The iPad in Action

I wrote a post some time ago about the potential of the iPad to help manage networks. Since then, I’ve grown much more excited about its potential as a business tool.

The iPad is such a powerful tool for IT administrators because it is much more convenient than a netbook. It is lighter and thinner, can be used instantly and has a large display area – a powerful combination for remote networking.

I’ve been using the iPad myself with the new version of dopplerVUE 2.1 and its web client capabilities. The display is perfect for the powerful visualization features of dopplerVUE. I can clearly display and monitor network status and performance by combining maps, charts and gauges into a single dashboard. If you want to give it a try for yourself, download the 30 day free trial version.

The iPad is a great tool while you’re on the go. Some tasks are always going to be much easier to address with the computer on your desk. But in my mind there is definitely a place for the iPad in terms of network management. If you’re using the iPad for IT management, it would be great to hear about your experience.

3 Keys to Achieving Optimal IIS Performance…

Monitoring the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) is something I take pretty seriously. As one of the most relied upon and mission-critical web infrastructures for eCommerce websites, web applications, intranet portals and corporate websites – it is definitely a mission critical application and there will be some crazed phone calls if the service goes down.


I monitor IIS for two main reasons - to troubleshoot performance problems on the server and to improve server performance. When I’m able to optimize server performance and save money by reducing costs on additional servers and hardware it is always a big plus.

Here are three steps for achieving optimal performance (for additional details read this article):

1. Monitor Memory and CPU Usage
It is critical to monitor memory and CPU usage and to take any steps necessary to reduce the load on the server. Other processes operating on the server could be using memory and CPU resources needed by IIS. If this is the case, stop non-essential services and move support applications to a different server.

2. Resolve Hardware Issues that Cause Problems
Slow disk drives can delay file reads, if that is the case improve the disk input/output (I/O). Also install additional network cards, if the current ones are fully optimized to ensure you can perform critical activities such as back-ups.

3. Optimize Web Pages and Applications on IIS
Make sure to test web pages and IIS applications to ensure the source code executes as expected. Take the time to eliminate unnecessary procedures and optimize inefficient processes.

To fully optimize IIS, you have to do some testing and go through some trial and error until you get everything tuned properly. It is definitely worth the time.

If you don’t want to use a bunch of disparate tools to monitor such a critical server and application, try out dopplerVUE 2.1 for a 30 day free trial. dopplerVUE’s IIS application center lets you display system responsiveness, application services, server and application utilization and alarm conditions all in a single window.

Cisco Tech Days – Don’t Miss Out

Want to get the inside scoop on network technology straight from the network experts? Cisco is hosting its Tech Days series throughout the month of May and into June in several cities throughout the country. I’ve attended the sessions in the past and found them to be very useful. Viewing demos, hearing about product roadmaps and features from the horse’s mouth is very helpful.


The hot topics this year include borderless networking, virtualization and collaboration technologies. Find out how the newest innovations can help you develop strategies and deploy solutions to make your network more efficient and effective.

Get the full details here for all the locations and dates. If you’ll be attending the event on May 26th in McLean, VA or the June 9th event in San Francisco, CA let me know. It would be great to meet up and discuss some of these latest networking trends.

Application Problems and Downtime – Avoid the Pain

Whether it’s the email system, web infrastructure or your database backend – downtime can make your blood pressure rise. I’ve seen the support calls come in when a server and application goes down that is mission critical.


That’s why I’m so excited about the new release of dopplerVUE 2.1. Application centers have been added for Microsoft® Exchange, Microsoft® IIS and Microsoft SQL Server® applications. These monitoring centers provide detailed information about the overall health of an application, including its hardware and software dependencies.

dopplerVUE displays responsiveness, application services, server and application utilization and alarm conditions in a single view. Take a look at the screenshot below.

Interested in getting more insight into your Exchange, IIS or SQL server and applications? Try
dopplerVUE 2.1 free for 30 days.

The Changing Face of the Network: The User and IT Perspective

Is 2010 going to be a year of huge change for the network? With the increasing use of video conferencing, web 2.0 and other emerging technologies, will users demand that the network and IT better support these performance hungry services?


