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1993-10-01
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AssetManager(tm)
Featuring technology developed by NetLabs Inc.
* Provides automated data collection and forms-based search
capabilities to allow quick and easy on-line access to information.
* Reduces the time it takes to resolve problems and anze asset
information for business planning.
* Delivers dramatic time savings to network operators who must
gather and maintain information and network and system
administrators who need fast access to accurate information during
problem solving.
* Tightly integrated with industry-leading management platforms to
utilize data previously collected and provide an integrated user
interface.
* Includes standard, fully customizable reports that allow tracking
of crucial organizational information.
* Provides data in a variety of formats so that it can be easily
incorporated into the industry-leading SQL databases or into ASCII
for use with spreadsheets and other tools.
* Utilizes standards such as SNMP, Host Resources MIB and DMTF DMI
resulting in a powerful application which will integrate with
existing and future standards-based solutions in the customer's
environment.
SynOptics' new AssetManager delivers the industry's first
standards-based automated, integrated application for efficient tracking and
management of networked assets.
Seamlessly integrated with Optivity(tm) on the SunNet Manager, IBM
NetView/6000, and HP OpenView/UX management platforms, AssetManager utilizes
SynOptics' Asset SuperAgent(tm) and Topology SuperAgent(tm) ETF Host
Resources MIB to automatically gather information about all the "assets" or
objects in a networked computing environment. AssetManager is also among the
first applications to utilize the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) DMI
architecture.
AssetManager was designed to automate the process of asset
management. Many different people within an organization either help to
manage the overall process, or can significantly benefit from the resulting
data. This applies to network operators who tediously collect the
information, as well as network or system administrators who urgently need to
find the owner and location of a specific system on the network during
troubleshooting. AssetManager offers intuitive, easy-to-use tools for a wide
variety of users.
Tightly integrated with the leading network and systems management
platforms and with SynOptics' Asset SuperAgent, the AssetManager application
provides a superior alternative to manually collecting asset information,
saving customers thousands of dollars each year in personal productivity and
increased network uptime through more efficient problem solving.
Utilizing Management Platforms
AssetManager utilizes the information discovered and made available
by leading management platforms in a way that is transparent to the user.
Changes or additions to the discovered information will automatically be
incorporated into AssetManager. Management platform integration also
includes the ability to use the AssetManager application within the
management platform's user interface.
Asset information, which can be automatically collected through
management platforms and for which appropriate fields will be provided on
screens and reports, include:
* IP address
* Device Description
* System Manager Contact
* Device Name
* Device Location
* Interface Addresses
* Interface Descriptions
* Interface Types
Additional fields are provided for the user to enter supplemental
information. These fields include:
* Serial Number
* Company Asset Number
* Vendor Name
* Vendor Contact Information
* Purchase Date
* Purchase Order Number
* Installation Date
* Warranty Period
* Service Contract Information
* Depreciation Schedule Information
Utilizing SynOptics' Asset SuperAgent
The AssetManager gathers data by utilizing SynOptics' Asset
SuperAgent. SynOptics' Asset SuperAgent is distributed network management
software that automatically collects asset information from devices in the
network fabric. The network fabric - comprised of intelligent hubs, bridges,
routers and end-stations - provides the flexible, underlying structure that
unites all network components on a single, scalable and manageable system.
The Asset SuperAgent builds upon SynOptics' distributed management
architecture. Users can achieve management efficiency and scalability by
deploying the Asset SuperAgent on NCEs or other UNIX-based systems throughout
the enterprise. Each Asset SuperAgent is then responsible for gathering
asset information from devices that reside within one or more management
domains. Optivity can be used to create and configure these domains.
Domains can be created from Optivity's internetwork, flatnetwork or segment
views, as well as from any user-defined logical view. To determine the list
of devices that need to be managed within a domain, the Asset SuperAgent
leverages the connectivity and topology information provided by Optivity's
Topology SuperAgent.
After gathering volumes of data from many device agents, Asset
SuperAgent synthesizes this information into a concise Asset MIB that is
unique to each domain. The AssetManager user interface populates the asset
database by querying data from all of the Asset MIBs in the network. This
significantly reduces the amount of polling and work that the AssetManager
application must perform. As the network expands, additional Asset
SuperAgents can be distributed to manage new network domains .
