Overview

The expanding Internet and the availability of Web browsers has enabled the development of simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective tools for monitoring and managing enterprise networks. This approach requires no additional hardware or software to be purchased or supported. Conventional management platforms, on the other hand, require particular hardware, operating systems, management applications, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support, and often require data centers to maintain a varied set of costly and complex network management stations. The use of Web browsers for network management eliminates all that, plus gives administrators much needed mobility.

By combining Web functionalities with network management techniques, Web-Based Management (WBM) allows administrators to monitor and control enterprise networks with any Web browser, eliminating the need for management workstations and overcoming many interoperability issues that are inherent with multiplatform structures. Rather than the conventional, command-driven telnet screen, WBM displays data in a simple, graphic-oriented format. Use of the popular, user-friendly Web browser also reduces training costs and opens network status information to a wider range of users.

Since network performance is intertwined with corporate performance, end users want information about network operations. WBM is the natural vehicle for disseminating this information. For example, by pointing their browsers to a designated intranet Web site, users can access network and service update information, reducing calls to corporate help desks or Information Systems (IS) personnel. Since WBM requires only the installation of a Web-based server, integrating it into intranets is relatively simple and cost-effective.

Applications

There are three fundamental applications...