FAE VNE White Paper v2

Whitepaper

Virtual Network Environment (VNE)

The Key to Designing, Installing and Supporting Next Generation Networks

C. Harper Anderton President – FAE Telecom

FAEWPVNE2 ©2015

Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1

A Changing Landscape .............................................................................................................................. 1

Next Generation Networks ....................................................................................................................... 1

Virtual Network Environment ....................................................................................................................... 2

Virtual Network Environment: Value Overview ....................................................................................... 3

Increased ROI with reduced cost of network engineering ................................................................... 3

More reliable network management products .................................................................................... 3

Lower support costs .............................................................................................................................. 3

Virtual Network Environment Capabilities ................................................................................................... 4

Real-Time Fault Provisioning and Performance Management ................................................................. 4

Network Configuration “capture and playback” ...................................................................................... 4

Customization ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Extensibility ............................................................................................................................................... 4

Scalability .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Ease of use ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Applications of Virtual Network Environments ............................................................................................ 5

Support: Localize an environment ............................................................................................................ 5

Disaster Recovery Planning ....................................................................................................................... 6

Application Support & Capacity Planning ................................................................................................. 6

Sales: Portable product demonstrations .................................................................................................. 6

Partner Support ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Customer/Engineering Training: Flexible training facility ......................................................................... 8

Certification: More thorough product evaluations .................................................................................. 9

Bringing it all together – Virtual Network Environments in the Real World .............................................. 10

Summary ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Virtual Network Environment (VNE)

Introduction

A Changing Landscape The recent economic issues experienced by businesses have forced every enterprise to re-evaluate its use of IT and how best technology can serve to reduce costs and increase productivity. Now, as never before, fast, uninterrupted access to information is the key to business survival. Therefore, as the move to web-enabled, distributed and cloud based applications thunders on (as a way to reduce the cost of supporting those applications) – dependency on the network infrastructure to gain access to that critical information increases exponentially.

Enterprises need to scale their networks to support a variety of new applications with the drive toward convergence an unstoppable juggernaut. This presents a unique opportunity to deliver new services and products to the enterprise arena, as many enterprises today do not have the people with the right skill set to successfully implement and manage these new technologies and services.

Increased pressure is now placed on the both the enterprises internal network staff and the network vendors to design, install and support these ever more complex networks.

Next Generation Networks NGNs integrate networks (and therefore markets) that have historically been separated into a single, common infrastructure. The integration of these resources has two main objectives:

• Reduce the overall cost of the network – allowing the sharing of operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning.

• Allow the deployment of new network based critical applications that utilize data, voice and video to exploit the synergies that this creates.

This diagram illustrates the key areas of a NGN that is designed to support both voice and data

applications. However, one of the fundamental issues with designing and implementing NGNs is that there is no single definition - or even vision of what a NGN should look like!

This means that the every design/implementation of a NGN is different – presenting significant challenges.

Virtual Network Environment (VNE) | 1

This uniqueness is a result of a number of issues:

• Multiple converging technologies that are not always required in every network. • Multiple service level requirements, with different ways of ensuring Quality of Service (QoS). • Multiple suppliers and carriers using different technology to compete. • Multiple standards and specifications from the “standardization” bodies.

So, it can be seen that the components of a NGN are going to be drawn from many different suppliers and technologies, as well as being deployed and maintained anywhere in the world. Ensuring quality and compatibility of all these components before, during and after installation is going to be critical to the successful operation of a NGN.

Providing effective, cost efficient frameworks to support the network deployment life cycle is -- a critical concern for network dependent businesses. Furthermore, as new protocols and services are deployed with complex interactions to existing sets, the need to simulate these networks increases significantly.

This white paper examines the use of Virtual Network Environments (VNEs) as the best way to effectively design, deploy and support NGNs.

Virtual Network Environment Virtual Network Environments (VNEs) leverage network management and simulation technologies to create a “virtual” computer based picture of a network. VNEs are more extensive than can be created with any physical network test environment. VNEs are ideal for developing, testing and demonstrating applications for scalability, robustness, performance and effective policy implementations. It is possible

to easily extend a physical environment via the simulation of many thousands of manageable network nodes. VNEs cost-effectively provide network designers, testers, implementers, trainers and salespeople a private, virtual network. This eliminates the overhead and headache associated with having to purchase, maintain and administer physical equipment – which could be physically and financially prohibitive for large-scale networks. VNEs significantly increase the efficiency designing, implementing and supporting large NGNs.

