IT Network Asset Discovery & Inventory using agent-less technology.

1. IT Network Asset Discovery & Inventory
Diverse Network Communications, Inc.

2. IT Asset Tracking Problem
Data Center Assets are (usually) tracked using
spreadsheets
They don’t track enough detail
They don’t track enough detail
Are very difficult to keep updated
Are very difficult to keep updated
At best are about 60 - 75 percent accurate
At best are about 60 - 75 percent accurate
IT Operations staff usually are not provided with:
The complete virtual to physical mapping
The complete virtual to physical mapping
What software is installed on each server
What software is installed on each server
Interdependencies between applications or servers
Interdependencies between applications or servers
Conducting an IT Asset Discovery & Inventory is
usually:
A manual process or mixed
A manual process or mixed
Very expensive and time consuming
Very expensive and time consuming
Inaccurate by the time its completed
Inaccurate by the time its completed
Compiled into a spreadsheet
Compiled into a spreadsheet
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 2

3. Motivation for IT Asset
Discovery & Inventory
Require the information to:
Conduct TCO/ROI analysis of the current environment
Conduct TCO/ROI analysis of the current environment
Implement major infrastructure changes
Implement major infrastructure changes
Data Center Consolidation
Data Center Consolidation
Develop a Business Continuance/Disaster Recovery plans
Develop a Business Continuance/Disaster Recovery plans
As a part of a corporate mergers and acquisitions
As a part of a corporate mergers and acquisitions
A need to understand what:
Is really on each LAN segment (100%)
Is really on each LAN segment (100%)
The version and quantity of each asset type
The version and quantity of each asset type
The virtualization translation to physical infrastructure
The virtualization translation to physical infrastructure
(server, storage, network)
(server, storage, network)
What Applications are installed and versions
What Applications are installed and versions
Server and application interdependencies
Server and application interdependencies
Relationship between devices (server to switch to router)
Relationship between devices (server to switch to router)
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 3

4. DNC’s IT Asset Discovery &
Inventory Approach
Use Server and Application aware process to
extract important data
Perform discoveries using an “agent-less”
process
Automate all aspects of the data collection
Does not perform “Port Scanning”
Complete the Discovery, Inventory and
Analysis in one week
Leverage the collected data for additional
enhanced services:
Detailed Systems and Application Mapping
Enhance the deployment of ITIL based services
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 4

5. DNC’s Discovery Overview
One week basic engagement:
One week basic engagement:
One day data gathering
One day data gathering
Four days for analysis and custom reports
Four days for analysis and custom reports
Basic discovery service will scan three LAN segments (765
Basic discovery service will scan three LAN segments (765
possible network addresses)
possible network addresses)
Employ server and application aware discovery process
Employ server and application aware discovery process
Requirements:
Requirements:
Access to your network to:
Access to your network to:
Network access to connect the discovery laptop
Network access to connect the discovery laptop
Or, Customer workstation to install the discovery software
Or, Customer workstation to install the discovery software
Access to privileged accounts
Access to privileged accounts
Will require about one hour from:
Will require about one hour from:
UNIX system administrator
UNIX system administrator
Windows system administrator
Windows system administrator
Storage administrator
Storage administrator
Network administrator
Network administrator
Security manager
Security manager
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 5

6. General Discovery Information
Server Discovery
Storage Array
Storage Area Network (SAN)
Network Attached Storage
Network Switches
Network Routers
Other Network Devices
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 6

7. Server Discovery Information
Hardware (CPUs, Type, Memory,
devices, etc)
Operating System Type, version, patch
level (HP-UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris,
Linux, OSF1, Windows)
Storage (file system, logical and
physical volumes, storage array, and
tape devices)
Network interfaces (including virtual)
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 7
Installed software and versions

8. SAN Discovery Information
Storage Area Network Switches configuration
Brocade family
Cisco MDS
Storage Arrays configurations:
EMC Symmetrix / DMX
EMC CLARiiON
IBM ESS
HP EVA
Hitachi
Sun
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 8

9. Other Network Devices Discovery
Information
Network Printers
Cisco Routers
Cisco Switches
Wireless access points
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 9

10. Deliverables
Microsoft Access database containing
discovery and Inventory data
Standard reports about the assets
Three custom reports
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 10

11. Benefits
Remove the human factor from the data gathering
Tedious process for IT Operations staff
Higher accuracy of data
Better consistency of the data quality
Faster results for decision support
Assist with the annual:
Hardware and software maintenance budgeting
Hardware and software maintenance budgeting
License management decisions
License management decisions
Can be used to improve ITIL process:
Configuration management audits
Configuration management audits
Upgrade plan decisions
Upgrade plan decisions
Security audits
Security audits
Disaster Recovery audits/planning/recovery
Disaster Recovery audits/planning/recovery
Regulatory Issues
Regulatory Issues
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 11

12. Questions
Irwin.Kirmer@DnciConsulting.com
(303) 881-8154
Copyright © 2009 Diverse Network Communications Inc. 12