Loudhouse Research, a UK based firm thinks so based on a survey of 152 IT decision makers in companies with 1000+ employees. The trend would tie the business to the network and the network engineer to the user more closely than ever before. The key question – is the network ready for these services? The user and IT perspective on the challenges with the network today can be viewed in the chart below.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An interesting difference of opinion is in terms of performance which is at the heart of the network and new services.


I agree with the trend that Loudhouse points out is coming, but I’m not as sure about the timeline. What do you think? Do you see these changes in your organization?

We do know that the network is constantly changing, so it’s always better to be prepared. In my experience I’ve found it to be helpful to use tools, such as dopplerVUE to manage the network to make sure users are satisfied with performance and that IT is aligned with the goals of the business. There is a free 30 day download available if you’re interested in trying it for yourself.

Comparing Solarwinds & dopplerVUE Layer 2 Switch Port Mapping…

When a customer calls with a problem, I often start the troubleshooting process by validating the connection. I start at the switch port and cable level. This process can be time consuming and challenging because you have to find the specific port a user or server is connected to on the network by checking the cable or manually connecting to a switch. Who has time for that lengthy process?

Fortunately, several tools now have layer 2 switch port mapping capabilities. I recently watched a demonstration of Solarwinds and dopplerVUE’s layer 2 switch port mapping capabilities and found them to be quite different despite the same name. The Solarwinds toolset provides very basic functionality. It identifies the switch port a device is connected to and it’s up/down status.

In a nutshell, here are four reasons to consider dopplerVUE over Solarwinds.

dopplerVUE’s layer 2 switch port mapping delivers:

• the same and added functionality vs Solarwinds
• complete mapping in 4 steps vs the 7 steps required by Solarwinds. That’s half the work and time.
• a simpler process - there is no need to memorize the switch/router and community strings
• a view of what is connected with how it is performing in a single dashboard (screenshot below)

The dopplerVUE screenshot below displays a complete device view including the switch port it is connected to, it’s current up/down status, the amount of traffic over the interface and any alert conditions. If you want to view a switch and a list of every connected item, simply choose the switch name instead of the end target device name.

I’ve provided a comparison of the steps and process to use each product below. Feel free to check out the steps for yourself by downloading a free trial of dopplerVUE.

The Right Network Dashboard Can Make All the Difference

I’ve found that dashboards can be a huge help when managing the network, so I wanted to share some thoughts on the topic. A picture can be worth a thousand words in my experience. The dashboard I use (see below) makes it easy at a glance to see the status of the network and drill down into device details and troubleshoot network problems.

Of course setting up a dashboard that really provides value can be a time consuming process. To make the process easier, I’ve found it helpful to decide up front what elements are most important to display and then create the dashboard. Another key step is picking the right tool to create your dashboards. Three key questions can assist you in picking the right tool and avoiding confusion and disappointment later in the process.

1. How easy is it to create a dashboard? (Does it require importing or code?)
2. Can it mash-up network topology maps, performance data and alarm data?
3. Does the drill down capability provide for rapid jumping to detailed device/alarm data?

So why are dashboards so valuable? I’m able to display the information that helps me manage the network more effectively. For example, the screenshot of my dashboard below shows a distributed site. When managing across a WAN, I add elements into my dashboard that include where the alerts are, what type of network services are potentially impacted and the overall health and status of the network (bandwidth, router CPU load, etc). My dashboard shows all of these elements, and also goes a few steps further by including a network topology map, the top alarmed devices and customized pieces that show response time and availability of a specific website.

Depending on your specific situation, the dashboard capabilities can extend across multiple systems or take a deep dive into a single service provided by an IT organization. For example, an application dashboard would have a blend of device status, applications status, application services, and status of key dependencies all on a single page.

The dashboard that I’ve included was created with dopplerVUE my network management system of choice. If you’re interested in easily creating a custom dashboard give it a try by downloading the 30-day free trial.

Have you heard the Buzz?

Lately, many Gmail users have noticed a new option right below their Inbox that says “Buzz”. If you’re like me, you probably read the quick Google summary and then ignored it while you took care of your email. I finally decided to investigate Buzz a few days ago, and after hearing some colleagues expressing confusion about this new feature, thought I would address a few questions I’ve heard over and over:

What is it?
Google Buzz is similar to an RSS feed, except that it integrates all of your social networking data into one area, while also serving as a messaging tool. Buzz users can share things such as status updates, comments, video and pictures, which makes it fairly similar to Facebook and Twitter. The difference? Instead of going to different apps or sites to check all of your profiles, you can combine it all in Buzz.

