Network configuration and change management software selection for Company XYZ

by Martin, Todd.

Due to security reasons and confidentiality the company will be referred to as Company XYZ. Company XYZ is a company with a data communications network of approximately 12,000 Cisco routers and switches. The Network Operations and Engineering Services department use CiscoWorks to manage and support the configurations of each of these devices. CiscoWorks is a network configuration and change management (NCCM) software suite from Cisco that is used by various users to accomplish daily tasks. These tasks include switch port and router configurations, IOS upgrades, standards verification, and various other configuration updates. CiscoWorks also backs up current running configurations to be used if there is a hardware failure and the router or switch needs to be replaced. The previous example is used to signify the importance of a network configuration and change management tool with a network of this size. It would be a very difficult task to try and save and file configurations for 12,000 devices. Company XYZ's Network Operations and Engineering Service department will need to select a new software tool since their current version of CiscoWorks will not be supported in a year. This paper will identify Company XYZ's use of CiscoWorks and compare viable solutions for CiscoWorks replacement that will best meet Company XYZ's needs. Possible solutions are Alterpoint's Device Authority Suite, Emprisa E-NetAware , Opsaware Network Automation, and Voyence Control NG, as well as an upgraded version of CiscoWorks. The Graduate School University of Wisconsin Stout Menomonie, WI