-tictech message:
I would also argue that there's a great deal of work to be done before you
start network management. I'd suggest defining 3 things:
a) What is the scope of what you want to do?
-remote control?
-software/hardware inventory?
-up/down status of servers and other network devices?
-utilization benchmarks/history/troubleshooting?
-remote software deployment?
-lockdown of the workstations
-...
b) What are you willing to pay? And for how many machines?
-some software is licensed per management station
-other software is licensed per remote client you want to
watch/manage
c) How much time do you have for network management?
Once you've considered all of these options... and prioritized them - you
can sit down with something as simple as an Excel spreadsheet, and map out
your needs - matching the product(s) that best match what you need to
accomplish. Keep in mind that you may be best served by more than one tool.
Remember that a lot of "network" centric tools leverage TCP/IP which doesn't
care if you're managing a MAC, a Winbox, or a Unix box. Same with SNMP
(Simple Network Management Protocol) - it also doesn't care what kind of
device you're trying to manage. But those tools are limited in scope... and
don't provide things like remote control.
Good Luck!
-April Johnson
Network Operations
Seattle School District
apjohnson@seattleschools.org
-----Original Message-----
From: currie [mailto:buck63@attbi.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 5:11 PM
To: tictech@learningspace.org
Subject: RE: tictech: network management
-tictech message:
I think it depends a little ont he type of manatement that you want to do.
I used earlier versions across platforms before I retired on the Timbuktu
tools. I slso used the foolproof softerware as well in the later years. I am
sure that those products must have reacherd a much higher level of
sophistication by now but I cannot swear to it.
I also have managaged NT networks and combination Unix and NT along with
Macs as well. I think the term is homogenuous networks. It does work but
requires quite a bit os study on the server side.
The basics of networking for all three platforms is really the same as is
the basic cableing systems as well. This is due to standards based
networking used worldwide.
It you want to take over a remote computer in your network, I found TB2 to
work quite well though not always as fast as i would have liked. A 100mb
network may be fast enough. I have doen remote work in such a manner
thousands of miles apart with the use of TCPIP protocols. Though it was slow
on a 56k line at the time. Broadband connectivity should enhance that quite
a bit.
For shear speed using the command line for remote opertations was always my
choice since the need for plenty of bandwidth to support the graphical
interface slpwed things down a bit. So unix or the NT command line was best
for this though i must say the remote graphical mangagement tools on NT
were not all that bad. They worked pretty good in a pinch. Hummingbird tools
were particularly helpful since they virtually turned the NT box into a Unix
friendly environment and you can't beat unix tools for remote management.
Remote management of your local boxes only works if the box itself is on the
network. So if there is s physical problem there is not much you can do.
However, if it is on the net, you can upgrade software, do a certain amount
of security checking. I must say that unattended upgrades by microsoft
products has NEVER been a strong choice of mine.
There are many other more sophisticated network tools availavle but they
fall into a pretty costly category and they will check things down to a much
lower level inside your individual computer boxes is you know how to use it.
Sun, HP and other big boys make this kind of software.
Good idea might be to go find a book or two on the subject to get a better
idea what is out there and how it can be used.
Cheers!
Currie
buck63@attbi.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-tictech@learningspace.org
[mailto:owner-tictech@learningspace.org]On Behalf Of Johnson, Gary
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 1:53 PM
To: 'tictech@learningspace.org'
Subject: tictech: network management
-tictech message:
Hi all,
I am a long time lurker from Aki Kurose middle school. Our network like
many in the district is growing. I am looking for network management
software. So far I have downloaded a demo of Timbuktu and may look at lab
expert from riverdeep the same company that now owns FoolProof. We are a
mixed platform school with both an NT server, Mac server, windows and Mac
clients. I have used network assistant on the Macs on a limited scale. If
anyone has experience with these or other programs please share with the
list or e-mail me. If there is an interest I will let the list know how the
search turns out.
thanks,
Gary Johnson
gajohnson@seattleschools.org
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