Runs on Industry-Standard SunNet Manager Platform

MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 14, 1992 -- CiscoWorks, a comprehensive set of router-management applications that offers advanced real-time operations tools, has been introduced by Cisco Systems. CiscoWorks initially will run on SunNet Manager 2.0, the industry's most widely used network management platform from SunConnect.

CiscoWorks is the newest generation of Cisco's NetCentral network management software, first introduced in 1990 running on Cisco's own SNMP platform. CiscoWorks now includes not only an integral relational database, historical analysis tools and sophisticated configuration management functions but also real- time operations tools that simplify the monitoring of network activities by network administrators and operators.

Heidi Iacurto, Cisco product manager for router management, said, "Now that definitive industry standards have emerged for SNMP-based network management platforms, Cisco can focus its efforts where it can add most value: in applications for managing internetwork routers. The new applications allow network operators to monitor routers and paths and reduce time-consuming administrative tasks. And because SunNet Manager is a de facto standard, CiscoWorks and other SunNet Manager applications are integrated on a common platform."

CiscoWorks offers two series of applications: an operations series to simplify day-to-day router monitoring, trouble shooting and administration; and a management series to facilitate off-line analysis of network traffic patterns and trends.

Operations Toolkit for Real-Time Network Monitoring

The Operations Toolkit, the most significant new feature of CiscoWorks, offers a series of real-time tools for network operators. A health monitor gives the user a device overview at a glance, graphically showing the logical configuration, interface and protocol utilization.

A show commands feature lets users simply point-and-click to view in-depth information about a device or interface, rather than having to Telnet to the device, enter a password and then enter the appropriate Cisco "show" command. For example, "show traffic mix" displays traffic by protocol per interface (e.g., 10 percent AppleTalk, 50 percent TCP/IP, and 40 percent DECnet), "show interface" displays the status of a selected device interface, and "show AppleTalk" displays AppleTalk traffic statistics by router.

The CiscoWorks path tool permits users to visually monitor the status of critical network routes and quickly pinpoint trouble spots. The path tool visually displays a path for IP protocol traffic between any two devices, showing each router in the path, specific interfaces in the routers, and transmission media and speeds. Color coding is used to indicate interface utilization and/or error rate for every interface along the path.

Real-time graphs let the user construct dynamic graphs of router system usage, interface statistics and protocol usage. This application takes advantage of SunNet Manager Grapher, but eliminates the graph setup step. The poll rate for the graphs can be set by the user.

The security manager allows network personnel to protect network management data by assigning levels of access to the user, the application, or both. Five levels of "permission" give the administrator maximum flexibility in limiting access to sensitive data. A given individual or group can be permitted to view only, or view and modify, application data or passwords, or can be kept from system data altogether.

The environmental monitor is the first application that lets the user view and monitor key router environmental statistics. It provides a graphical display of the router's internal and airflow temperatures (Fahrenheit or Centigrade), as well as voltage indicators.

CiscoWorks also includes Configuration File Management, introduced last year, which maximizes network administrator productivity through the use of a central data archive maintained for each router. The administrator can access configuration information by device, try out and compare different configurations, and automatically detect changes in any router on the network.

SQL Relational Database for Off-Line Trend Analysis

CiscoWorks also includes a management tool to collect historical network data for off-line analysis of performance trends and traffic patterns. A Sybase SQL relational database server stores designated SNMP MIB variables -- e.g., byte count, packet count, broadcast packet count, input and output errors -- from which the user can make ad hoc queries and generate graphs. This lets the user determine, for example, when a device or a network segment is too heavily loaded, in order to take appropriate action before a breakdown occurs. Pricing/Availability

Users of NetCentral software can be upgraded to CiscoWorks free of charge if they are enrolled in Cisco's software maintenance program.

Pricing/Availability

Available beginning in November, CiscoWorks is priced at $9,995 (U.S. list). Users of NetCentral software can be upgraded to CiscoWorks free of charge if they are enrolled in Cisco's software maintenance program.

Cisco Systems, Inc., is the leading global supplier of high- performance, multimedia and multiprotocol internetworking products, including routers, bridges, communication servers and router management software. Cisco technology can be used to build enterprise-wide networks linking an unlimited number of geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM SNA internetworks. Cisco is publicly traded over the counter under the NASDAQ symbol CSCO.

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Posted: Dec 15 14:56:13 1992