Network Discovery

When network autodiscovery is started, the servers, routers, switches which are SNMP instrumented, and the services hosted on these devices and workstations, are automatically discovered. The discovered data is written to a .DAT file and displayed in the atlas map on ConsoleOne.

Maps reflect the scope of discovery set at the management server. By default, all devices that the management server is able to establish communication with, are discovered and stored at the management server. By defining the scope of NetExplorer^TM, you can limit the number of discovered objects.

For more detailed information on network discovery, see Understanding Network Discovery and Atlas Management.

Database Administration

ZfS provides a centralized Common Information Model (CIM)-compliant Sybase* database on the management server. The database serves as a repository for server and network data that can be displayed or formatted in various ways to provide you with the information you need to manage your network. The ZfS data is stored in a topology database containing three logical databases:

• Topology
• Alarms
• Map information

Most database functions are automatic and require very little administration. For more detailed information on ZfS databases, see ZENWorks Management and Monitoring Services Database.

Alarm Management

Alarms recognized by ZfS include Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) traps, connectivity testing, and threshold profiling. Alarm management processes traps and proprietary alarms and forwards the alarms to ConsoleOne that subscribe to the alarms.

You can perform specific actions on an alarm by specifying the action in the alarm disposition. Some actions, like executing a program, sending an e-mail notification, and creating an archive, audible beep at the Console, and ticker messages, are automatically performed. You can set an action to forward specific processed alarms to other ZfS management servers, as well as forward unprocessed SNMP traps directly to a target address of any third-party enterprise management application.

Role-Based Services

ZfS Management and Monitoring Services supports role-based administration and task management through Novell eDirectory^TM. ZfS uses role-based services (RBS) to organize ZfS Management and Monitoring Services tasks into roles and to assign scope information to a role.

RBS roles specify tasks that users are authorized to perform. Defining an RBS role includes creating an RBS role object and specifying the tasks that the role can perform.

For general information on creating RBS role objects or specifying tasks that RBS roles can perform, see Configuring Role-Based Administration.

For information on how ZfS implements role-based services, see Role-Based Administration.

Reporting

ZfS provides reporting services to generate statistical information. These reports can be displayed on ConsoleOne or exported to databases and Web formats. ZfS allows you to generate the following types of reports:

• Health reports
• Topology reports
• Alarm reports

For more detailed information on ZfS Management and Monitoring Services reports, see Using Reports in Management and Monitoring Services.

Topology Mapping

Topology mapping enables you to display maps in the ZfS hierarchical atlas as shown in the figure below. Maps reflect the scope of discovery set at the management server.

For more detailed information on topology mapping, see Managing the Atlas.

MIB Tools Administration

ZfS includes the MIB compiler and MIB browser, to manage SNMP devices.

The MIB tools enable you to:

• Set alarm templates for receiving SNMP traps
• Display and set values on SNMP devices
• Update trap definitions in the alarm template database
• Annotate third-party MIBs

For more detailed information on the MIB tools, see Using the MIB Tools.

Monitoring Services

Monitoring, or SNMP, services include testing the connectivity and availability of a service on a network device. ConsoleOne is notified whenever the status of the service changes. The services that can be monitored include DHCP, DNS, Echo, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, IP, IPX^TM, NFS, NNTP, SMTP, SNMP, Time Service, TFTP, and WUser.

For more detailed information on monitoring services, see Monitoring Services.