VNEs combine real device hardware with simulated devices to produce a larger, more complex configuration that is more flexible and more cost effective as a tool for network traffic simulation, device test, disaster planning as well as training. Multiple devices can be configured in such a way that when you have an effective simulation of a large-scale network, network management applications cannot tell the 2 | Virtual Network Environment (VNE)

difference between real device hardware versus simulated. Also, with the proper software configuration tools, these simulated devices can be configured more easily, and in bulk, so as not to disturb the real network backbone. Simulated devices serve much better as a test and training network in that anything that is modified on a simulated device does not risk a network “crash” or seriously inhibit performance.

A VNE can serve as a robust ground for testing multiple devices without actually having that device in its physical form, therefore, saving much of the budget and valuable resources for other team members in other capacities. The key to maintaining and configuring a VNE is having configuration software that can handle multiple devices easily and efficiently.

Virtual Network Environment: Value Overview

Increased ROI with reduced cost of network engineering VNEs can reduce initial capital costs of a network since there is no need to purchase a variety and quantity of hardware from different vendors as part of the design process. Investing in network simulation over hardware results in significant savings in capital resources, engineering labor and operations (e.g. estimated savings for 100 managed network devices: 98% in capital resources; 96% in engineering labor; and 64% in operations). VNEs can be used as a testing ground for device hardware still in the evaluation phase so that when changes are made to a network design, it is not required to have the physical hardware in the network.

More reliable network management products VNEs can model the complexity and scope of an enterprise network to enable more comprehensive testing prior to a network redesign or new product/application introduction. Within a simulation, even pathological conditions are easily reproduced, since the VNE can control every object instance at any point in time. Instead of using traffic or call generators or any other physical device, a VNE implementation can supply a batch-processing environment that can run unattended.

Lower support costs Support efforts can focus on recreating a problem in a Virtual Network Environment. A VNE easily captures an exact configuration for duplication at the support center, resulting in speedier problem isolation and resolution. This translates into faster service, reduced support calls and lower support costs. Difficult or impossible to implement, large-scale, multi-vendor environments, which could take months to assemble with physical hardware, can be easily configured. Realistic and unforeseen problem scenarios can be quickly configured without impacting the physical network. Scenario configurations are invaluable when needed for training, regression testing and demonstrations. The performance characteristics of an application can be analyzed and optimized prior to installation. New engineers and network operators can be trained on applications using individual, private, VNEs.


Virtual Network Environment Capabilities

Real-Time Fault Provisioning and Performance Management Quickly install and configure new devices or entire network segments, individually or in groups. Schedule network “scenarios” that change a multitude of variables, start or shut down devices, or generate traps and events. Multiple network management tools can query the same simulated devices, each with its own unique network view. Scalability of simulated networks is a key feature, here, in that the setup time required is considerably less than that of a physical network.

Network Configuration “capture and playback”

Easily reproduce actual network configurations. The VNE recorders can take snapshots of network objects and then “replay” them instantly in the VNE. Make controlled adjustments to variables to recreate problems or test configuration variations. It is possible to re-create a full production network in the VNE! With this methodology, important recreations, such as customer escalation or event issues, can be monitored and easily reproduced in such an environment.

Customization With the intuitive graphical interface or flexible scripting language, you have complete control of the VNE. Change variable values, such as status, arrival rate and utilization rate for a single device or an entire group. Extend object structures to create prototypes of brand-new object and devices.

Extensibility Supplied libraries provide out-of-the-box support for leading data network equipment vendors. In addition, a MIB Compiler imports new and custom MIBs to provide complete simulation of any SNMP-compatible device management agent.

Scalability A VNE supports many thousands of objects on a single server, thus enabling simulation for large-scale carrier and enterprise networks. Multiple VNE servers can supply an unlimited level of scalability.

4 | Virtual Network Environment (VNE)

Ease of use A VNE provides both a graphical user interface (GUI) and scripting. Several application wizards in the GUI facilitate initial setup of the VNE, while scripting automates regression testing and demos. The goal is to present the entire VNE within a graphical user interface that is complete and descriptive.

