As a network evolves and grows, it becomes a more critical and indispensable resource to the organization. As more network resources are available to users, the network becomes more complex, and maintaining the network becomes more complicated. Loss of network resources and poor performance are results of increased complexity and are not acceptable to the users. The network administrator must actively manage the network, diagnose problems, prevent situations from occurring, and provide the best performance of the network for the users. At some point, networks become too large to manage without automated network management tools.

Network Management includes:

• Monitoring network availability
• Improved automation
• Monitoring response time
• Security features
• Traffic rerouting
• Restoration capability
• User registration

The driving forces behind network management are shown in Figure and explained below:

• Controlling corporate assets – If network resources are not effectively controlled, they will not provide the results that management requires.
• Controlling complexity – With massive growth in the number of network components, users, interfaces, protocols, and vendors, loss of control of the network and its resources threatens management.
• Improved service – Users expect the same or improved service as the network grows and the resources become more distributed.
• Balancing various needs – Users must be provided with various applications at a given level of support, with specific requirements in the areas of performance, availability, and security.
• Reducing downtime – Ensure high availability of resources by proper redundant design.
• Controlling costs – Monitor and control resource utilization so that user needs can be satisfied at a reasonable cost.
 

Some basic network management terms are introduced in Figure .

Interactive Media Activity Drag and Drop: Network Management Terminology When the student has completed this activity, the student will be able to identify the terminology used in Network Management.