A comprehensive set of agent simulator and network simulator
tools to simulate SNMP, TL1, TFTP, FTP, Telnet and Cisco IOS device networks.
Testing a network management application in realistic and peak-load
environments with multi-vendor network devices is critical to its
commercial success. Sales demos are essential to demonstrate the
capabilities of the software in large, complex, network scenarios,
or at customer premises. Users need to evaluate the tool exhaustively
before buying.
However, in real life, the testing, demonstration and evaluation
of NMS applications involve the following hurdles.
Challenges in Building and Testing Management Applications
Procurement of complex multi-vendor network devices for testing
is prohibitively expensive.
Complete and reliable testing is not possible due to the various
types of agents in the devices and their different versions.
Critical test scenarios, such as device failures and agent
crashes are difficult to reproduce with live devices.
Trained people with expertise on various devices and technologies
are required to evaluate the network management tools.
Networks are complicated and extremely expensive, and most
vendors cannot afford to set up a demo network in every sales
office.
WebNMS Simulation Toolkit , a software suite which
comprises SNMP and TL1 agent and network simulator tools is designed
to overcome the above hurdles. WebNMS Simulation Toolkit
offers,
An integrated network design studio to create a virtual multi-vendor
network environment with SNMP,TL1,TFTP,FTP, Telnet and Cisco IOS manageable
devices, on a single PC.
Simulation of any type of device by adding vendor specific
MIBs/TCS and simulating values for the same.
Creation of realistic and flexible networking scenarios for
effective testing, training and evaluation.
A portable simulation environment, enabling easy demonstration
of management applications.
Simulation Toolkit Uses
Portable Product Demonstrations
Simulation Toolkit helps to create different network
scenarios instantly. The network configurations are portable across
all OS. This enables marketing and sales to set up powerful "live"
demonstrations of their network management products at trade shows
or at customer premises, easily and effectively. Reduced demo
set up time and absence of bulky equipments results in reduced
cost of sales.
Evaluation before Purchase
Users can easily yet exhaustively evaluate new management products
prior to purchase and customize them after purchase. The Jython
script APIs bundled with the product can be used to evaluate the
capability of the management products.
Quick and Efficient Support
With Simulation Toolkit , the support staff do not
have to visit the customer premises for problem reproduction.
Its recording tool can record the customer's network environment
and reproduce the problem quickly to provide fast and efficient
support.
Virtual Multi-Vendor Network Environment on a Single PC
Developers and testing departments can test management applications
by simulating large, complex network environments with SNMP, TL1,
TFTP, FTP, Telnet and Cisco IOS devices. Full control over the values
returned by the SNMP and TL1 agents and the ability to generate
SNMP traps and TL1 autonomous messages on demand, enable thorough
testing of applications. This ensures greater product quality.
Efficient Training
Simulations can be used to train network operators, administrators,
and technicians. Training groups can create realistic and flexible
networking scenarios by setting up user defined Jython script.
Simulation Toolkit Benefits
Reduces Product Development Costs
Simulation Toolkit has a positive impact in reducing
the cost of developing, testing, and delivering management applications.
It reduces the investment in equipment, support infrastructure,
and testing. By facilitating easy demonstrations, it reduces the
cost of selling and enhances profitability of the business.
Reduces "Time-to-Market"
Management application developers can develop their applications
in parallel with agent development through simulation of device
prototypes. This enables quick implementation of the management
products, thus significantly shortening the "time-to-market" and
the associated costs.
Efficient Network Management Staff
Customized simulations can be used to train network operators,
administrators, and technicians. Efficient training results in
well trained network management staff with better understanding
of the network management products and protocols.
Delivers High Quality Management Applications
Simulation of complex network scenarios enables complete testing
of network management applications. This enhances product quality
and results in a reliable and rugged management applications.
Enables Easy and Successful Demonstrations
Portable device configurations ease the task of setting up customer
demos to show the capabilities of the management application.
With options to enable different permutations and combinations
of network configurations rapidly, the Simulation Toolkit
helps in such presales activities at trade shows and customer
locations.
Simulation Toolkit Capabilities
Platform-Independent Network Environment and Scalability
Simulation Toolkit creates the complete virtual network environment
that can run on any industry-standard Intel-based PC or Sun Sparc
with a variety of network interfaces. It can even run on the same
machine that runs the management application. Large scale enterprise
networks can run simultaneously on a single PC.
Simulating Real Networks
The Network Recorder records real time network devices
simultaneously. The recorded network can be replayed instantly
in the Network Designer. The recorded configuration can also suitably
be modified to create test configuration variations.
The Trap Recorder records SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c traps by
listening for traps at the specified port. The output of the trap
recorder will give you the traps in the order they were received,
with timestamps and the variables included in the trap PDU. The
recorded traps can be stored in XML files and replayed in the
SNMP agent simulator and network simulator as request-based, threshold-based
or time-based traps.
Simulating Dynamic Network Behavior
Simulation Toolkit can simulate addition of new devices (including
bulk additions), start and shutdown of devices, change of read-only
and read-write variables, generation of traps and autonomous messages,
addition and deletion of rows dynamically for provisioning. These
simulations can be enabled dynamically without disrupting the
simulation process and thus helps to create a real-life scenario
with high scalability. The toolkit enables querying of the same
simulated device by multiple network management applications.
Automated Network Simulation
The Network Automation Wizard offers the ability to automate
the most common tasks performed by the network devices. You can
configure tasks to be performed on any device in the network and
set triggers to instigate each task. Based on the tasks configured,
the simulator automatically generates scripts that schedule and
trigger the activities. The automated network can be started from
command line.
