04 November 2015
SolarWinds has launched a Network Configuration Manager (NCM) connector for Cisco’s SmartAdvisor network reporting tool.
According to the company, network engineers and IT managers frequently face challenges due to device obsolescence, defects, vulnerabilities and lack of support, putting networks at greater risk of downtime and loss of data and confidentiality. It says regular network health analysis can deliver the diagnostic insight engineers need to improve network security, reliability and performance.
The NCM collects network discovery and device inventory data, including model numbers, installed software versions, and configuration settings, and delivers it to SmartAdvisor’s web service for expert analysis.
SolarWinds says its connector returns a collection of reports in a single dashboard detailing 360º network assessment, end-of-sale, -service and -life information, service coverage, and more.
NCM also offers recommendations to improve the state of the network and devices, optimise performance, improve operational efficiency, and simplify and automate ongoing operations.
Nikki Jennings, SolarWinds’ group VP of product strategy, says: “In-depth assessment and analysis of network health does not happen often enough within most organisations due to the substantial effort required to collect the data and the specialisation needed to conduct the analysis and make impactful recommendations. This ultimately puts networks at risk.
“With NCM’s integration with SmartAdvisor, network engineers now get critical, actionable insights so they can better protect their networks, maximise the value of hardware investments, lower operating costs, and improve network reliability and service delivery.”