In addition to collecting data for SynOptics devices, the Asset
SuperAgent also supports automated data collection for Cisco routers,
Wellfleet routers, Retix bridges, Xyplex terminal servers, Kalpana switches
and any MIB II compliant devices. The following list is a sampling of the
types of information that Asset SuperAgent gathers for SynOptics intelligent
hubs:
* IP address, MAC address, and name of hub
* Hub chassis type
* Hub chassis serial number
* Hub backplane type
* Agent MIB and feature level
* Agent type
* Location and type of each board
* List of ports for host modules
- port and slot location
- MAC address of end station
- link status of port
* Power supply type
Another distinguishing feature of Asset SuperAgent is its ability to keep track
of moves, adds and changes by listening for key traps and alarms from network
devices. For example, whenever it receives a trap indicating a port link status
change, it will automatically poll the affected device and update its Asset MIB.
Utilizing the IETF Host Resources MIB
In the process of collecting information from desktop and system
devices, the Host Resources Asset Integration Module automatically gathers
the following information for PCs and workstations which have a Host
Resources agent:
* Serial Number
* Amount of Physical Memory
* Firmware ID
* Type of Long Term Storage Device
* Size of Long Term Storage Device
* Software currently installed
* Amount of disk space
* Attached peripherals(e.g. tape drive, modem)
* Type of file system
Customizable Screens
Users of AssetManager can easily customize screens to better meet
their organization's needs. This capability includes modifying labels of
fields and field lengths, hiding unused fields and reorganizing the screen
layout with drag-and-drop operations.
For users who need to totally redesign screens, add new data fields
or want to incorporate additional detailed information, a separate
AssetManager Customization Module will be available.
Reporting
In addition to providing the ability to display the results of
user-defined queries on the screen, AssetManager comes with a full set of
standard reports. AssetManager also includes capabilities for customizing
these reports.
Standard Reports: AssetManager automatically collects and reports
information which includes SNMP MIB 2 device information. Included in these
standard reports are:
* Assets by serial number
* Assets by asset number
* Assets by IP address
* Assets ordered by value of user-selected field
* Assets by purchase date
* Vendor lists sorted by user-selected field
Additional reporting capabilities available with SynOptics' Asset SuperAgent
include:
* Assets by chassis type
* Chassis by location
* Ports by mediatype
Customized Reports: The Customizaton Module includes the ability to easily
define new reports by using a graphical interface and following step-by-step
instructions. This provides users who have special needs maximum flexibility
and control over their reporting formats.
Asset Database
The AssetManager application supports popular databases. Included
with the product is a high-performance, embedded database that customers can
immediately employ. For customers who already have site licenses for Sybase,
Oracle, or Informix database, the AssetManager application supports using
these SQL databases to track asset information.
Customers who wish to import existing databases or files of asset
information can use AssetManager's data import capabilities. This tool
allows the customer to import data from a variety of formats directly into
the asset database.
Specifications
Sun SPARCstation Platforms
* Sun SPARCstation with color monitor
* Minimum 24 MB memory (32 MB recommended)
* SunOS 4.1.1 or above
* Motif Window Manager
* SunNet Manager Rel. 2.0 or later
* Hard disk with minimum of 30 MB free disk space
* 644 MB Desktop CD Pack
IBM RS/6000 Platforms
* IBM RS/6000 with color monitor
* Minimum 24 MB memory (32 MB recommended)
* AIX 3.2 or later
* AIX Windows Environment/6000 1.2 (including X11 R4)
* AIX NetView/6000 2.0 or later
* Hard disk with minimum of 30 MB free disk space
* CD-ROM Pack
HP RISC Platforms
* HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 or 800 with color monitor
* Minimum 24 MB memory (32 MB recommended)
* HP-UX 8.05 or later
* HP VUE (including X11 R4)
* HP OpenView/UX version 3.x or later
* Hard disk with minimum of 30 MB free disk space
* CD-ROM Pack
(C)1993, SynOptics Communications, Inc. Optivity, Asset SuperAgent and
Topology SuperAgent are trademarks and SynOptics Commications is a
registered trademark of SynOptics Communications, Inc. AssetManager is a
trademark of NetLabs Inc. All other brand and product names are registered
trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
DA505-412US-A