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N
ETWORK
M
ANAGEMENT
O
VERVIEW
(cont’d)
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043A/0996
In this manner, network management traffic is isolated to each segment. A central manager can
then collect management data (performance, errors, configuration, etc.) from the segment or
domain managers when necessary, providing a total picture of the network environment without
generating excessive management-related traffic.
T
H E
C
O S T O F
N
E T W O R K
M
A N A G E M E N T
How do you justify the cost of the hardware, software, and training required to implement a
network management system? Although most network management solutions may seem
expensive, the lack of network management can be even more costly. Ask yourself the following
questions:
What happens when my network fails?
Network failure significantly reduces productivity and revenue. When your network goes down,
work ceases, paralyzing mission-critical operations - and you are responsible for reacting to and
resolving the situation.
How much does downtime cost?
When a network or a segment crashes,
every minute of downtime results in lost
revenue and productivity. Each year, as
we rely more on computers in our daily
business, losses from network downtime
increase dramatically. Figure 5 shows
the estimated cost of downtime from
network failure.
Why not just hire additional
support personnel?
Infonetics Research studies show that, as corporate management allocates funds to expand the
information system, they are not allocating proportional funding for the staff required to support
the system.
Therefore, as budgets tighten, network professionals will turn to management tools to maximize
the productivity of smaller support staffs. Figure 6 illustrates the gap between network
management budgets and LAN segment growth.
Figure 5 - Source: Infonetics Research, Inc.
Figure 6 - Source:Infonetics Research, Inc.
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