Cisco Cisco Prime Network 3.8 Leaflet
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Detailed Features and Benefits
Table 1 provides details on the features and benefits of Cisco Prime Network VNE drivers.
Table 1.
Key Features and Benefits of Cisco Prime Network VNE Drivers
Feature
Description
Benefit
Autodiscovery
VNE drivers are instantiated at run time for each managed device so that
synchronization with the network and device autodiscovery can be done in parallel.
synchronization with the network and device autodiscovery can be done in parallel.
Improved efficiency through
automation
automation
Distributed VNE
driver instances for
large-scale networks
driver instances for
large-scale networks
The VNE driver instances can be distributed among multiple Cisco Prime Network unit
servers to enable Cisco Prime Network to manage large-scale carrier-class networks.
They can also be redistributed among multiple unit servers for load balancing to
optimize memory usage.
servers to enable Cisco Prime Network to manage large-scale carrier-class networks.
They can also be redistributed among multiple unit servers for load balancing to
optimize memory usage.
Improved scalability through
distributed architecture and
optimization techniques
distributed architecture and
optimization techniques
Synchronization
Automatic synchronizations of device status are based on configuration change
notifications from the network. VNE drivers also support adjustable periodic and
manual synchronization of device status, providing an up-to-date view of the network
in Cisco Prime Network with minimal impact.
notifications from the network. VNE drivers also support adjustable periodic and
manual synchronization of device status, providing an up-to-date view of the network
in Cisco Prime Network with minimal impact.
Improved efficiency through
automation
automation
Independent driver
releases
releases
Individual VNE drivers can be updated without the need to upgrade or change Cisco
Prime Network software.
Prime Network software.
Investment protection through
timely updates
timely updates
Field extensibility
Cisco VNE drivers are extensible to manage additional device types, hardware plug-in
modules, additional SNMP traps imported through Management Information Base
(MIB) files, and syslogs. These extensions can be performed by customers or by the
system integrator local to the Cisco Prime Network installation without affecting Cisco
Prime Network.
modules, additional SNMP traps imported through Management Information Base
(MIB) files, and syslogs. These extensions can be performed by customers or by the
system integrator local to the Cisco Prime Network installation without affecting Cisco
Prime Network.
Reduced costs through flexible
extension options
extension options
A generic VNE
The generic VNE driver is the default driver for discovering any unrecognized device
and monitoring standard SNMP traps using standard MIB II interfaces. The IP
interfaces and routing and bridge information are also discovered.
and monitoring standard SNMP traps using standard MIB II interfaces. The IP
interfaces and routing and bridge information are also discovered.
Simplified operations through
default representations for
unknown devices
default representations for
unknown devices
User-defined VNE
drivers
drivers
User-defined VNE drivers can be created at run time to manage additional device
series. In addition to the generic VNE capability of standard SNMP MIBs and traps,
they are extensible using the Cisco Prime Network customization tool (VCB) to further
discover and activate devices.
series. In addition to the generic VNE capability of standard SNMP MIBs and traps,
they are extensible using the Cisco Prime Network customization tool (VCB) to further
discover and activate devices.
Reduced costs through flexible
customization options
customization options
Developer
community
community
and the Cisco DevNet Partner Program provide individual developers,
partners, system integrators, and customers a virtual community forum to learn and
share, including examples of using VCB to perform field extensions to device drivers.
share, including examples of using VCB to perform field extensions to device drivers.
Improved efficiency through
collaborations in communities
collaborations in communities
Physical inventory
and logical
configuration
and logical
configuration
Cisco VNE drivers retrieve comprehensive information from devices about the chassis,
shelf, common components (for example, fan and power supply), line cards,
interfaces, and software image inventory. In addition, detailed and logical configuration
information, such as Ethernet switching, VLAN, IP routing, IP/MPLS (Multiprotocol
Label Switching), Pseudowire, MPLS Traffic Engineering, and many other device
feature configurations can also be retrieved, including statically defined or dynamically
established configurations.
shelf, common components (for example, fan and power supply), line cards,
interfaces, and software image inventory. In addition, detailed and logical configuration
information, such as Ethernet switching, VLAN, IP routing, IP/MPLS (Multiprotocol
Label Switching), Pseudowire, MPLS Traffic Engineering, and many other device
feature configurations can also be retrieved, including statically defined or dynamically
established configurations.
Improved efficiency through
effective representations of
network information
effective representations of
network information
Multiprotocol Label
Switching Transport
Profile (MPLS-TP)
support
Switching Transport
Profile (MPLS-TP)
support
Cisco VNE drivers support MPLS-TP, which unifies both packet and transport
technologies, giving service providers a strong foundation for the convergence of
packet and transport networks.
technologies, giving service providers a strong foundation for the convergence of
packet and transport networks.
Reduced costs through support
for converged technologies
for converged technologies
For service providers with multivendor network environments, Cisco Prime Network offers VNE device drivers to
manage third-party devices. For third-party devices not supported by a Cisco Prime Network third-party VNE
device driver, Cisco Prime Network offers two VNE alternatives:
●
A "generic VNE" that uses a standard MIB system and interface data to create a baseline model of any
network element that supports SNMP
●
Extensible and user-defined VNE device drivers with generic templates created by customers for specific
third-party device types
Cisco Advanced Services routinely provides expert support for both of these approaches and further customization.