IT Network Asset Discovery & Inventory

IT Network Asset Discovery & InventoryIT Network Asset Discovery & Inventory

Diverse Network Communications, Inc.Diverse Network Communications, Inc.

Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 2

IT Asset Tracking ProblemIT Asset Tracking Problem

� Data Center Assets are (usually) tracked using spreadsheets� They don’t track enough detail� Are very difficult to keep updated� At best are about 60 - 75 percent accurate

� IT Operations staff usually are not provided with: � The complete virtual to physical mapping� What software is installed on each server� Interdependencies between applications or servers

� Conducting an IT Asset Discovery & Inventory is usually:� A manual process or mixed� Very expensive and time consuming� Inaccurate by the time its completed� Compiled into a spreadsheet

� Data Center Assets are (usually) tracked using spreadsheets� They don’t track enough detail� Are very difficult to keep updated� At best are about 60 - 75 percent accurate

� IT Operations staff usually are not provided with: � The complete virtual to physical mapping� What software is installed on each server� Interdependencies between applications or servers

� Conducting an IT Asset Discovery & Inventory is usually:� A manual process or mixed� Very expensive and time consuming� Inaccurate by the time its completed� Compiled into a spreadsheet


Motivation for IT Asset Discovery & Inventory

Motivation for IT Asset Discovery & Inventory

� Require the information to:� Conduct TCO/ROI analysis of the current environment� Implement major infrastructure changes� Data Center Consolidation� Develop a Business Continuance/Disaster Recovery plans� As a part of a corporate mergers and acquisitions

� A need to understand what:� Is really on each LAN segment (100%)� The version and quantity of each asset type� The virtualization translation to physical infrastructure

(server, storage, network)� What Applications are installed and versions� Server and application interdependencies� Relationship between devices (server to switch to router)

� Require the information to:� Conduct TCO/ROI analysis of the current environment� Implement major infrastructure changes� Data Center Consolidation� Develop a Business Continuance/Disaster Recovery plans� As a part of a corporate mergers and acquisitions

� A need to understand what:� Is really on each LAN segment (100%)� The version and quantity of each asset type� The virtualization translation to physical infrastructure

(server, storage, network)� What Applications are installed and versions� Server and application interdependencies� Relationship between devices (server to switch to router)


DNC’s IT Asset Discovery & Inventory Approach

DNC’s IT Asset Discovery & Inventory Approach

� Use Server and Application aware process to extract important data

� Perform discoveries using an “agent-less”process

� Automate all aspects of the data collection� Does not perform “Port Scanning”� Complete the Discovery, Inventory and Analysis in one week

� Leverage the collected data for additional enhanced services:� Detailed Systems and Application Mapping� Enhance the deployment of ITIL based services

� Use Server and Application aware process to extract important data

� Perform discoveries using an “agent-less”process

� Automate all aspects of the data collection� Does not perform “Port Scanning”� Complete the Discovery, Inventory and Analysis in one week

� Leverage the collected data for additional enhanced services:� Detailed Systems and Application Mapping� Enhance the deployment of ITIL based services


DNC’s Discovery OverviewDNC’s Discovery Overview

� One week basic engagement:� One day data gathering� Four days for analysis and custom reports

� Basic discovery service will scan three LAN segments (765 possible network addresses)

� Employ server and application aware discovery process� Requirements:

� Access to your network to:� Network access to connect the discovery laptop� Or, Customer workstation to install the discovery software

� Access to privileged accounts� Will require about one hour from:

� UNIX system administrator� Windows system administrator� Storage administrator� Network administrator� Security manager

� One week basic engagement:� One day data gathering� Four days for analysis and custom reports

� Basic discovery service will scan three LAN segments (765 possible network addresses)

� Employ server and application aware discovery process� Requirements:

� Access to your network to:� Network access to connect the discovery laptop� Or, Customer workstation to install the discovery software

� Access to privileged accounts� Will require about one hour from:

� UNIX system administrator� Windows system administrator� Storage administrator� Network administrator� Security manager


General Discovery InformationGeneral Discovery Information

� Server Discovery

� Storage Array

� Storage Area Network (SAN)

� Network Attached Storage

� Network Switches

� Network Routers

� Other Network Devices

� Server Discovery

� Storage Array

� Storage Area Network (SAN)

� Network Attached Storage

� Network Switches

� Network Routers

� Other Network Devices


Server Discovery InformationServer Discovery Information

� Hardware (CPUs, Type, Memory, devices, etc)

� Operating System Type, version, patch level (HP-UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, Linux, OSF1, Windows)

� Storage (file system, logical and physical volumes, storage array, and tape devices)

� Network interfaces (including virtual)

� Installed software and versions

� Hardware (CPUs, Type, Memory, devices, etc)

� Operating System Type, version, patch level (HP-UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, Linux, OSF1, Windows)

� Storage (file system, logical and physical volumes, storage array, and tape devices)

� Network interfaces (including virtual)

� Installed software and versions


SAN Discovery InformationSAN Discovery Information

� Storage Area Network Switches configuration

� Brocade family

� Cisco MDS

� Storage Arrays configurations:

� EMC Symmetrix / DMX

� EMC CLARiiON

� IBM ESS

� HP EVA

� Hitachi

� Sun

� Storage Area Network Switches configuration

� Brocade family

� Cisco MDS

� Storage Arrays configurations:

� EMC Symmetrix / DMX

� EMC CLARiiON

� IBM ESS

� HP EVA

� Hitachi

� Sun


Other Network Devices Discovery Information

Other Network Devices Discovery Information

� Network Printers

� Cisco Routers

� Cisco Switches

� Wireless access points

� Network Printers

� Cisco Routers

� Cisco Switches

� Wireless access points


DeliverablesDeliverables

� Microsoft Access database containing discovery and Inventory data

� Standard reports about the assets

� Three custom reports

� Microsoft Access database containing discovery and Inventory data

� Standard reports about the assets

� Three custom reports


Benefits Benefits

� Remove the human factor from the data gathering� Tedious process for IT Operations staff� Higher accuracy of data� Better consistency of the data quality� Faster results for decision support� Assist with the annual:

� Hardware and software maintenance budgeting� License management decisions

� Can be used to improve ITIL process:� Configuration management audits� Upgrade plan decisions� Security audits� Disaster Recovery audits/planning/recovery� Regulatory Issues

� Remove the human factor from the data gathering� Tedious process for IT Operations staff� Higher accuracy of data� Better consistency of the data quality� Faster results for decision support� Assist with the annual:

� Hardware and software maintenance budgeting� License management decisions

� Can be used to improve ITIL process:� Configuration management audits� Upgrade plan decisions� Security audits� Disaster Recovery audits/planning/recovery� Regulatory Issues


QuestionsQuestions

[email protected]

(303) 881-8154

Documents

IT Network Asset Discovery & Inventory