Cisco ACTIVE NETWORK ABSTRACTION 3.7.2 User manual

Brochure
© 2011 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Page 1 of 2
Cisco ANA Overview
Cisco Active Network Abstraction (ANA) provides service providers and other carrier-grade network operators with a
comprehensive solution for network element and service management. Cisco ANA is a comprehensive solution that includes
automated service activation, discovery, monitoring, event de-duplication, and root-cause analysis. Cisco ANA supports all major
Cisco service provider network elements, as well as a wide variety of network technologies including Multiprotocol Label Switching
(MPLS), Carrier Ethernet, and Unified RAN Backhaul references architectures.
Active Network Abstraction
What’s New in Release 3.7.2
“ANA is a unique
model-based virtual
network abstraction
that supports
CSPs’ three critical
management
challenges… it is
years ahead of
competitors”
— Patrick Kelly
Research Director
Analysys Mason
Benefits
Cisco ANA offers comprehensive functions in element, network, and service management
with the following key benefits:
• Best-in-class deep multilayer technology support: Activation, discovery, topology
visualization, and monitoring of all aspects of MPLS/IP, Carrier Ethernet, and Unified RAN
Backhaul architectures
• Element management system (EMS) for all major Cisco device and OS families: CRS-1,
7600, ASR 9000, ASR 1000, Cisco IOS®Software, Cisco IOS XE Software, Cisco IOS XR
Software, and more
• Integrated network and service wide fault monitoring and fault analysis
• Standards-compliant information model and northbound interface for integration
• Carrier-class scale and performance
• Field customizable and extensible with built-in tools, partner programs, and Cisco
Advanced Services
New in Cisco ANA Release 3.7.2
• Lower total cost of ownership (TCO): Inclusion of an embedded database and support for Linux servers significantly reduces
ANA deployment and maintance cost.
• Simplified deployment and maintenance: New, independent virtual network element (VNE) driver packages provide timely
support of device software and hardware releases independent of ANA releases. The introduction of an integrated Gateway
High Availability solution simplifies high availability deployment.
• Improved scale: Triple concurrent user support and an 80 percent increase in the device number in element management
configuration.
• Optimized communication with devices: Event-based VNEs reduce the polling load on the device and provide timely updates
of network configuration.
• Enhanced element management: Improved usability and extended device coverage in configuration and image management;
secured communication of events information with the introduction of secure syslog.
See Table 1 for additional new features and enhancements of Cisco ANA.

Brochure
© 2011 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. C02-644099-00 01/11
Enhancements and New Features Description Benefits
Lower Total Cost of Ownership
Linux and Unified Computing
System (UCS) support
•Support deployment of ANA on Linux servers
•Support for Cisco UCS servers (rack-mount and blade
servers)
•Reduced expenditures on hardware and operating
system purchase and maintenance
Embedded Database •Inclusion of an embedded Oracle database as part of
system install
•Ability to operate with an embedded or an external Oracle
database
•Automated, preconfigured installation, configuration, and
management
•Eliminates the license cost for an external database
•Single integrated solution reduces deployment and
management overhead
•Optimized and verified database configuration
Simplified Deployment and Maintenance
Independent VNE Packages •New approach for supporting devices with VNE drivers
delivered independently from the ANA platform
•Incremental VNE driver updates released as device
packages downloadable from Cisco Software Center
•Timely support of device software and hardware
releases independent of ANA releases
•Eliminates the need to perform an ANA upgrade to
get VNE enhancements
Gateway High Availability •Support for an integrated solution with Veritas
applications (customer supplied) for Gateway
High Availability
•Integrated option in system installation
•Support both local and geographic redundancy
•Simplified out-of-the-box Gateway High
Availability solution
•Reduced cost associated with Gateway High
Availability deployment
Quick Start Guide •A simple, step-by-step set of instructions to get Cisco
ANA up and running
•Covers planning, installation, and post installation setup tasks
•Quickly gets you up and running with Cisco ANA to
the point where you can monitor and manage your
network elements and services
Improved Scale
Scale Improvements •Triple the number of concurrent GUI users
•80 percent Increase in number of managed devices
with single ANA instance when used in element
management mode
•Allows more operators to take advantage of ANA
concurrently
•Reduced TCO and simplified administration
Optimized Communication with Devices
Event-Based Polling VNE •Enhanced VNEs with optimized event-triggered
configuration synchronization
•Available for 7600, ASR 9000, and CRS Series
•Reduced polling load on device
•Timely updates to device information model
Enhanced Element Management
Configuration and Image
Management Enhancements
•Extended device type coverage
•Device grouping for configuration and image
management operations
•Cisco IOS XR package management enhancements
•Expand the benefits of configuration management
automation to more devices in the network
•Simplify operations with better usability
•Higher granularity of Cisco IOS XR device
management
Fault Management Enhancements •Receive syslogs in secure manner (syslogs encapsulated
in SNMPv3 with encryption)
•Improved event-handling reliability with deterministic
burst handling
•Secured communication of events information
New and Updated Device Drivers •Refer to product documentation for VNE details •Continuous updates for current Cisco networking
products
More Information
Download the latest release of Cisco ANA from http://www.cisco.com/go/ana and discover the benefits of this powerful solution with
a no cost, 120-day evaluation license.
For more information about Cisco ANA, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/ana, contact your local Cisco account representative, or send
an email to [e-mail].
Integration information can be found at http://developer.cisco.com/web/ana/home.
To place an order, contact your local Cisco account representative or visit the Cisco Ordering Homepage.
Table 1. Enhancements and New Features of Cisco ANA