Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care This chapter provides an overview of the Smart Net Total Care service and covers the following areas:  Overview...
8 downloads 1 Views 476KB Size
Introduction to Smart Net Total Care This chapter provides an overview of the Smart Net Total Care service and covers the following areas: 

Overview



Key Features and Benefits



Specifications



Smart Net Total Care Components



Smart Net Total Care Services



Launch the Smart Net Total Care Service



For More Information

Overview The Smart Net Total Care service delivers the technology to analyze and report information about Cisco network elements and provide network aware information. Inventory data is securely uploaded to Cisco via the CSPC collector and the reports are presented through the Smart Net Total Care Web Portal. The inventory data is also available to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) to help enable faster resolution of any network issues.

Key Features and Benefits This section identifies the key features of the Smart Net Total Care service and describes the benefits this service provides.

Accurate Installed Base Information The Smart Net Total Care capability provides accurate installed base data to aid in asset management initiatives to help reduce total cost of ownership and to help drive Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Through accurate installed base reporting, you can spend less time searching for Cisco information that applies to your network. Through the Web Portal, you are able to view value-added reports including details on Cisco network elements, Cisco physical elements with configuration (cards, chassis), memory details of devices, Cisco software types and versions, as well as End-of-life/End-of support information.

Faster Resolution of Network Problems Security vulnerabilities can be reduced through a better understanding of installed assets and operating systems. Furthermore, baseline information required to start troubleshooting your network is available to the Cisco TAC from the moment you open a service request. Your Cisco TAC engineer has instant visibility into the size and nature of your network.

Smart Net Total Care User Guide Smart Net Total Care 1.16

1-1

Chapter 1

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

Specifications Access to the Smart Net Total Care service requires the installation of an SNTC software appliance to periodically gather and upload the network information to the Cisco backend, either manually or using an automatic scheduler.

CSPC Image Requirements This section lists the minimum computer requirements that are needed for the CSPC image. OVA: Requirements (Minimum)

Hyper-V: Requirements (Minimum)

KVM Requirements (Minimum)

VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 4.x or ESXi 5.x virtual platforms

HyperV (Windows Server 2008 [R2] Standard)

KVM running ubuntu 13.10

4 vCPUs

4 vCPUs

4 vCPUs

4 GB RAM

4 GB RAM

4 GB RAM

100 GB HDD Thin Provisioned

100 GB HDD Thin Provisioned

100 GB HDD Thin Provisioned

1 vNIC (number of NICs required is dependent upon the network topology)

1 vNIC (number of NICs required is dependent upon the network topology)

1 vNIC (number of NICs required is dependent upon the network topology)

Hardware Collector Support The following versions of Collector Software are certified with SNTC 1.12 

CSPC 2.3.1.1



CNC 6.3



CSPC 2.2 + DPA 1.3



CSPC 2.1 T1 + DPA 1.3

Browser Minimum Requirements This is the recommended minimum configuration requirements for browser clients: 

IE 8.0.x or higher



Firefox 16.0.x or higher

Smart Net Total Care User Guide 1-2

Smart Net Total Care 1.16

Chapter 1

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

Smart Net Total Care Components This section describes the components that make up the Smart Net Total Care service.

1. The Smart Collector- Common Services Platform Collector (CSPC) is an automated network discovery and inventory tool. The collector uses a seed file to discover and collect information about the network elements installed in your network. It uploads the information through a secure mechanism to the Cisco data center for processing and analysis. 2. The Cisco backend contains four services that process data that was collected by CSPC. For more information, see Smart Net Total Care Services. 3. The web portal provides a secure interface that lets users select a variety of reports in several different format types; once they are registered and entitled to the Smart Net Total Care service.

Smart Net Total Care User Guide Smart Net Total Care 1.16

1-3

Chapter 1

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

Smart Net Total Care Services The Smart Net Total Care service includes the following services: Rules Engine

The collected network data is processed and analyzed by applying rules to the data using a system designed to capture, share and re-use Cisco intellectual capital. The system captures expert knowledge from Cisco engineers. Knowledge Repository - Intellectual capital

The knowledge repository is a collection of Cisco intellectual capital often referred to as knowledge engines. These are Cisco backend systems that contain Business Unit data elements (like Field Notices and Advisories) and also systems rules for entitlement. All network inventory data uploaded from the customer network into the Cisco backend over the secure channel is parsed against the data elements in the backend systems. Data Validation

Certain data elements uploaded via the collector over the secure channel require data validation. Some examples of these data elements are Serial Numbers and Product Identifiers. Triangulations are done for the output of three different backend systems to either correct and validate or just validate these data elements. Asset Repository

The asset repository component of the backend stores all the inventory uploads from all customers. This information is used as a source to build all the Smart Net Total Care reports accessible through the web portal. An industry standard platform is used to process and store end-user inventory data.

Smart Net Total Care User Guide 1-4

Smart Net Total Care 1.16

Chapter 1

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

Launch the Smart Net Total Care Service To launch the SNTC service, perform the following steps:



Go to the Smart Net Total Care service at URL: https://tools.cisco.com/sntc/; the Smart Net Total Care Log In window opens



Enter your Cisco.com ID user name and password.



Click Log In; the Smart Net Total Care service window opens and displays the Overview page.

Smart Net Total Care User Guide Smart Net Total Care 1.16

1-5

Chapter 1

Introduction to Smart Net Total Care

For More Information For more information about the Smart Net Total Care service, please click the Support tab.

Smart Net Total Care User Guide 1-6

Smart Net Total Care 1.16