Applications of Virtual Network Environments

Support: Localize an environment VNEs decrease the frequency and duration of visits to network sites. Problem environments can be recorded, and then replicated in a virtual network to help facilitate the efficient diagnosis and resolution of issues.

The support of network based applications is a challenging business. As the use of Next Generation Networks continues to increase, the ability to troubleshoot support issues has become more difficult than ever. Many support calls sound like a game of 20 questions, in attempts to gain information on a customer’s network: “What devices have you added recently? Has your network configuration changed? How many routers do you have and where are they located?” During such an inquisition, the customer often feels they are being blamed for the cause of the malfunction. It’s a time-consuming ordeal that must be endured.

Identifying the root of a problem is easier when done with direct network access; thus, support personnel are often dispatched to visit the network in person. This is a huge expense in travel budget and personnel time.

Fortunately, VNEs can assist support personnel in determining root causes and eliminate their travel time. A VNE can be used to record customer network behavior. A simulation of the customer’s network is then available for the support person to troubleshoot – they can effectively see for themselves exactly how various applications and devices are interacting within the network and pinpoint the root cause of a problem.

Also, one of the most time-consuming parts of diagnosing problems is reproducing it, which often requires setting up traffic generators and network analyzers. A VNE’s ability to record a network allows technicians to ‘replay’ scenarios and re-create them virtually – without disturbing the network and setting up physical equipment. Actual scenarios can be run forward, backward, fast forward and fast backward at will – like a VCR! Imagine the time saving in diagnosing problems, especially when the problems are the type that appears at certain times – say every 30 days. With simulation there is no need to wait for the problem to reoccur – technicians simply fast forward 30 days, and the problem is there for them to work on!


Disaster Recovery Planning The best approach to disaster recovery focuses primarily on planning and prevention and a VNE allows many typical disaster scenarios to be analyzed in detail.

Traditionally effective simulation of a network disaster such as a server farm going off-line, a router going out of service, a back-hoe cutting through the fiber optic cable down the road or a major terrorist attack has had to be done in one of two ways:

• on the live network out of hours and physically taking offline areas of the network to “see what the effect would be” or

• with pencil, paper and a slide rule trying to calculate what the knock on effect would be

Both of these scenarios are costly in terms of manpower and time, resulting in minimal what-if scenarios being tested. A VNE of the entire network can run unlimited what-if scenarios enabling a fully comprehensive disaster recovery plan being implemented that address all possible incidents.

Application Support & Capacity Planning VNE technology is a key tool can help predict the behavior and impact of new applications that will be deployed in the network environment. Running applications on a VNE illustrates how the application operates in a specific environment without the need to install it on the physical network. What-if scenarios allow network designers to see the impact on traffic and other applications as a variety of end user scenarios (such as hundreds of users all staring the application at once at the start of day, or large data input at specific times of day).

Sales: Portable product demonstrations VNEs allow sales and marketing teams to effectively and reliably demonstrate network product capabilities. Cost-of-sales can be dramatically reduced since demonstration units are compact, portable and easy to setup. Customers can observe how applications react to the various behaviors of managed devices, or changes to the network in real time.

Demonstrations of applications in network configurations, network management software and of networking products are difficult to do effectively. Networks are complicated, and most vendors cannot afford to set up a demonstration network in every sales office. A demonstration, however, is often the only way to show the complexities of an application and to re-assure customers that the hardware is “real.” Too often, the only option is to invite customers to corporate briefing centers. While these facilities are very nice, the networks within are extremely expensive to build and maintain.

Also, how many times have potential customers requested an evaluation period “So that we can see how it works in our network”? Or even worse – “Evaluating on the production network presents major obstacles because of potential disruption to the business”. VNEs allow new products and applications to be tested quickly and efficiently without endangering the production network

Vendors wishing to bring a network demonstration to a potential customer typically ship huge boxes of equipment at high cost to the demo site. After the trauma of shipping, there is no guarantee that equipment will work, so smart vendors also send spares. A technician, taken out of the field, is often


required to set up the demo network. The accumulated cost of shipping, redundancy and personnel resources is exorbitant.