Why do I need it?
Those of you that use social networking sites and like integration and consolidation will get the most use out of it. If you’re already using Gmail, Buzz is right there for your convenience. It’s also handy for those who love mobile apps. However, you must have an iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile, Android 2.0, Openwave or S60, for Buzz to work on your mobile device.

Side note- For those thinking of using Buzz with a supported mobile device, it can integrate your posts with Google Maps so that you can see your location and others around you using Buzz (similar to Google Latitude).

Are there privacy features?
While this is a question I’m still trying to gather all the details on, Buzz didn’t have stringent privacy features at first. However, after Google was threatened with multiple lawsuits in February, they added a few privacy features. There is an option to make your Google profile private, so that you don’t show up in directories and/or searches. You can also choose the sites that you want to link with for your contacts/followers to see, so you control the information you share. Choosing contacts is also completely in your control, and while Google will suggest people from your Gmail contact list, you have the option to add, ignore or even block them. As added value, you can also view who’s following you and choose how you want to react (add, ignore or block), so you can keep tabs on who can see your information.

What type of stuff can I integrate?
Sites currently integrated: Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Google Reader and Blogger.

Can Buzz benefit an IT or Network Manager?
Sure, if you use Gmail (or want to start) and use any of the integrated sites to communicate with others for IT or networking purposes. For instance, if you notice you’re having bandwidth problems, you could Twitter about it to notify your coworkers or get advice from your followers and also upload a screenshot of your network stats to Flickr so everyone can see details. Both of those examples can be done directly from within Buzz- no need to go to the Twitter website and Flickr website separately. You could also then use Buzz to tap into your Google Reader to look for tips to help increase your network speed or manage your bandwidth more efficiently.

For those of you that love to try out new tools and software, Google Buzz is an efficient venue for sharing information and opinions quickly. Again, being able to do the majority of your sharing within one area (Buzz) is the key.

Since Google Buzz is still pretty new, the adoption rate isn’t as high as Facebook, Twitter or any other mediums of the same nature. However, as Google tweaks it and integrates with additional sites, I can see how convenient it may turn out to be. In an age of information overload, consolidation can really cure a headache!

Is anyone currently using Google Buzz? What do you think of the overall user experience? Any tips to add?

The iPad – The Network Manager’s Friend or Foe?

So I’ve heard all the buzz about the iPad - pretty much impossible to avoid unless you live in a cave. Other than the unfortunate name, I’m intrigued by the technology and its potential to make managing a network a bit easier. I haven’t bought one yet, since I’m still determining, if it’s a network manager’s friend or foe at the moment.

On the plus side, from what I’ve read due to its size, it is much better than carrying around a larger laptop to monitor, troubleshoot or configure network devices. You could easily load ebooks to help you with troubleshooting in real-time. It definitely beats heading over to the office desk to grab a book for reference.

On the negative side, the iPad could easily become a security concern on the wireless network without antivirus and firewall protection. Connecting a device that is geared for personal use into the network could have some serious consequences. The usefulness of the iPad will also be dependent on the applications that are developed to help monitor the network.

Sounds like there is still some development work to be done from a security standpoint before the iPad is ready for prime time for network managers. That being said, as the technology matures and security concerns are resolved it could become a very helpful tool. Are you using the iPad? What do you think?

Avoid Traffic Headaches on the Road and in your Network

Traffic congestion on the way to work is a sure way to get an immediate headache. That is why I’m a big fan of viewing live traffic patterns from my smart phone. I get a live view of traffic that shows which routes are congested and clear. With this information, I arrive at the office much faster and in a better state of mind (my co-workers agree).

Wouldn’t it be nice if finding congestion in network traffic was as simple as flipping on your smartphone and pressing a couple of buttons? Maybe someday. In the mean time, to make life as simple as possible, I use dopplerVUE which has Netflow built in, so I can look deep into routers and capture rich details about what types of traffic, which IPs are talking and how much bandwidth is being used. Take a look at dopplerVUE in action below. You can try it out free for 30 days.

