What's New in NCM 7.2
2 likes1,129 views
The document outlines the features and enhancements of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) version 7.2, emphasizing its role in automated network configuration and change management. Key updates include device end-of-life management, improved device connection profiles, configuration change approval workflow enhancements, and expanded support for Brocade and Palo Alto devices. Additionally, it provides information on system requirements and pricing, highlighting NCM's benefits in maintaining network device configurations and availability.
What's New in NCM 7.2
- 1. Network Configuration Manager 7.2 What’s New? © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- 2. What Will You Learn? SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Automated Network Configuration and Change Management » What is SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager? » How Can NCM Help You? » How Do I Know if I Need NCM? » What’s New in NCM 7.2? » System Requirements » Pricing & Licensing » Resources for Additional Learning © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2
- 3. What is SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)? A primary solution to establish & protect network device configurations & manage configuration changes. SolarWinds NCM enables: • Efficient, Scalable, Standardized & Accountable Configuration Management • Help eliminate human errors and results in improved network availability © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3
- 4. Network Configuration Manager (NCM) NCM as a part of SolarWinds Orion® Platform » “Single pane of glass” to monitor & manage IT Networks, Servers, Applications and more » Can be purchased as a standalone product and add monitoring & other management functionality when needed © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4
- 5. How Can NCM Help Me? » Inventory and profile network devices » Develop and deploy standardized device configurations » Protect configurations against unauthorized changes » Audit configurations for compliance to standards » Use change controls to manage updates » Tight integration with SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) Value-add : Affordable, Feature Rich, Easy to Use, Low TCO © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 5
- 6. How Do I Know if I Need NCM? I want to » Reduce network downtime caused by device misconfiguration or catastrophic failure » Find an easier way to inventory devices, track and manage asset details like: serial numbers, location, vendor end-of-life, etc. » Be automatically notified when a critical configuration is changed & to be able to restore it » Have an easier and more accurate way to deploy bulk changes to network devices » Be able to review proposed configuration changes before they are applied © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 6
- 7. What's NEW in NCM 7.2? 1. Device End-of-Life Management 2. Device Connection Profiles 3. Configuration Change Approval Workflow Enhancements 4. Web UI for Job Management, Configuration Management and more 5. Improved Devices Support (Brocade and Palo Alto) © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 7
- 8. Device End-of-Life Management Feature 1 » What it is it? Provides an integrated database of End-of-Sales (EoS) and End-of-Life (EoL) dates for Cisco and Juniper® Devices View matching service dates for each device managed by NCM (using fuzzy search) Select and import matching dates into your device profile Add optional custom information to device profile and manage asset lifecycle milestones (e.g., replacement budget requested, budget approved, scheduled replacement date, etc.) » Use case: Audit and control annual maintenance costs Prepare financial and resource requests Track critical milestones © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 8
- 9. Device End-of-Life Management No more spreadsheets. Track vital details as part of the device profile. Saves time and improves efficiency Easier to research EoS/EoL dates » Use Cases © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 9
- 10. Device Connection Profiles Feature 2 » What it is it ? Define device logon criteria (e.g., user name, password, remote protocol, port, etc.) Apply a Device Connection Profile to one or more NCM managed devices Define multiple Device Connection Profiles and use them as needed Alternately, NCM can also auto-detect and use the right connection profile » Use case: Standardize device access © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 10
- 11. Device Connection Profiles Standardize device access Easier to manage a handful of connection profiles as opposed to managing access settings on hundred of devices Keep NCM synchronized after making changes to device settings © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 11
- 12. Configuration Change Approval Workflow Enhancements Feature 3 » What it is it ? Improvements to the configuration change approval workflow • Approved requests to be executed at specified date/time • Approved requests to be returned to requestor for execution • Requesters can view history of what was requested • Both Approvers and Requesters can view history of what was approved » Use case Experienced staff implementation © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. approves 12 all change requests before
- 13. Configuration Change Approval Workflow Review justification Improve accuracy and eliminate error © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 13
- 14. New Web UI Feature 4 Configuration Management Job Management © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 14
- 15. Improved Device Support Feature 5 » Added support for Brocade® and Palo Alto® devices Brocade SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) Palo Alto © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 15
- 16. System Requirements Operating System Windows Server® 2003 SP2 and 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit & 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, 2008 SP2, 2008 R2 and 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 .NET NET 3.5 SP1 + .NET 4.0 Database SQL Server® 2005 SP1, 2005 SP2, 2005 SP3, 2005 SP4, SQL 2008 without SP, 2008 SP1, 2008 SP2, 2008 SP3, SQL 2008 R2 without SP, 2008 R2 SP1, 2008 R2 SP2, SQL 2012, SQL 2012 SP1 © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 16
- 17. Pricing and Licensing » Pricing Pricing starts at 2,695 USD (50 nodes)** Node-based, tiered volume pricing model » Licensing Keys NEW Licensing Manager -- no longer necessary to copy and paste activation keys. New licensing system will automatically activate licenses via Internet access. **Pricing as of 9.3.13, SolarWinds reserves the right to change prices © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 17
- 18. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) Use SolarWinds NCM to backup critical network device configurations regularly and have a device recovery plan in place. Ensure uptime for your critical devices! Also see: • How to Install NCM 7.2 (Video) • 5 Best NCCM Practices: Network Configuration Management (Video) • Customer Testimonial (Video) © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 18
- 19. Thank you! The SOLARWINDS and SOLARWINDS & Design marks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks, registered or pending registration in the United States or in other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and may be or are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. © 2013 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 19