AutoDiscovery

1. AutoDiscovery Device Attributes Discovery Ports Discovery CDP Neighbours Discovery Layer 3 Hosts Discovery

2. Introduction • Reliable monitoring and efficient use depends on the accuracy of the entered data that describe the network and the network devices. • AutoDiscovery function aims: • Easing the initial database population • Updating - topology, new devices and relevant data • Discovery on hop-by-hop basis • Better overview and control over the process • No retrieval of the entire network • Possibility of clear database organisation in the system

3. Location 1 Router 1 Location A Serial 0 Serial 0 Serial 1 Router A Serial 1 M M PC1 PC5 Router A PC2 PC4 Router B PC3 Router C Router A1 Router D Router A2 Router A3 Router A3 LocationA3 • notes • …

4. Principles • AutoDiscovery functions are performed on the Device objects or their Ports • Data is read and retrieved via SNMP • Result are shown in the Message panel • AutoDiscoveryfunctions perform following actions: • Attempts to find the discovered Devices in the database • Device already exists in the database -> update of the object properties and Links • Device does not exist in the database -> Device is created in the Discovered Folder, located underneath the Device on which the AutoDiscovery service was initialised. • Links are being set to the discovered Devices/Ports, depending on the type of initialized AutoDiscovery function.

5. Device Attributes Discovery • Setting the Name information for every SNMP enabled device • For Cisco Systems devices, finds serial number and model information • Plans for the future… • Deeper and intelligent analysis • Discovering type of the device and manufacturer • Discovering device attributes (type of hardware, type of OS, memory and storage size…)

6. Ports Discovery • Discovers all network interfaces (ports) with following attributes: • short and full name of the port • description of the port • bandwidth • SNMP ID • Port objects are updated or created under the Device in the information system hierarchy and each Port is linked to the parent Device • SNMP ID – index to member in OID list - the most important port attribute • Optional selection of automatic PortDiscovery function on the Devices on daily basis • Persistent interface indexes

7. CDPNeighbours Discovery • Based on CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) • Discovering neighbour devices • Creating the Links between Devices • CDP offers the information about models of these devices, as well as connected ports • The final result is creating Links between two Ports of neighbouring Devices, which represents the topological connection in this part of the computer network • Cisco only up to now - waiting for the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and MIB…

8. Layer 3 Hosts Discovery • Started on routers (Layer 3 device) or router ports • Discovers all IP address of end devices (hosts) on adhering local segments (sub-networks) • Based on ARP table • NetIIS system gets the address range in the adhering sub-network. This address range is pinged, in order to refresh the router’s ARP table, from where IP and MAC addresses of end devices are retrieved • NetBIOS and DNS names are requested from host devices, which are set in the Device name • A new object type Device is created within the Discovered Folder, which presents the local sub-network, under a name based on the IP address and length of the mask split with an under score (e.g. 10.1.2.0_24)

9. AutoDiscoverySummary Device Attributes Discovery Ports Discovery CDP Neighbours Discovery Layer 3 Neighbours Discovery