If you don’t have access to tools like dopplerVUE, there are free tools that can help you as long as you’re willing to invest the time.


There are basically two types of techniques to monitor congestion - packet monitoring and packet capturing. I’ve listed some free tools for both methods below.

Packet Monitoring
Packet monitors watch the number of packets whizzing by and tell you a little bit of information about them, such as the number of packets and if there are any errors in the packet. But that is about it, you don’t get much more detail. So this method is good for watching long term trends.


1) For Windows users, look at the network interface properties. The display shows you packets sent and received. This is an easy way to see if your interface is working.

2) The Windows command line provides a number of useful tools to determine the performance of your TCP/IP connection. The Netstat command can give you details about each TCP connection including how many packets have been processed. Below is the result of a netstat –e command.

A list of the most common communications related commands available for the Windows command line are listed below:

Packet Capturing
Packet capture actually stores a copy of each packet that comes by which allows you to look at all characteristics of the packet. But all this detail comes with a down side - it will eat up storage space very quickly. So this method is best to capture a small sample of traffic for deep analysis.


1) For packet capture, the gold standard for open source tools is Wireshark. Here is a screenshot of a packet capture done with Wireshark on my laptop. As you can see, every packet is listed with full details about source and destination address, protocol type and data contents.

Wireshark is one of many open source tools that leverage the Winpcap tool for network monitoring. A list of tools that use Winpcap can be found here.


2) Windows server users have access to a similar tool called Network Monitor that helps monitor network traffic. Below is a screenshot of Network Monitor in action.

I hope these tools help you avoid congestion on your way to work and in your network.

Where are the best jobs in IT going to be in 2010?

Are network related jobs going to be hot in 2010? Looking for an answer to the question, I turned to Network World’s article on the 10 best IT jobs right now. With all the talk of security and virtualization, I was wondering if network related work would make the top 10.


The job of network engineer came in at number four on the list. According to Gartner, interest in networking, voice and data communications technologies increased for 2010, meaning skills in that high-tech area will also be in demand. With the need for social interactions and collaboration, network skills still remain hot.


I’m sure one of the reasons being a network engineer is one of the best jobs is because of all the great network management solutions that make life easier (I’m of course biased). Take for example, the solution I use – dopplerVUE. The software is installed and up and running in less than 30 minutes. It’s great - I get to start working on what I do best as soon as possible. Once installed, the package offers integrated fault, performance and auto-updating discovery across devices, apps, servers and services. Take a free test drive if you want to make your life a little easier.

Some other jobs that made the top 10 included security specialist, virtual systems manager, capacity manager, open source specialist, service assurance manager, electronic health records systems manager, sourcing specialist, service catalog manager and business process manager. Some of these jobs make sense considering the new technology trends, but I’ll admit some took me by surprise. What do you think of some of these jobs? Do you have any nominations for the best IT jobs?

Network and Security Monitoring – What are the Key Challenges in 2010?

Want to wager a guess as to what the key issues are surrounding network and security monitoring in 2010? If you want to confirm or deny your suspicions, check out a study from Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) involving network and security operations professionals highlighting the challenges and best practices for optimizing monitoring in 2010. In case you don’t have time, here are some of the highlights:

1. 24% of participants reported they either lack the staff to keep up with monitoring tasks or the training within existing staff to keep up with administration or interpretation.

2. A trend spotted by 62% of participants was the movement of staff to more generalist roles reducing the availability of technical specialists (shrinking budgets have made this a real challenge). Does your experience support this trend?

3. 66% of participants indicated they lack enough monitoring tools or the budget to buy them.

4. 47% of respondents were not fully utilizing the monitoring tools they had in place.
It's clear that in 2010 workloads won’t be decreasing and that the trend of doing more with less will continue. Another finding is that IT staff need a tool that centralizes their monitoring into a single system that is simple to maintain and is easy to use.

If this rings true for you, I can provide some helpful guidance. My company offers dopplerVUE a powerful easy-to-use network management tool that can help you bring together security and performance management into a single system. dopplerVUE is a cost-effective ($10 per element) and proven solution (check out our tutorials). Or download the software and try if for yourself for free. We also offer great customer support to make sure you make the most out of your investment.

