3COM is a pioneer in providing Open Source Applications for Open Source Networking. The following editorial explains what the 3COM focuses on and what they have yielded.
Open source software applications, many of them widely used now, deliver low-cost, highly functional, innovative solutions that address a number of current network challenges. To provide these benefits within an OSN-enabled environment, 3Com offers open source “bundles” of pre-tested and supported applications for use with the 3Com® OSN Module (OSN|M).
OSN Service Monitoring Bundle
The Service Monitoring Bundle gives IT managers increased network visibility that lets them proactively identify potential network problems and more effectively predict network behavior, reducings operating expense by automating problem resolution using a variety of open source solutions.
Additionally, the Service Monitoring Bundle can enhance compliance with industry and IT regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI). The bundle enhances protection through an implementation of network-wide security strategies that speedily detect worms or other threats.
Four individual solutions in the bundle can be easily installed on an OSN Module using a standard web browser.
- Network Service Monitoring. Utilizes the open source application MRTG for flexible data gathering and graphical representation of critical OSN service metrics
- Network Traffic Monitoring. Utilizes the open source application NTOP to characterize “Live” traffic and identify network usage patterns, providing a wealth of network traffic data with many uses, such as detection of network security violations or network optimization and planning.
- Packet Capturing and Analysis. Utilizes the open source application TShark to allow network administrators to quickly troubleshoot both local and remote networks, detecting potential security problems as well as providing detailed information on network protocols in use
- Service Notification. Utilizes the open source application Nagios® to inform network administrators about problems quickly and enable resolution of potential service degradations
Availability, Service and Support
The Service Monitoring Bundle includes an easy-to-use web-based administration interface, Webmin, that eases installation and administration of its open source applications on 3Com OSN-enabled hardware. Support for the monitoring tool can be obtained from 3Com as described in the Software Application Support Service available for the Service Monitoring Bundle and other applications that have been tested and approved for use with the 3Com OSN Module (OSN|M). The Service includes 24x7 telephone technical support, bug fixes, software upgrades and 3Com web services for covered software applications.
Licensing
The OSN Network Monitoring Bundle is available from the 3Com website for all registered OSN|M users. The open source-based applications that the product uses are made available under the terms of the GNU General Public License V2 . The WEBMIN module is distributed under a BSD-like license.
Courtesy: 3COM Corporation