For most sales reps, access to a local demonstration network is a fantasy, however VNEs can be set up on a single workstation. With such a “light” solution, sales demonstrations can even be given to customers right in their offices.

VNEs can record a live network that can be later used during a sales demo. Device vendors, need to only show the client one real device, then use a VNE to demonstrate how management applications are used as the hardware scales (adding multiple device simulations). For software vendors, a VNE allows clients to experience the capabilities of even the most sophisticated management applications, without the cost of purchasing and lugging around third-party networking gear.

Product demonstrations are often “canned” and static. VNEs allow for dynamic demonstration of current and future networks. VNEs are run time customizable enabling instant modifications to network conditions in front of a viewing audience. Thus, customers can evaluate how to handle various, realistic network scenarios in real time. For example, if customers want to see how a product manages a growing network, simply add the device simulations as needed. Devices can be added individually or in segments to see how an application will respond.

Many sales are made at vendor showcases – special, local set-ups where customers are invited to view hardware and software solutions. Imagine the increased success of sales teams armed with their own personal demo system!

VNEs are also perfect for trade shows. The ability to record network scenarios to be played back at trade shows reinforce product explanations and testimonials. With a VNE, sales teams are no longer limited to demonstrating their products on the few pieces of equipment available at the show. They can demonstrate the scalability of their products through the VNE’s “network-in-a-box” capabilities.

Partner Support Companies that develop the advanced applications, platforms, frameworks and network management applications, for NGNs realize that they need a variety of industry partners. Partnerships validate interoperability, of various vendor offerings with each other, for customers. Due to the nature of implementing network components, there is a substantial amount of interdependence within the software and network management industry. Framework and platform vendors, for instance, require support from device and application providers. Device vendors, in turn, need support from framework and platform providers. Application vendors need support from framework, platform and device vendors.

Partnerships are beneficial because they demonstrate to customers that vendors are working together. Part of the partner relationship is assuring interoperability for customers. In this role, device vendors are called upon to make their devices available for testing, and software providers are called upon to provide certification labs, based on networks. All of this is very expensive, not to mention the scheduling constraints inherent in running a certification lab.


How can software companies significantly reduce the cost of building and maintaining certification labs? How can hardware companies eliminate the cost of shipping valuable networking gear around the world for partner support? Many of these partnership costs can be reduced or eliminated by leveraging the simulation and recording capabilities of VNEs. VNEs can be used to record certification lab networks or even individual devices, these recordings act as the basis for simulations that can be used in partner programs to verify the interoperability of applications and devices.

Making a VNE available to partners lowers the cost of the partnership program and reduces time and expense of partners in visiting certification facilities. Once the network has been recorded, companies are assured that each partner receives an identical copy – changes in the network will not impact certification results. Furthermore, device vendors never, again, have to worry about allocating brand new products, which are hard to come by, to the software partner program.

Imagine the savings and increased control of a VNE to provide virtual devices and networks to partners instead of shipping products and tracking them, or maintaining certification labs. A VNE simplifies and reduces the cost of partnership programs and improves partner relationships.

Customer/Engineering Training: Flexible training facility VNEs alleviate the need for instructors to import hardware or connect to existing live networks. A VNE enables students to investigate routine and unforeseen network management scenarios via a portable enterprise network-in-a-box.

Training programs provide excellent opportunities for vendors and clients to develop long-term relationships. Students often judge a company and its products by the quality of educational facilities and by the quality of training and tools they receive. While training is essential for keeping abreast of rapidly evolving technology, as well as for professional development, critical to ensuring the most effective learning experience is a sufficiently configured, state-of-the-art lab. Hands-on training is also important for students to fully understand the intricacies of complex applications and network management solutions. Given the rapid pace of technological evolution, lab equipment quickly becomes obsolete. Therefore, maintaining an up-to-date training lab to satisfy expectations for meaningful and real-life exercises is costly, time-consuming and impractical.

The solution, once again, is to leverage VNE technology. VNEs can provide virtual devices that can be used to set up training lab networks. The virtual lab network becomes as extensive and complex as instructors desire – allowing students to fully learn the capabilities of complex network software and network management applications. Having access to an unlimited number of virtual networking devices allows the trainer to properly represent complex application and network capabilities in labs and demonstrations. With a VNE, students get the opportunity to practice positive and negative ‘real world’ scenarios that would be impractical with a physical network.

