network management is certainly a critical component of modern networking, and in fact, it becomes more and more critical as current networks become increasingly complex. Anthony Sequeira points out the facts you need to know about networking management technologies that are now part of the CCNA.

For more information on the new Cisco CCENT/CCNA exams, including special offers and study guides, visit our Cisco Press "About CCNA" page.

One of the new topics to arrive in the revised Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification from Cisco Systems is network management. You might be quite surprised to learn that it was not in the first version. Network complexity is on the rise dramatically thanks to technologies like Voice over IP (VoIP) and trends like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

This article provides you with important facts you should know about the networking management technologies now part of the CCNA, and it also provides you with an idea of the scope you should use regarding this topic as you study. This is important because the field of network management could easily fill a series of hefty textbooks.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

The year was 1988, and RFC 1065 was published, which defined the “Structure and Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-based Internets.” The superb idea behind this document was the fact that devices on a TCP/IP-based network could be broken down into a database of variables, and that these variables could be monitored in order to manage the overall IP-based network. After all, the elements of any IP-based machines would have commonalities. For example, a PC, a network printer, and a router would all have commonalities such as interfaces, IP addresses, and buffers. Why not create a standardized database of these variables and a simple system for monitoring and managing them? This idea was brilliant, it caught on, and soon became three different versions of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

Simple Network Management Protocol is an application-layer protocol that provides a message format for communication between managers and agents. An SNMP manager is a network management application running on a PC, while the agent is software running on the device that is to be managed. The agent’s job is to retrieve (or optionally write to) the variables that are stored in the database of variables that make up the parameters of the device. This database is called the Management Information Base (MIB). Cisco Prime is a classic example of an SNMP manager. A Cisco router might run the SNMP agent, and a MIB variable might be the load on the router’s interface.

Through the process of periodically querying or “polling” the SNMP agent on a device, you can gather and analyze statistics regarding the managed device. You can even reconfigure the device through these SNMP variables in the MIB if you permit this level of control. The messages that poll information from the SNMP agent software are termed GET messages, while the messages that write variables are termed SET messages.

In order to be proactive, administrators can set thresholds for certain key variables. They can then be dynamically notified by the NMS when a value is nearing unacceptable values. For the device to alert an administrator that a threshold has been crossed, SNMP uses a trap. This is a message sent proactively from the managed device to the network management station. Informs are special types of traps that must be acknowledged by the management station.

The three main versions of SNMP utilized throughout the years are versions 1, 2c, and 3. Version 1 is extremely legacy, and not often encountered in networks today. Version 2c of SNMP uses a clear-text password called a community string to attempt to secure the protocol. As you probably know, whenever you read “clear text”, this is NOT powerful security by any means. Therefore, version 3 of SNMP was developed, and includes three much more powerful security models. You can feature username and password access, strong authenticated username and password access, or even strong authentication and encryption of the SNMP communications.

While it is beyond the scope of this article, keep in mind the CCNAs must be able to demonstrate their ability to configure both versions 2c and version 3 on a Cisco device.

System Message Logging (Syslog)

Did you know that Cisco devices are very “chatty”? When major (and even not so major) events take place, these Cisco devices attempt to notify administrators with detailed system messages. Administrators have a large variety of options for storing these messages, and being alerted to those that could have the largest impact on the network infrastructure.

Today, system administrators like to store and then analyze these messages as they manage the network. Popular destinations for storing these system messages (often simply called syslog messages) include an internal logging buffer. This is the most efficient means of storage because it is built right into the Cisco device itself. The most popular means of storage, however, is external servers designed to store and analyze these syslog messages. This server is appropriately called a syslog server.

Let us examine one of the messages from a Cisco router in order to scrutinize the default message format:

*Dec 18 17:10:15.079: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed state to down

Notice that by default on this particular device, we see the following:

  • A timestamp: *Dec 18 17:10:15.079
  • The facility on the router that generated the message: %LINEPROTO
  • The severity level: 5
  • A mnemonic for the message: UPDOWN
  • The description of the message: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed state to down

As a new CCNA, you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge of syslogging on a Cisco device, including the basic configuration of sending these messages to a syslog server on the network.

NetFlow

Even with such powerful network management tools like SNMP, it quickly became apparent to Cisco engineers that networking professionals would need a simple and efficient method for tracking TCP/IP flows in the network. This information could be used to easily identify potential network bottlenecks, guide network improvements and redesigns, and even assist in billing consumers of the network. Because of these needs, Cisco invented NetFlow. This powerful network protocol quickly became a standard, and is now supported by other networking giants.

Think of NetFlow as a protocol that can help produce a phone bill-style report on how your network is actually being utilized. With Graphical User Interface (GUI) software, you can use this data to provide quick reports about where the most traffic flows are going in your network, and even see who the “Top Talkers” on the network are. As you might guess, the new CCNA certification expects you to be able to make a basic NetFlow configuration on a Cisco device.

Conclusion

Network management protocols are indeed a critical part of the modern network. As such, newly minted CCNA candidates must be able to demonstrate knowledge of three very popular network management components: SNMP, syslogging, and NetFlow.

Cisco Press Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Cisco Press and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Cisco Press products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@ciscopress.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Cisco Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.ciscopress.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020