Cisco Cisco Branch Routers Series Network Analysis Module (NME-NAM) Information Guide
Q&A
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Cisco Branch Routers Series Network Analysis Module 4.2
Overview
Q.
What is Cisco
®
Branch Routers Series Network Analysis Module (NAM)?
A.
Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM is an integrated performance monitoring solution that delivers unparalleled
insight into the operational performance of the borderless access network to help improve the delivery of
applications and services to end users. Its unique design combines a rich set of embedded data collection
capabilities and performance analytics with a remotely accessible, web-based management console, all of
which reside on a single network module that is installed into Cisco 3900 Series, Cisco 2900 Series, Cisco 3800
Series or Cisco 2800 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs), or Cisco 3700 Series Multiservice Access
Routers (MSRs). The Cisco NAM includes a Traffic Analyzer GUI, which provides quick access to
the configuration menus and both real-time and historical performance reports.
Q.
What are the key features and benefits of Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM?
A.
Table 1 lists the key features and benefits.
Table 1.
Key Features of Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM
Feature
Description
Application performance
monitoring
monitoring
Delivers application performance monitoring and real-time visibility for voice, video, and data applications. Cisco
NAM helps improve the operational efficiency of IT organizations by proactively detecting performance degradations
and their sources to minimize or even eliminate impact on end users.
NAM helps improve the operational efficiency of IT organizations by proactively detecting performance degradations
and their sources to minimize or even eliminate impact on end users.
Transaction-aware application
response time monitoring
response time monitoring
Analyzes TCP-based application packets as they travel from the client through the network to the data center and
out again, providing insight into network round-trip time, server response time, data transfer time, transaction time,
and so on, to improve application performance.
out again, providing insight into network round-trip time, server response time, data transfer time, transaction time,
and so on, to improve application performance.
Cisco Wide Area Application
Services (WAAS) support
Services (WAAS) support
Measures application response time, WAN bandwidth usage, LAN/WAN data throughput, and so on to provide end-
to-end application performance visibility in WAAS deployments.
to-end application performance visibility in WAAS deployments.
Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and video
packet quality analysis
packet quality analysis
Analyzes voice and video packet streams and provides visibility into key network performance indicators to
maximize the quality of the user experience.
maximize the quality of the user experience.
Comprehensive flow-based
monitoring
monitoring
Automatically identifies hundreds of protocols and provides real-time and historical performance reports on hosts,
conversations, and applications using critical network resources.
conversations, and applications using critical network resources.
LAN and WAN monitoring in
one solution
one solution
Provides visibility into traffic from local and remote switches and routers for comprehensive traffic monitoring.
Web-based captures for deep,
insightful data analysis
insightful data analysis
Captures the packets to help resolve acute problems before they affect users. Captures can be performed using a
web browser from any desktop, and the decodes can be viewed through the Traffic Analyzer GUI while the data is
still being captured. Extensive capture features, including trigger-based captures, decodes, filters, and a capture
analysis toolset, help to quickly pinpoint and resolve problem areas.
web browser from any desktop, and the decodes can be viewed through the Traffic Analyzer GUI while the data is
still being captured. Extensive capture features, including trigger-based captures, decodes, filters, and a capture
analysis toolset, help to quickly pinpoint and resolve problem areas.
Anytime, anywhere access
Includes an embedded Traffic Analyzer web interface that can be accessed from any desktop, eliminating the need
to send personnel to remote sites or haul large amounts of data over WAN links to the central site.
to send personnel to remote sites or haul large amounts of data over WAN links to the central site.
Pre- and postdeployment
metrics to quantify business
changes
metrics to quantify business
changes
Provides valuable “before and after” traffic analytics to help plan for and verify changes in network resources, such
as new application rollouts, WAN optimization, server consolidation, segmenting the network, and deploying VoIP
and video.
as new application rollouts, WAN optimization, server consolidation, segmenting the network, and deploying VoIP
and video.
Secure solution
Offers TACACS+, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol-based security.
Deployment flexibility
Cisco NAM can be deployed in blade form factor in Cisco Catalyst
®
6500 Series Switches, Cisco 7600 Series
Routers, and Cisco Integrated Services Routers; as multigigabit appliances; and as virtual service blades residing
directly on WAAS devices or on the Nexus 1010 Virtual Service Appliance. The complement of physical and virtual
blades and of appliances allows NAM instrumentation to be broadly deployed in the network for comprehensive
performance monitoring.
directly on WAAS devices or on the Nexus 1010 Virtual Service Appliance. The complement of physical and virtual
blades and of appliances allows NAM instrumentation to be broadly deployed in the network for comprehensive
performance monitoring.
Q.
What are the business benefits of deploying Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM?
A.
Table 2 summarizes the business benefits that Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM offers.