Although training can be offered at either the vendor or customer facilities, on-site training is usually cumbersome and limited by a few available devices. If the trainer is given access to the customer’s network, access is restricted for safety and security reasons. No company wants students experiencing network management first hand on the production network! Using a VNE, instructors can capture a real-life network and use it in student labs. 8 | Virtual Network Environment (VNE)

With VNEs, hardware vendors can provide training on new devices very early in the product cycle, without having to wait for the training lab’s manufacturing allocation. This means being able to provide courses for customers, even before their products are shipped. By using VNE technology, the initial production can be earmarked for customer shipments, instead of for use in labs.

With a VNE, other products within a product family can be simulated and compared for operational characteristics and usability much more efficiently and faster. Examples of this are comparing switch devices. How does the device compare along the lines of switch management? Is the command line interface the same? These sorts of questions can be explored more efficiently with simulated network device hardware.

Certification: More thorough product evaluations Consultants and integrators can easily and exhaustively evaluate and customize new products prior to their deployment. VNE scripts automate testing of conditions in a VNE

Some areas where vendor certification programs are required include:

• Certification that device management partner applications integrate with platforms, frameworks, and advanced applications

• Certification that management applications (i.e. trouble ticketing and policy management) integrate with platforms and frameworks

• Validation for customers and partners that applications run properly on particular network configurations

Although certification programs are valuable and assure customers of interoperability, they are time-consuming, expensive to implement and non-revenue generating. Further, to help avoid the risk of data corruption and to ensure the integrity of test results, certification programs require their own individual labs with dedicated networks.

The recording capabilities of VNEs can replace physical networks now used in certification labs. A VNE can record an existing network, and then use it to generate a virtual certification lab. This eliminates the time and expense of purchasing the necessary hardware devices to create a lab from scratch. In addition, copies of the “virtual lab”, with testing instructions, can be sent to companies seeking certification. They can use a VNE virtual lab in their certification preparations to run self-certifications. Certification tests can be run when it is convenient, because the virtual certification lab is always available and results can then be forwarded to the certifying company. This greatly reduces costs and simplifies the process for companies seeking certification.

Whether setting up a new certification program or maintaining and existing one, simulation technology can save time and budget resources, while adding flexibility to certification testing.


Bringing it all together – Virtual Network Environments in the Real World The following are practical applications for a Virtual Network Environment and what benefits it can provide to individuals who are responsible for maintaining network connectivity.

A VNE is a practical training tool in a controlled environment.

• Performance Management – How is the Wide Area Network performing? What does it look like? How much data are you transferring from site to site or from site to HQ?

• Configuration Management – How are the routers and switches configured? Do you have the configurations backed up on a central server? Do you have secondary routers and switches online and ready to take over in case of a primary failure?

• Accounting Management – How are the local offices budgeted for high-speed leased line access? Are the costs incurred charged back to the local offices? How are these costs tracked?

• Fault Management – Are you aware when a router or switch experiences a problem? What scenarios do you have accounted for in simulation and what are there remedies? Do you have a methodology for training local IT people on these fault resolution scenarios?

• Security Management – Do you know who is accessing your network and what they are doing? What information are they seeing? How are passwords and user access maintained? Who has access to your switching and router closets?

Summary The Virtual Network Environment, as described in this white paper, will help many customers design, install and support networks. The continued rise in the complexity of networks, as we move into the “Next Generation”, only further demonstrates the need for and the benefits that can be realized from the use of VNEs in cost effective and painless “Design, Installation and Support” of the networks of tomorrow.

About the Author C. Harper Anderton – President, FAE Telecom. Anderton is co-founder and President of FAE Telecom Inc. a technology company focused on the support of legacy networks and their migration to Next Generation Network infrastructures. He has over 25 years’ experience designing, engineering, selling, and marketing high technology systems for both large as well as startup companies addressing critical infrastructure networks. He worked extensively in both Europe and the United States. Previous companies include British Telecom, 3Com, Cray Networks, Ascom Timeplex, Computer Network Technology and Expand Networks. He is currently a Board Advisor to the Utilities Telecom Council’s Smart Networks Council.

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FAE VNE White Paper v2

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