Configuring Topology Search

The topology search capability is an extension of the Networks for Operations Insight® feature. It applies the search and analysis capabilities of Operations Analytics - Log Analysis to give insight into network performance. Events that have been enriched with network data are analyzed by the Network Manager Insight Pack and are used to calculate the lowest-cost routes between two endpoints on the network topology over time. The events that occurred along the routes over the specified time period are identified and shown by severity. The topology search requires the Networks for Operations Insight feature to be installed and configured. The topology search capability can plot the lowest-cost route across a network between two end points and display all the events that occur on the devices on the routes.

The Network Manager IP Edition product enriches all the event data that is generated by the devices on the network topology. It is stored in Netcool®/OMNIbus, so that the Operations Analytics - Log Analysis product can cross-reference devices and events. The Gateway for Message Bus is used to pass event data from Netcool/OMNIbus to Operations Analytics - Log Analysis. Also, the Network Manager Insight Pack reads topology data from the NCIM database in Network Manager IP Edition to identify the paths in the topology between the devices.

The scope of the topology search capability is that of the entire topology network, which includes all NCIM domains. To restrict the topology search to a single domain, you can configure a properties file that is included in the Network Manager Insight Pack.

After the Insight Pack is installed, you can run the apps from the Operations Analytics - Log Analysis UI. With Network Manager IP Edition installed and configured, the apps can also be run as right-click tools from the Network Views. With Netcool/OMNIbus Web GUI installed and configured, the apps can be run as right-click tools from the Event Viewer and Active Event List (AEL).

The custom apps use the network-enriched event data and the topology data from the Network Manager IP Edition NCIM database. They plot the lowest-cost routes across the network between two nodes (that is, network entities) and count the events that occurred on the nodes along the routes. You can specify different time periods for the route and events. The algorithm uses the speed of the interfaces along the routes to calculate the routes that are lowest-cost. That is, the fastest routes from start to end along which a packet can be sent. The network topology is based on the most recent discovery. Historical routes are not accounted for. If your network topology is changeable, the routes between the nodes can change over time. If the network is stable, the routes stay current.