Extreme Networks EPICenter 6.0, Reference Manual

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EPICenter Reference Guide
21
1 EPICenter Overview
This chapter describes:
●
The features of the EPICenter
™
software
Introduction
EPICenter is a powerful yet easy-to-use application suite that facilitates the management of a network
of Summit
™
, BlackDiamond
™
, and Alpine
™
switches, as well as selected third-party switches.
EPICenter makes it easy to perform configuration and status monitoring, create virtual LANs (VLANs),
and implement policy-based networking in enterprise LANs with Extreme Networks switches.
EPICenter offers a comprehensive set of network management tools that are easy to use from a client
workstation running EPICenter client software, or from a workstation configured with a web browser
and the Java plug-in.
EPICenter leverages the three-tier client/server architecture framework represented by Java applets. The
EPICenter application and database support three of the most popular operating environments in the
marketplace, Microsoft Windows XP/2003 Server, Redhat Linux, and Sun Microsystems’ Solaris.
Summary of Features
The EPICenter software is a powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use application for centralizing the
management of a network of Extreme switches and selected third-party devices, regardless of the
network size. The EPICenter software provides the vital SNMP, HTML, and CLI-based tools you need
for network-wide management of Extreme Networks Summit, Black Diamond, and Alpine switches.
●
Operational Simplicity . Simplicity begins with a detailed real-time view of the entire network.
EPICenter’s topology view provides users with an overview of every element of the network and
how they all connect at Layer 2 and Layer 3. Centralized configuration management and firmware
management simplifies the configuration and maintenance of your network elements. These
functions can be performed simultaneously on groups of devices anywhere on the network as well
as on devices individually. EPICenter’s stacking capability enables management of a stack of devices
as a single device and manages all ports on all devices using a single IP address.
●
Voice-Class Availability . EPICenter’s availability is greatly enhanced by granular health and status
monitoring of the network. Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) protocol support within
EPICenter enhances a highly available Extreme Networks switching environment. The Policy
Manager lets you work with high-level policy components in defining network policies to protect
and guarantee delivery of mission-critical traffic. The Real Time Statistics feature provides a
graphical representation of utilization and error statistics for multiple ports on a device, device slot,
or within a port group.
●
Comprehensive Security . EPICenter provides multiple features that control and monitor the security
features on Extreme Networks’ products. The VLAN Manager enables the creation and management
of VLANs easily throughout the network. The Policy Manager’s access-based security policies
enforce user-based security. The IP/MAC Address Finder tool to locate any MAC address on your
network.