WhatsConfigured
Network Configuration and Change Management
What is Network Configuration and Change Management?
Network Configuration and Change Management (NCCM) is the process of creating and maintaining a central and up-to-date record of all network devices configurations. NCCM is also a critical discipline within ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) initiatives - supporting either a centralized or a federated CMDB (Configuration Management Database) architecture.
Why is Network Configuration and Change Management important?
Networks have become extremely complex and achieving optimal network configuration is as much of an art as it is a science. Network management professionals spend a significant amount of time establishing and fine-tuning configurations to ensure stable network performance, protect data and secure networks from unauthorized users. Configuration changes are continuously needed to support new services, policies and perform network optimization. These changes cannot occur without robust change management processes, which in turn require that network device configurations be standardized, maintained and documented with a full record of all changes. Fully documented configurations are also an essential element of complying with legislative initiatives (like HIPAA, SOX and BASEL II), as well as ensuring adherence to Government Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and industry standards such as PCI and ITIL.
How is network configuration and change management data used?
Apart from being critical to proper functioning of network devices, configuration data is vital to many aspects of the operations process, including:
- Rapid on-boarding of new network devices
- Troubleshooting network problems caused by configuration changes
- Maintaining compliance with network and security policies
- Ensuring security of access to network devices
- Automated backup of network device configurations
- Documenting configuration event and change data for detailed audit purposes
- Providing quick access to backup startup, and running configurations
- Enabling manual and automated comparison of different configuration file versions
How does the WhatsConfigured plug-in work?
WhatsConfigured is a fully integrated plug-in to the WhatsUp Gold product family. It utilizes all of the common functionality across reporting, alerting and visualization capabilities of WhatsUp Gold. Once set up, WhatsConfigured reports and alerts can be accessed from both the Windows and Web consoles.
How is it licensed?
WhatsConfigured licenses can be purchased for a tiered number of network devices. Currently available tiers are as follows - 25, 100, 300, 500, 1000, 2500, 3500, 5000 network devices. WhatsUp Gold is a pre-requisite for using WhatsConfigured, it does not work as a standalone solution.
Which network manufacturer equipment support is supported?
WhatsConfigured supports network equipment from multiple manufacturers out of the box. Since this list is regularly updated please check back for changes.
| Cisco Switches & Routers | Recommended IOS Versions |
|---|---|
| 800, 1700, 2600, 2800, 3700, 3800 | 12.4 / 12.4T |
| Catalyst 2960, 3560, 3750 | 12.2SE |
| Catalyst 4500 and 4900 | 12.2SG |
| Catalyst 6500 | 12.2SX |
| 7200, 7301 routers | 12.4 / 12.4T / 12.2SB |
| 7304 routers | 12.2SB |
| 7500 routers | 12.4 / 12.0S |
| 10000 routers | 12.2SB |
| 7600 routers | 12.2SR |
In general, any Cisco device that is running version 8.4 or later of IOS is supported by WhatsConfigured.
Additional Cisco Devices
- Cisco IDS
- Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points
HP Switches
- 8212zl
- 5400zl
- 5300xl
- 6400cl
- 6200yl
- 6108
- 4200vl
- 3500yl
- 3400cl
- 2910al
- 2610
- 2810
- 2510
- 2500
Juniper
- Juniper J and M series routers
- Juniper EX switches
- NetScreen Firewall
Juniper configuration files can be downloaded using SCP (part of SSH), FTP or TFTP.
Dell PowerConnect
- 3300 Series switch
Other vendors
- All switches from vendors like Foundry and Extreme are also supported.