Discussion Notes #11

Chapter 15:  Network Management:

By the topic headings....
The Internet:  Didn't learn much from this.  Network based systems qualify for being SIS (strategic information systems).  No kidding.  And networks facilitate restructuring ( too bad Frenzel was so light on how they accomplish this).

The chapter seems to begin with "the disciplines revisited" and Figure 15.1 [p.393].  On the left "Network Service Levels" looked vaguely familiar.  It may be helpful to do a quick read about "service level agreements" (SLA) on page 320.  We skipped over that chapter (#12), but I think you'll pick up the notion easily and see how SLAs apply to networks.  In the middle of the figure there are the "links" to the "capstone" reporting.  These links seem to be the sub-topics in network management, and I added accounting and security  to the links (in my book) so that all the elements of the ISO model [p. 392] were given due recognition.  Going through this list (more or less) we can discuss the management of....

1) Configuration:  the topology (architecture?) and physical connections
2) Problems & changes (also known as "Fault Management",  although we should avoid figure pointing, says Frenzel).  See also that neat table 15.3 [p. 397] organized like the ISO/OSI model [p. 161].
3) Recovery:  "the dog ate my homework" is now "the backhoe ate my fiber cable"
4) Performance: forget about the math model (too late to start that stuff), but note that Frenzel finally mentions "redundancy" [p.399] although he doesn't make much of it.  I thought redundancy was a big topic.
5) Capacity planning:  Seems that we've been here before
6) Reporting:  "...there is no substitute for high bandwidth communication between service providers and users".  Does this mean that wine and cheese parties are out?

It wasn't real jolting to read that companies need good networks to compete in the "new" global economy, or that competent network managers are real important to the success of a firm, but among the clichés, don't overlook the mention of Cabletron's SPECTRUM system.  Yea, team!

Like a maraschino cherry, a nice way to finish.  End of my discussion notes, and not a moment too soon!