Introduction to Antaira's Web-based Network Management Suite
The Antaira Network Management Suite (a.NMS™) is designed to manage large deployments of Antaira switches efficiently. It handles essential tasks, such as firmware updates and configuration backups and restores, ensuring streamlined network operations. With a visual dashboard that displays SNMP traps and Syslog data, a.NMS™ also provides real-time monitoring and enhanced visibility of supported devices.
Antaira NMS is built on the ISO FCAPS framework, providing a reliable and structured approach to network management. This version makes it easy to handle mass firmware updates and configuration control.
Dashboard: The dashboard offers a clear overview of key network metrics. Future versions will include customizable views, allowing for tailored displays based on specific needs. This feature will enable support engineers to assess the network's overall health and performance quickly.
Device List: The device list will showcase all discovered devices. The introductory version will display any SNMP-enabled devices within the defined IP range, not just supported Antaira devices. To enhance device management, sites and groups will help organize devices, especially when handling large numbers of devices. While the sites and groups feature is still being developed in this version, it will be further refined and expanded in future updates, bringing even more powerful organizational tools.
Topology View: This screen displays devices on a blank field, with the option to add a bitmap background to represent device locations visually. The view will show all SNMP devices found, similar to the Device List, but with the added benefit of showing the status of links between devices—provided the devices are configured with Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP). This feature enhances network visibility, helping to identify device connections and link health easily.
Maintenance:
1. (Firmware Management) – The firmware management system for supported Antaira devices allows network administrators to view devices' status and current firmware version easily. It also streamlines the firmware update process by enabling mass updates that can be scheduled during optimal times, minimizing impact on network functionality and reducing downtime.
2. (Configuration Management) – For supported Antaira devices, the configuration management system enables network administrators to back up and restore configuration files for multiple devices. These tasks can be scheduled and automated for convenience. Future updates will introduce partial file restores, simplifying mass changes across groups of devices.
3. (File Management) – The file management system offers an easy-to-use interface that allows administrators to effortlessly upload, organize, and manage firmware and configuration files on the server. Files can be easily added or removed as needed for efficient storage management.
4. (File Compare) – The file compare feature allows administrators to compare two configuration files, highlighting the differences in an easy-to-use visual format. This functionality also enables easy editing of a configuration file before restoring it, streamlining the process for making quick adjustments.
Tools: The software includes essential networking tools like Ping and Traceroute, which help identify the source of network disruptions that may cause devices to appear offline. These tools are valuable for quickly diagnosing and resolving connectivity challenges.