Network Topology
Simulation Toolkit provides the Topology Editor that enables
you to establish inter-connections across routers, switches and
other devices in the network and visualize the topological relationship
between the devices. You can connect/disconnect devices in the
topology, through drag and drop.
Simulation of Cisco IOS Software
Simulation Toolkit supports Cisco IOS Software Simulationas part of its existing Network Simulation suite. It allows
you to simulate Cisco routers and Cisco Switches. CLI support
is provided to access the Cisco IOS Software.
TFTP, FTP and Telnet Support
Simulation Toolkit supports TFTP client and server and FTP client
implementation to facilitate transfer of files between the manager
and agents using TFTP and FTP protocols respectively. IPv4 or IPv6 Address can be assigned to the devices. This facility
can be used for testing the managers' statistics collection, software
download, upload and download of configuration and event files
etc.
Simulation Toolkit enables execution of telnet commands on the
simulated devices. Extensive script APIs are provided for customization
of Telnet commands. The Telnet script editor and command configurator
can be used to edit telnet scripts and define new Telnet commands.
Fault Management Testing Using Trap Stormer
Simulation Toolkit offers the Trap Stormer, an exclusive tool
to storm SNMPv1/v2c traps at burst and normal modes. Trap storms
can be generated to validate the effective event handling of the
manager application. In addition, the Trap and Inform configuration
wizard in the simulator supports request-based and timer-based
SNMPv1,v2,v3 Traps and SNMP v2, v3 Informs.
Jython Scripting Support
Simulation Toolkit provides an intuitive GUI to model and define
inter-relationship among MIB variables, among TL1 commands, and
across devices in the network.
The toolkit offers powerful built-in SNMP, TL1, CLI and Telnet
script APIs to automate a complete network environment. The intuitive
UI and powerful script APIs, combined with the flexible scripting
capabilities of Jython, offers a highly versatile environment
in simulating advanced network behavior and trap generation. This
enables complete control of the virtual network environment.
Agent and Network Management through RMI Interface
RMI (Remote Method Invocation) is implemented in Simulation Toolkit
to manage the simulated SNMP and TL1 agents and network behavior
from a remote client program. RMI's unique capabilities to load
and execute user-defined tasks at runtime, helps in test case
automation of manager applications.
Dynamic Configuration of IPv4 or IPv6 address
Simulation Toolkit provides the facility to dynamically configure
IPv4 or IPv6 addresses when starting each agent instance in the network.
This facility is supported in Windows XP+SP2 / Vista and Linux /
Solaris OS.
Pack and Play
Any network created in Simulation Toolkit can be packaged and
installed in any other system where Simulation Toolkit has been
installed. This is useful to give demonstration of management
applications at customer premises or during trade shows without
the need for configuring and carrying of devices.
Enhanced Performance
Simulation Toolkit enables creation of large networks in seconds.
The new template based model of device creation and data storage
occupies very less storage space of MySQL data for the network
devices and enables template based configuration and modification
of devices. (i.e) if 50 devices are created using Template device
"A", any bulk modifications can be achieved by modifying
this template device.
Design and Play: The Simulation Experience
Simulation Toolkit offers a sophisticated yet simplified simulation
experience in just two steps: Design the virtual network in the
Network Designer and play the simulation. To accomplish this task,
the toolkit provides a complete range of easy-to-use visual tools
that make simulation simple right from specifying the input for
simulation until packaging and installing the simulated agent.
Simulation Toolkit Product Suite
Network Simulator
To design and simulate a network with SNMP, TL1, TFTP, FTP, Telnet
and Cisco IOS devices, on a single PC. Supports Jython-based scripting
to model agent behavior and express inter-relationship among MIB
variables and across devices.
SNMP Agent Simulator
To simulate an SNMPv1/ v2c/v3 agent (or device) with user configured
data or recorded agent values. Supports Jython-based scripting
to model agent behavior and express inter-relationship among MIB
variables.
TL1 Agent Simulator
To smulate a TL1 Network Element with user configured data .
Supports Jython-based scripting to model agent behavior and express
inter-relationship among TCS commands.
SNMP Trap Stormer
To configure and send traps, to test the reliability of your
management application for receiving any number of traps at the
specified interval.
Network Recorder
To record real SNMP networks. Recording IPv4 or IPv6 address is supported. The recorded network can be instantly
replayed in the network simulator.
Trap Recorder
To record real traps. The recorded traps can be replayed in the
trap configuration dialog of the SNMP Agent Simulator and Network
designer tools.
Support and Training
WebNMS offers extensive support and training to ensure the success
of your solutions. 24x7 hotline to our developers will ensure your
questions are answered in real time and issues resolved quickly.
Our product services team provides onsite assistance and regular
training programs.
Our support organization is unique in the industry with a wealth
of experience in handling a high volume of change requests from
developers. This capability is an important aspect of supporting
development teams in an efficient way.
About Zoho Corporation
Zoho Corporation provides affordable software for database migration, management and provisioning of complex networks, systems, and IT applications. With a broad product portfolio and an active customer base ranging from enterprises, equipment vendors, and service providers, Zoho Corporation has emerged as a very affordable and high-quality alternative to expensive software that is common in this industry.
Zoho Corporation has offices in CA, Austin, New Jersey, Chennai, Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing. It has a well-trained partner base around the globe and thousands of customers world-wide. For more information, call 925-924-9500 or visit our Web site at: www.webnms.com.
If you have questions about any of the products, please contact
sales@webnms.com
