Conference azur::mcc

2741.0. "Thoughts on using DECmcc V1.1 in the real world" by CLAUDI::PETERS () Fri Apr 10 1992 15:49

From:	FLYERS::WITHERSPOON  "JOHN WITHERSPOON, DTN 328-3090" 10-APR-1992 11:28:35.81
To:	CLAUDI::PETERS,FROSTY::ANDERSEN,WARP5::LARUE
CC:	WITHERSPOON
Subj:	DECMCC FIELD INPUT - REAL WORLD

Claudia,

Hi, we've talked a couple of time at NET U. I am a Sr. Consultant and Network
Partner in Digital's Blue Bell, PA Facility (Phildelphia Accounts Group).

A few days ago I spent about 2 1/2 hours with a Digital EIS resident who has 
been working with DECmcc director at SmithKline Beecham R&D. He has been 
implementing network management for an international network and has really 
pushed DECmcc to it's limits. Currently SKB is running DECmcc V1.1 with The 
SNMP AM and is waiting for the Network Professor AM. They are running under
VMS 5.4. There is a mixture of LAT, DECnet and TCP/IP on the Network

Dave Comfort (the resident) had several comments on the real world useability 
of DECmcc that I feel are worth some attention. Dave has been work with DECmcc
for over a year.

Following is a summary of our discussion:

1. DECmcc needs to be more "lights out". For example a hack is needed to
get regular, scheduled batch reports on current network utilization,etc. There
should be a way to automaticly trigger such reporting.

2. Alarm history for a given device should be available without having to go to 
the history file, ie "LAST 10" type of information available real-time.

3. A production network needs to be able to track all events. THe DECmcc event
logger sink is prone to almost daily failures. Polling is a poor solution since
an evenrt occuring between polls will be missed.

4. The customizable reference information needs to be "click" accessable from
the Iconic Map.

5. Standard Operating Procedures need to be able to be put in BOOKREADER format
and the be avaiable in a "Point and Click" mode from the Iconic Map. 

All of the above comments are related to a real running production network and
making DECmcc easy for network operators to use WITHOUT being DECmcc experts.

Dave also had some comments on specific modules:

FMs:

Historian - does the same thing as the exporter. Does V1.2 have the ability to
have its information graphed by the V1.2 Realtime Graph PM ? If not it should.

Registration - Auto registration/autotopology is needed badly.

Domains - Pool Memory (notification) fails when the number of domains exceeds
100 (easy to do in a large network). Look-Up is needed in addition to look down.

Notification - if notification is corrupted, DECmcc should be able to shutdown
and restart automaticly.

PMs

Iconic Map - ONE click should get an alarm window from any level, that is the
map needs to be customizeable for different skill levels of operators.

Realtime Graph - needs an EASY print facility (accessable from forms/command
mode).

General Comment: TIME/DATE formats are inconsistient as to syntax, data format,
etc. This may seem like a nit but again it goes to useability in a live,
customer environment.

AMs

SNMP - as of the March distribution, the version on CD is stilkl V1.0 !!
Let's try to get the current versions of new/update AM's to CD much faster.
More an more customers are using the CD distribution and they should not be
penalized technically for doing so.

Bridge - There is no way to report asynchronous events and no way to escallated
reporeted events. example if you poll every 5 minutes, and a bridge is down
for 20 hours, thats 240 messages ! There is no way to pick up lack of 
communication or restoration of communication asyncronously, eg can't clear
the icon.

General comment: The ability to comunicate with a detached MCC process,
especially for alarm setting, reporting and clearing.


In summation I think that all of these issues speak to useability in a real
world environment. Thanks for listening.

	Regards,

		John