That’s my product pitch for the day. Enjoy the weekend!

Networks Could be 10,000 Times More Efficient…Really?????

Did you know the global network currently generates 300 million tons of carbon dioxide a year -- about as much as 15 million cars? I didn’t either until I came across an article on Market Watch. The number is increasing as Internet traffic continues to grow along with a worldwide user base. I was surprised by how much of an impact the network has on the environment. But, there is good news…


Global networks could theoretically run on 10,000 times less energy than they do today according to scientists and engineers at Bell Labs (the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent). The estimate came from the scientists when they decided to find out the minimum amount of power required to run the network. This isn’t my field of expertise, but it seems like a staggering amount of inefficiency.


Why are networks so energy inefficient? Bell Labs says that networks weren’t designed with energy efficiency in mind, but were optimized for performance and simplicity (not too surprising).


So where does this leave us? Alcatel-Lucent and Bell Labs have decided to launch a global consortium called Green Touch whose goal would be to develop the technologies needed to make networks much more efficient.


How much more? 1,000 times more efficient than it is now within five years. It's an aggressive goal, considering that a thousandfold reduction is roughly equivalent to being able to power the network for three years with as much energy as it currently takes to run it for a day.


This is great news. It’s going to be interesting to see if the consortium can deliver on their goals. I’m cautiously optimistic – how about you? If you want more details check out the Green Touch press release.

Home Networking Security...Beware

Guess what happened to me the other day? I was using a DynDNS service to remote into my house and mis-typed the IP address. Instead of being rejected, I was provided a prompt to a DVR system login (I don’t have a DVR). I did a quick Google search for default DVR username/passwords and found a large list of common username and passwords.


It’s amazing how many home devices are now IP enabled, but also concerning when you think about how many people are still using the default password info that comes with the device.
Hopefully it becomes common practice for everyone (inside our industry and outside of it) to change the default information, whenever they get a new device.

P.S.
Did you know there will be 215 million IP enabled devices by 2012?

Are Businesses Prepared for Workforce Disruptions? New Cisco Study Says No…

I’ve recently discussed keys to avoiding network failures and tips to being prepared for network disasters. A recent study by Cisco highlights the need to continually keep network continuity at the forefront of our minds.

The survey finds that organizations are not ready to operate as usual during workforce disruptions because they haven’t set-up the proper networking infrastructures to support remote work by a high percentage of their employees.


Here are some of the highlights of the survey:


- 74 percent of the 502 IT decision-makers surveyed said that fewer than half of their employees were currently set up to work remotely.

- Asked why more employees did not have remote access, 38 percent said that business requirements did not necessitate it.


- Only 22 percent of those top decision makers felt that their current remote access solutions have contributed to their disaster preparedness.


- Just 15 percent of the respondents listed "pandemic or other disaster preparedness" as a top business driver for providing remote access to employees, and only 5 percent listed it as the primary business driver.


The study suggests that organizations are more focused on business needs under normal conditions than on remote access for business continuity purposes. In this economic environment that is not so surprising. Of course, it only takes a road closing, really bad weather or widespread illness that affects employee productivity and company revenue to change that focus.


Cisco also posted a YouTube video with a preview of the findings from the survey, if you’re interested in more details.

HP Buys 3Com… What Does It Mean for the Networking Market?

The recent acquisition of 3Com by HP makes me wonder what they are going to do in the networking market. For some time, we have been using HP Procurve switches along side Cisco gear. They have proven reliable and very cost effective. I have been looking forward to HP enchancing its offerings. In light of Cisco expanding into the server market, there was an expectation that HP would more aggressively address the networking market and create better choices for lower cost networking devices. It just doesn’t seem like the 3Com product line is sufficient for HP to go head-to-head with Cisco. This makes me think that HP is not even close to being done from an acquisition standpoint. I wonder when we will see HP drop another huge chunk of change to buy another device vendor. And who will the vendor be?

Anybody want to comment on who they think HP will buy next or do you think 3Com products sufficiently supplement the HP Procurve line?

Looking Forward to the Modern Day Marine Show

I’ve attended a lot of events lately, and it’s not over yet! I’ll be attending the Modern Day Marine show, held September 29th – October 1st in Quantico, Virginia. The show focuses on systems and technology, but also caters to equipment and services, making it attractive for all areas of interest. It looks like there are a good number of vendors exhibiting (there are three large tents and an outside exhibitor area), and a few events outside of the expo such as a large Robotics Rodeo and a grand banquet and reception.

