Chapter 12 Networking

Chapter 12: Network Management

Short Answer Questions

1.What is electronic software delivery and why is it important?Answer: ESD enables network managers to install software on client computers over the network without physically touching each client computer. Most ESD packages provide application layer software for thenetwork server and all client computers. The server software communicates directly with the ESD applicationsoftware on the clients and can be instructed to download and install certain application packages on each clientat some predefined time.ESD greatly reduces the cost of configuration management over the long term because it eliminates the need tomanually update each and every client computer. It also automatically produces and maintains accuratedocumentation of all software installed on each client computer.2.What is performance and fault management?Answer: Performance management means ensuring that the network is operating as efficiently as possible,while fault management means preventing, detecting, and correcting faults in the network circuits, hardware,and software. Fault management and performance management are closely related, because any faults in thenetwork reduce performance. Both require network monitoring.3.What do trouble tickets report?Answer: Trouble tickets are reports produced by software packages that record fault information. Automatedtrouble tickets help management gather problem and vendor statistics.4.What is a service level agreement?Answer: An SLA with a common carrier and/or Internet service provider specifies the exact type of performance and fault conditions that the organization will accept. The SLA also states what compensation theservice provider must provide if it fails to meet the SLA. Some organizations are also starting to use an SLAinternally to clearly define relationships between the networking group and its organizational “customers”.5.How is network availability calculated?Answer: Availability is the...