Cisco Network Assistant
Q. What is Cisco Network Assistant (CNA)?
A. Cisco Network Assistant is a PC-based network management application that manages standalone devices and clusters of devices from anywhere in your intranet. It is optimized for LANs of small and medium-sized businesses with up to 250 users. It supports a wide range of Cisco Catalyst Intelligent switches from Cisco Catalyst 2950 through Cisco Catalyst 4506. Through its graphical user interface (GUI), Cisco Network Assistant manages many of the switch critical functions and allows the user to launch the device manager of Cisco Systems access routers and wireless access points.
The Network Assistant offers:
• Graphical display of network topology
• Auto discovery of network devices
• Topology view
• Front panel view
• Application update
• Software upgrade
• Switch configuration
• Feature configuration
Using its GUI, you can perform multiple configuration tasks without using command-line interface (CLI) commands. You can apply actions to multiple devices and ports at the same time for VLAN and quality of service (QoS) settings, inventory and statistics reports, link and device monitoring, software upgrades, and many other networking features.
Network Assistant gives you two graphical views of a cluster:
• A topology view, showing devices that are eligible to join the cluster, link information between devices, and other connected clusters.
• A front-panel view from which you can monitor the real-time status of the devices and perform many configuration tasks. The devices and port LEDs in the view look like the physical devices and port LEDs.
A cluster can contain up to 16 connected, cluster-capable Cisco Catalyst devices. The devices belong exclusively to the cluster; they do not participate in other clusters. You assign an IP address to a device that will become the command device. The IP address is the single point of access that Network Assistant uses to configure, manage, and monitor the command device and the member devices.
The main reasons for creating a cluster are:
• You can manage Cisco cluster-capable devices regardless of their interconnection media and physical locations. The devices can be in the same location, or they can be distributed across a Layer 2 or Layer 3 network.
• You can designate devices to take the place of a failed command device. By having standby command devices you can safeguard against a loss of contact with cluster members.
Network Assistant features can identify a device as the command device, add members to the cluster, and identify standby command devices.
Q. What Cisco devices are supported by CNA?
A. As of November, 2004, the following Cisco switches, routers, Access points and IP phones are supported by CNA:
Fixed configuration Cisco Catalyst switch families:
• Cisco Catalyst:
Cisco 2900 Series
Cisco 3500 Series
Cisco 3560 Series
Cisco 3750 Series
Modular Cisco Catalyst switches:
• Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series
–Supervisors: Sup II+, Sup II+ TS, Sup IV
Line cards: 4124, 4148, 4224, 4248, 4424, 4548
–Power Supplies: C45-1000, C45-1300
–Routers: All (CDP discoverable)
• Access Points:
–350
–1100
–1200
• IP Phones:
–All (CDP discoverable)
Q. How much does CNA software cost?
A. Cisco Network Assistant software is free of charge.
Q. Where can I get the CNA software?
Q. Can the Network Assistant manage a multivendor network?
A. No, Cisco Network Assistant exclusively manages Cisco devices.
Q. What are the dependencies on Cisco Network Assistant?
A. None. Cisco Network Assistant is a standalone Windows application that resides on the PC and does not require any other software or plug-in.
Q. What are the system requirements for Cisco Network Assistant?
A. The minimum requirements are:
• PC with a 233 MHz Pentium III processor
• 128 MB RAM total
• 50 MB free hard drive space
• Windows 98*, NT 4.0, 2000, XP
*Cisco Catalyst 4500 administration is not supported under Windows 98.
Q. Can the Cisco Network Assistant function under other operating systems (UNIX, Linux, Mac OS)?
A. No, the Cisco Network Assistant only runs on Microsoft Windows.
Q. Can Cisco Network Assistant be used by Cisco customers that have networks larger than 250 users?
A. Yes, but Cisco Network Assistant is optimized for LANs of small and medium-sized businesses of up to 250 users and the Cisco devices that are typically used in these networks.
Q. Who would benefit most from using Cisco Network Assistant?
A. The network administrator or specialist will benefit the most from using Cisco Network Assistant. This could be a Cisco partner or reseller that services the SMB network or the SMB staff network support specialist.
Q. Do I need networking experience to use Cisco Network Assistant?
A. Although Cisco Network Assistant is a simple, intuitive, and GUI-based application, relevant knowledge of the networking principles will help maximize the value of the application.
Ren
Knowladge
August 13th, 2008 at 4:51 am