This should be a great opportunity to hear more about the U.S. Marine Corps wants and needs in the network management space. It will also be a great venue to get feedback on the upcoming dopplerVUE 2.0 and NeuralStar 9.5 releases. Keep your eyes peeled for my post-show report in early October. Stay tuned for more information on the new release later this week!

Think you might be interested in attending Modern Day Marine? Check it out, here. There will also be two additional Marine Military Expos, Marine South and Marine West, held in 2010.

A Tip for Managing Wired Networks

Earlier in the week, I posted three tips for managing wireless networks. Thought I would also share a tip for managing wired networks to round things out for the week. Here is a response to a question I often get from customers.

How can I tell when a Cisco device configuration has been altered or accessed?
You can be notified of any configuration changes or attempts by enabling the CiscoConfigManEvent trap. This feature sends you a trap whenever a user exits the configuration session. Simply point the trap to your network management system to see when somebody accesses a Cisco configuration session.

For dopplerVUE Users
You can forward traps as an email for 24x7 instant access to changes on network devices. To read more about this trap and how to configure it, please reference the following Cisco article.

Put More Value into your Network Where it Matters Most…

Are you worried about budget cuts in the IT department? These days, budget concerns are fairly common and many IT professionals, including myself, are coming up with ways to show value to their organization. Think about it- beyond email and Internet access, few individuals in the company really understand the complexity of a network and the need to have high-caliber individuals proactively monitoring and managing it.

It’s our responsibility to make that value tangible and put forward a simplified method of displaying the network and quantifying its performance. People understand dashboards very well and the right network display can help them visualize the value of network management in a way that makes sense. I would suggest projecting your network display in your company’s IT or NOC area. This will give decision makers something to show for their investments in IT and make a compelling case that much will be lost if budget cuts occur.

For example, this display (below) shows the status and topology of key resources and additional metrics (total bandwidth in/out network, alarm history, and response time to company sales website) regarding the company website. The availability of the company website and its effect on revenue is always a great reminder of the importance of network management.




Other example maps that I’ve seen that communicate tremendous value are those displaying the entire network connectivity for a specific business process. For example, your HR executive may want to see how the payroll, timecard, and HR intranet website are connected and how much bandwidth is being used by these servers. Making a business process that is critical to successful business operations more transparent is sure to turn some heads.

Welcome to the Network Zone…Let’s Talk About Network Management Needs

Thanks for coming by to read this blog. I look forward to hearing your views and comments on this post and future ones. I’ll keep the posts fun and helpful.

I read a great article on SearchNetworking by Shamus McGillicuddy. It discussed the state of the market for network management products and more importantly, some of the top issues network management staff are facing. Here are some of my take aways from reading it...

There is a clear need for network management that lets engineers move away from spreadsheets, manual processes and tools that simply require too much overhead to use. The proof is in the IDC research that shows the market is growing in these tough times, and it looks like more specialty vendors are becoming both competitors and complementary players in the space.

The article references the network management space as still being part of the Wild West. The growth in new products and modules is staggering. One vendor actually boasts their core product has over 45 utilities (I can only handle about 5-6 tools then its overload).

Often so many tools are being used that it creates a new problem...

"Too many tools can lead to a lack of integration," said Steven Guthrie, director of product marketing at CA. "The success of low-end niche tools in the enterprise tells us that these point products come in for good reasons. But then they outlive their usefulness, and they end up stalling mean-time-to-repair. That data source [in the niche tool] may not sync up with other data sources you may have."

As network engineers, we’re bombarded with new information all the time and simply don't want or have the time to keep learning and finding the right application when a crisis occurs. A central point of management is necessary. Shamus was right on when he wrote...

"But, clearly, IT pros would love to consolidate the number of management tools they use on a daily basis, if for no other reason than to save money and make their operations more efficient."

Tools that have a single database, can consolidate multiple sources of information and have a low maintenance overhead will ultimately win out. In the long run they make your life simpler.

To read the full article on SearchNetworking.com http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid7_gci1355151,00.html