APCON, Inc. Achieve Optimal Monitoring Performance & Lower Costs With Matrix Switch Solution

8/14/2019 APCON, Inc. Achieve Optimal Monitoring Performance & Lower Costs With Matrix Switch Solution

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APCON, Inc._www.apcon.com_503.682.4050_800.624.6808

Uptime and fast problem resolution are top priorities in

enterprise networks today especially for companies that

depend on their IT infrastructure for revenue generation and

customer service. The same is true in network equipment

manufacturing (NEM) environments where the ability to

comprehensively test network devices is a critical time-to-

market issue.

Purchasing dedicated monitoring devices for hundreds

of points on a network ranges from impractical to cost-prohibitive, which explains why the matrix switch is such a

compelling solution. This technology lets network engineers

electronically move and share expensive testing and

monitoring equipment across an entire network using drag-

and-drop functionality in a web-based GUI to connect any

device on the network to another, at any time, without the

need for a manual cable-pull. The solution scales to support

thousands of ports and devices, so its applicable in even the

most expansive and complex networks, whether in use now

or planned for future implementation.

The figure at the right illustrates the efficiencies realized by

electronically sharing monitoring devices with the aid of a

matrix switch. At top, the conventional approach, where each

network analyzer (or probe, sniffer, IDS, etc.) is connected

one-to-one to a dedicated Layer 2 switch. At bottom, the cost

effective approach, where a trio of analyzers is connected

to a matrix switch, which then connects to the same array

of Layer 2 switches. This implementation assures the

same instant device access as the conventional one-to-one

deployment, but does so in a way that utilizes fewer total

devices and results in both cost and labor savings. Followingare two user examples that demonstrate the real cost-saving

benefits of the matrix switch implementation.

Achieve Optimal Monitoring Performance

& Lower Costs With Matrix Switch Solution

Electronic Device Sharing Eliminates

Redundant Monitoring & Security Devices

Top and bottom: Conventional and more cost-

effective monitoring configurations

As written for NetworkWorld May 26, 2008


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Financial Institution Cuts Equipment Costs by 77%

A major financial institution developed a plan for upgrading its network

infrastructure to take advantage of the services supported by a 10Gigabit

core. The plan called for the distribution of eight packet analyzers across

the network, with one installed at each Layer 2 switch. System engineers

specified three additional analyzers for assurance that all critical aspects

of packet analysis were addressed. Total expense for this complement

of network devices was nearly $800,000. Unfortunately, the budget was

only $400,000.A work-around strategy featuring fewer analyzers met the budget but

required that each device be moved by hand to the network location

where it was needed. This meant that when an issue surfaced, engineers

would need to physically move an analyzer to the suspected trouble spot,

which in turn meant increased mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR) for that

problem. There was also the added vulnerability of not having the entire

network covered meaning developing problems couldnt be spotted

before they occurred.

A new strategy centered around a Layer 1 matrix switch provided a more

agile monitoring capability, with complete network visibility and all ata cost that was under budget. The solution included just three packet

analyzers cabled to two matrix switches, which featured a GUI accessible

via a web browser. Through the GUI, engineers could observe the entire

network and electronically connect the analyzers to points where

they were needed, thus ensuring fully reliable and optimized network

performance.

Equipment, annual warranty and maintenance costs were 77 percent

lower than the original plan. This brought the total cost under $200,000,

while giving the institution an improved monitoring solution that enabled

IT managers to meet stringent network performance requirements insupport of corporate objectives.

Network Equipment Manufacturer Saves $500,000

To one of the worlds premier manufacturers of Internet network

equipment, efficient interoperability testing is key to lowering capital costs

and accelerating product time-to-market. Specifically, the companys test

lab departments need solutions that reduce hit-and-miss test trials during

system configuration.

Purchasing

dedicated

monitoring devices

for hundreds

of points on anetwork ranges

from impractical

to cost-prohibitive,

which explains why

the matrix switch is

such a compelling

solution.


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One department, operating an automated regression test lab, faced the issue

of how to share traffic generators among multiple devices under test (DUTs)

in each of its more than 80 test beds. To increase efficiency and scale, a pool

of test beds was created in which a single traffic generator is paired with a

matrix switch that supports four connected DUTs simultaneously. Engineers

also created a testing script that automatically configures the matrix switch,

creates a pre-set connection topology and recalls each required pre-set

topology for the next test.

Not only can test set-ups be quickly created and reconfigured throughscripting, but traffic generator signals also can be broadcast to any number

of other ports with no signal degradation. The increased efficiency in

equipment utilization means fewer traffic generators are required to test the

same number of devices, which resulted in a cost savings of approximately

$500,000.

Layer 1 Switch Software is Inherent Source of Benefit

When planning test lab automation and enterprise network monitoring

systems, companies cannot afford to overlook matrix switching solutions.

Specifically:

Premier switches provide a user-friendly web interface. With this GUI,

users can manage all switch functions intuitively, in familiar two-click or

drag-and-drop fashion. This includes making port patches in both real-

time and in batches, setting port properties and, as mentioned above,

presetting configurations to speed the testing process.

Embedded user interfaces also eliminate the need to install client

software, which is prevented in many enterprise networks for security

reasons.

Other important capabilities include zoning, the ability to restrict user

access to a set of ports or entire switches; and port locking, a security

feature that allows authorized users to lock one or more ports or devices

for a specified period.

Productivity & Energy Savings Can Be Substantial

Network managers and test engineers need to operate within their

organizations budget guidelines, so efficiency and productivity are critical.

With centralized management of device connections, the need to physically

re-cable a switch is eliminated. This is significant given that an engineer no

The solution

scales to support

thousands of ports

and devices, so its

applicable in eventhe most expansive

and complex

networks.


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longer has to leave his or her workstation interrupting work in progress

walk to the data center, gain access, re-cable equipment connections,

walk back and resume work. It sounds like only a few minutes, but imagine

the productivity gains over a year if it can all be accomplished directly from

ones desktop

Similarly, a matrix switch can reduce data center energy costs. Consider the

situation of the financial institution profiled above. Had it proceeded with its

original strategy to deploy 11 packet analyzers, the heat load on the data

center would have increased, as would the cost of cooling. Implementingthe revised plan based on just three packet analyzers and a matrix switch,

the energy costs are significantly lower. Further, lower heat loads translate

into less heat-related wear and tear on equipment, which in turn preserves

the lives of these devices, cuts down on maintenance repair costs, and also

avoids heat-related equipment issues that can impact network performance

or even availability.

About the Author

Mark Holmes is director of sales at APCON, Inc.,

a producer of Layer 1 matrix switches and software

for enterprise and test lab networks.

With centralized

management of

device connections,

the need to

physicallyre-cable a switch

is eliminated.

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APCON, Inc. Achieve Optimal Monitoring Performance & Lower Costs With Matrix Switch Solution