*Architecting, designing, implementing, and managing NNM solutions involving networks, desktop computers, and UNIX servers *All examples have been used in actual implementations *Covers capacity planning, firewall maintenance, cross-platform and best-practice issues The only complete, practical guide to HP Network Node Manager! HPs OpenView Network Node Manager (NNM) is the industrys most powerful platform for enterprise-wide IP network management based on SNMP standards. Now, one of HPs leading NNM consultants has written the definitive, best-practices guide to implementing and managing OpenView NNM. OpenView Network Node Manager covers planning, architecture, deployment, configuration, administration, staffing, performance, firewalls, troubleshooting, and more. It also includes eight diverse case studies, straight from the authors extensive NNM experience in virtually every network environment: global manufacturers, computer firms, consultancies, engineering and scientific companies, colleges, and many more. Coverage includes: *Enterprise-class NNM deployment planning: requirements, operations agreements, hardware sizing and selection, piloting, and beyond *Staffing, training, management domains, and organizing network management for maximum efficiency *Deploying reliable, accurate, consistent and manageable Domain Name Services *Autodiscovering your network, refining the results to reflect your topology, and working with network maps *NNM day-to-day maintenance, event and performance management, optimization, and problem-solving From day-to-day administration to long-term strategies, security to cross-platform issues, John Blommers delivers specific answers you can rely upon to maximize the value of OpenView NNM - and your entire enterprise network.

Table of Contents:
1. The NNM Project Deployment Plan. Introduction. Determining the Requirements that NNM Must Satisfy. Sharing Project Plans and Information on a Web Site. Drafting, Defining, and Finalizing an Operations Agreement. Choosing Scalable Hardware at Each NNM Site. Setting the Scope and Conducting a Pilot Test. Identifying, Developing, or Buying NNM Training. Defining Management Domains. Planning for Ongoing Problem Resolution. Planning for System, Database, and Map Backup and Recovery. The Benefit of Using ITO for NNM System Management. The Value of Consultants, System Admins, and Project Managers. The Victory Celebration. Planning for Operational Patching and Upgrading. 2. Planning a Robust Domain Name System. Introduction. Why DNS Is So Important to NNM. The History of /etc/hosts. Router Interfaces and DNS. Reliability Designs for DNS. The Purpose and Use of Delegation. Sample DNS Configuration Files. Loading Factors for DNS Systems. NNM Caching. Primary, Secondary, and Other Mysteries. The Bigger Picture of a DNS Implementation. 3. Defining the Management Domain. Introduction. Determining the Communities of Interest in a Network. Geographic Regions and Business Relationships. Estimating the Size of a Management Domain. Strategies for Defining and Discovering the Management Domain. Configuration Files for Controlling the Management Domain. 4. The Excitement of First Discovery. Introduction. Discovery Without a seedfile. Manually Guided Discovery. Discovery Guided by a seedfile. Demand Poll to Coax Along Discovery. The Curse of Multiple SNMP Community Strings. DNS Problems. Fine-Tuning the Discovery Filter. Tuning and Observing netmon Queues. My Window Is Full of Icons. Strategies for Containerizing the Internet Submap. Saving Map Customizations. Leveraging Lessons Learned With Other Map Builders. 5. Map Management Strategies. Introduction. Where The Read/Write Map Is Displayed. Managing Map Customizations. Using Autolayout and Overlay Features. How NNM Uses the Repeater and Bridge MIBs. Third-Party Map Management Tools. Taking Screenshots of Maps. Special Types of Network Devices. 6. Distributed Network Management. Introduction. The Management Station and Collection Station Relationship. Configuring the Collection Station. Deciding What Devices to Export. Management Station SNMP Data Collection. Monitoring NNM Systems With ITO and MeasureWare. Configuring the Management Station. Adding a Collection Station to an Operational Management Station. The Impact of Rebuilding a Collection Station. 7. Configuration Management With NNM. Introduction. Nuggets in the Configuration Alarms Category. Gold in ovtopodump. Configuration Information Presented in NNM Maps. Interface Information. Creating Custom Menu Items. 8. Event Management With NNM. Introduction. Managed vs Unmanaged Devices. Traps From Expected and Unexpected Sources. syslog Streams from Devices and ovevent. Predefined and Custom Alarm Categories. Customizing Event Actions. Managing Event Histories and trapd.log. Reducing Event Storms with ECS. 9. Performance Management with NNM. Introduction. Who Needs Performance Data? Providing Data for an SLA. Determining Performance Data Retention Intervals. Estimating SNMP Data Sample Rates. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle of SNMP Polling. How Much Traffic Does NNM Create? SNMP Performance Data in MIB2 and Private MIBs. Strategies for Setting Threshold Values. How to Create MIB Expressions. Viewing Performance Data Online. Presenting Performance Data to the Consumer. SNMPv2c and 64-bit Counters. Collecting RMON Data. Crossing Over into HP NetMetrix. Capacity Planning. Conclusion. 10. Managing Firewall Environments With NNM. Introduction. Defining the DMZ Environment. Working With the Corporate Security Group. Special Security Configuration for UNIX in the DMZ. Firewalls and NNM Port Usage. Router Access Control Lists and NNM. Packet Filtering With a Router. Accessing NNM Remotely. 11. Periodic Maintenance Tasks for NNM. Introduction. Using crontab Entries to Automate Backups. Determining the Scope of the Backup. Database Repairing. Moving Newly Discovered Devices to Their Proper Container. Backing Up Map Customizations. Updating MIBs for New Devices. Deleting Unwanted Maps. Reviewing Configuration Alarms. Perusing Log Files and Application Alarms. Reviewing MeasureWare Data. Perusing and Updating ITO Alarms. 12. A Day With NNM. Introduction. Custom Performance Management. Testing an NNM Patch. Verifying Correct Menu Operation. Validating a New Procedure. Testing Third-Party Applications. Validating Operating System Changes. Conducting Directed Discovery. Creating a Special Purpose Map. NNM and Routers. 13. Troubleshooting NNM. Introduction. Using Event Logs. Consulting the Map for Related Objects. Device Names Change Unexpectedly. Network Topology Autolayout Errors. DHCP Reassigns an IP address. Autodiscovery Blues. Detecting an Impending License Expiration. NNM GUI Problems on UNIX Systems. 14. Cross-Platform Issues With NNM. Introduction. X-Windows Differences. Java Issues. Bandwidth and X-Windows. Printing With NNM. 15. Staffing Issues for NNM. Introduction. Determining Users for the Read-Only Map. Who Are the Keepers of the Maps? Who Creates MIB Applications? Who Troubleshoots NNM Itself? Who Resolves DNS Problems? Who Resolves NNM Problems? Who Performs System Administration? Who Develops Custom Applications? 16. Best Practices for NNM. Introduction. Platform Sizing. ITO Manages the NNM Systems. Menu Management. Project Management. Dedicated System Administrator. 17. NNM Case Studies. Introduction. A Global Manufacturing Company. A Natural Resource Company. A Bioengineering Company. A Local Vehicle Manufacturer. A Community College. A National Consulting Company. A Small Engineering Firm. A Worldwide Computer Company. Glossary. Index.