Context

Tool mentors explain how a tool can perform tasks, which are part of ITUP processes and activities. The tasks are listed as Related Elements in the Relationships section.

You can see the details of how processes and activities are supported by this tool mentor, by clicking the links next to the icons:

•   Configuration Management
  •   Identify Configuration Items

Details

IBM® Tivoli® Network Manager (TNM) provides the capability to automatically discover network devices, their configuration, and their connectivity. It can be used to establish the classes of CI types within the IT infrastructure and can populate the CCMDB automatically with each CI’s attributes and relationships.

Network Manager’s discovery engine can be configured through a Web-based graphical wizard, providing the administrator with full control of the discovery process.

1. Network Manager’s auto-discovery process constructs a network connectivity model that is kept up to date by periodic rediscovery (including event-driven partial-rediscovery). Network Manager’s plug and play agent-based discovery allows new technologies to be added quickly to adapt to evolving networks.
2. Network Manager IP Edition discovers all layer 2/3 network devices, interfaces, and layer 2/3 connectivity. It supports the following network technologies: IP, Ethernet, CDP, ATM (ILMI and PNNI), Cisco Frame Relay, HSRP, VLAN, static NAT, MPLS IP VPNs, layer 2 pseudowires. Network Manager supports all major equipment providers through support for standard RFC MIBs and specific vendor MIBs (Cisco, Juniper, Extreme, and others).

Network Manager Transmission Edition discovers transmission equipment and some access technologies (DSL), discovering network devices, interfaces and connectivity. It supports the following network technologies: WDM, SONET, xDSL, ATM (EMS integrations). Network Manager Transmission Edition has direct device integrations using SNMP and TL1, and vendor specific integrations through EMS interfaces.

Upon completion of discovery, Network Manager can publish the infrastructure's configuration to populate the CMDB and generate a topological representation of the infrastructure.

Subsequent discovery runs update the database and topologies, while maintaining a comprehensive change history of the infrastructure configuration and dependencies.

Figure 1: Populating the CCMDB from Network Manager’s discovered information

The IBM Tivoli Open Process Automation Library (OPAL) contains the Discovery Library Adapter (DLA), which provides the integration between Network Manager and the CCMDB. To download the DLA or for more information please visit the Discovery Library Adapter for IBM Tivoli Network Manager page.

For more information

For more information about this tool, go to the IBM Tivoli Network Manager page.