1. If You've Got a Problem, Yo – I'll Solve It:
Using Tools to Solve Network Problems
Derek Engi
Network Management Engineer
North Carolina State University
2. Agenda
Network Monitoring and Management Tools
Making the Most of Free / Open Source Software
Real World Problems, Real World Tools
Questions and Discussion
4. NetDisco
Network Discovery Engine
Mix of Perl and PostGreSQL
CDP / SNMP Mappings of Topology
VLAN and Port Up/Down Manipulation
Our Authoritative DB for Other Applications
API! - Woohoo!
5.
6. Cacti
Generate Graphs for Network Devices
PHP with MySQL Backend
Round Robin Database (RRDs)
Device / Interface Statistics
Plugin Architecture
Pseudo-API! - Pseudo-Woohoo!
7. Splunk
Fancy Log Indexer / Analyzer
Free Version and Commercial License
Applications / Plugin Architecture
Scalable and Awesome
Awesome API!
9. Case Study #1 – Trending Traffic
Conserving While Leveraging Building Fiber
Targeting Upgrade / Problem Child Area
Open Source Solution!
“My internet/backups/imaging software/$application doesn't run so hot.” Can we get
some additional bandwidth?
10. Case Study #1 – Trending Traffic
Thresholds to the Rescue!
Easy to Configure and Template Cacti Plugin
Alerting Functions
Endless Possibilities
Allows Tracking, Trending, and Review
Port-Channels Cheaper Than Hardware
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13. Case Study #2 – Wide Scale Anomalies
Is Something Weird Happening in the DC?
We've Been Adding Port-Channels....
Whoa, Check the WeatherMaps!
“So why does it take our backups so long to complete?”
14. Case Study #2 – PHP Weathermaps
Open Source Cacti/Other Data Source App
Generate Large or Small Scale Snapshots
Integration w/ NetDisco
Getting back to our problem...Dude, something seems wrong.
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17. Case Study #2 – Solution
HSRP Between DC Cores, equal cost paths advertised through
OSPF
Arp Cache, set to 2 hours
“I think I will forward this frame out all switch ports..yeah.....”.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Changing the Arp and CAM timers to match fixes the problem.
18. Where Are We Going?
Utilizing NetDisco for Inventory, Idle Port Reports, VLAN
Management, etc.
Extending Cacti Graphs down to the LAN Admins, thresholding
more stuff, (IPTV,UPS')
Weathermaps – Unicast and Multicast Representation down to
the end-user
Splunk – Providing firewall access logs to appropriate parties via
Firewall Config Tool
19. Extending Management to the End User
Switch Admin Tool – VLAN Config, Port Descriptions,
Duplex/Speed Settings. View MACs on a port. Uses NetDisco,
Cacti.
Firewall Config Viewer – Extending visibility into the security side
of the network.
Extending tool functionality to other OIT groups via an API.