VitalQIP DNS/DHCP & IP Address Management Software and Appliance

VitalQIP® 7.3 New Features

7.3 Version 1 Copyright © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent 1

USE PURSUANT TO COMPANY INSTRUCTIONS

VitalQIP®

DNS/DHCP & IP Address Management Software and Appliance Solution

7.3 New Features

May 2011


Copyright © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent 2


Table of Contents

1. Document Purpose .................................................................................................................... 3

2. What’s New in VitalQIP 7.3? ..................................................................................................... 3

2.1. VitalQIP 7.3 Next Generation Web GUI ............................................................................. 4

2.2. New Search engine .......................................................................................................... 11

2.3. Visual IP Space ................................................................................................................ 13

2.4. VitalQIP Client GUI – Traditional “Thick Client”................................................................ 15

2.5. ENUM Manager Intégration in VitalQIP ........................................................................... 16

2.6. VitalQIP supports Multi-Vendor solutions ........................................................................ 16




1. Document Purpose

This document provides an overview of new and enhanced features of the VitalQIP® software release 7.3. This document’s audience is the current user base and potential new users.

The VitalQIP release 7.3 is the latest release in our next generation architecture. VitalQIP continues to evolve and exploit the new technologies in the market today as well as features to benefit the overall user experience. The market continues to move at a rapid pace with focus that remains on leveraging IP in every way possible, which continues to push the VitalQIP product and its capabilities and operation in our customers' environments on the critical path.

VitalQIP release 7.3 extends the web services architecture finalized in 7.2 by introducing new features as well as the standard patch release bug fixes. Alcatel-Lucent VitalQIP DNS/DHCP & IP Address Management (IPAM) Software helps organizations efficiently configure, automate, integrate and administer IP services across their entire network - locally or globally. Compatible with multi-vendor technologies, this solution helps organizations centralize the planning and administration of IP addresses thereby delivering significant reductions in infrastructure support costs and improved network availability. VitalQIP is widely regarded by industry trade groups as the leading IP Management product in the industry and has deployments in over 800 customers including some of the largest telecommunications companies, financial service institutions, universities, and civilian & non -civilian government agencies. This document intends to provide Alcatel-Lucent customer teams and business partners with a brief update on the new features introduced for the VitalQIP 7.3 release. It provides a high-level overview of the new features and functionalities for each of the software components. It does not however intend to replace any of the VitalQIP user documentation. For technical details associated with the described features, please refer to the VitalQIP administrator / user documentation and release notes.

2. What’s New in VitalQIP 7.3?

Some of the key enhancements of R7.3 are:

New web based GUI design and implementation New search engine Enhanced visual IP space Discontinuance of the Traditional “Thick” Client ENUM Manager Integration in VitalQIP Client_id Single screen DHCP/DNS server creation Error protection Bug Fixes – See 7.3 Release Notes




The feature highlights below provide additional details around these capabilities. If you are not familiar with the other features that were made available in the previous 7.x releases (MyView, Reporting, User Defined Attributes, Scheduler, Address Templates, etc.), please refer to the new feature documents from previous versions.

2.1. VitalQIP 7.3 Next Generation Web GUI

The new web GUI was designed based on input from the VitalQIP Customer Advisory Board and VitalQIP customers representing the worldwide customer base. It is modeled after the proven VitalQIP thick Client which has been a customer favorite for over ten years. The new VitalQIP GUI has a significantly improved look and feel. Also, it is friendlier, is more intuitive, requires fewer mouse clicks, and performs faster than the previous GUI. Multi-level drop-down menus and better use of tabs allow users to quickly access data/operations by using fewer mouse clicks. Icons improve clarity and give the GUI a more finished appearance




The new GUI includes improved navigation and improved access to features and operations.




Clear and meaningful error messages in the same window

The new web GUI consists of eight tabs.

Below is an overview of the eight tabs and sub tabs MyView Tab

MyView Management – Allows for the administration and set-up of personal views, shared views or “myView” to be set up for users or shared by users. This enables a master or




organization administrator to define and set up views of the system that have a narrower scope, views that can be then assigned to one or more normal administrators and thereby allow them to focus on their daily activities and only the infrastructure items for which they are responsible.

Address Management Tab

The Address Management tab allows the user to manage IPV4, IPV6 network and subnets as well as Nodes. This tab also allows the administration for IP address allocation.

IPV4: This tab is where the administration of IPV4 Networks, subnets and objects are managed. Subnet organizations and the VitalQIP Visual IP space are also located here.

IPV6: This tab is where the administration of IPV6 seed blocks, address ranges and subnets takes place.

Node: This is where multiple network interfaces are associated with single devices known

as a node

Address Allocation - This tab allows users to define the network in terms of pools and blocks. This is an alternative way of defining ones network than in the traditional Address Management option. It provides the function to allocate IP address space by using user defined rules and a hierarchical address pool structure. As blocks of IP addresses are used within a pool, address allocation creates a subnet as follows:

o Determines how many IP addresses are needed. o Analyzes the current address space usage for an unused range of the needed size. o Calculates the correct subnet mask. o Configures DHCP servers. o Configures DNS servers.

DNS Tab

The DNS tab allows for the administration of DNS related configuration parameters

Zones : Add, modify and delete of DNS forward and reverse zones as well as Bind DNS

Views

DNS Servers : Add, modify and delete of DNS servers. Including all configuration parameters associated with these servers

Non managed DNS servers : Provides management of DNS servers that are not directly managed by VitalQIP

ACL templates: Management of Address control lists which control access permission for DNS servers




Managed files: Manage the files associated with DNS servers

NIS/local files: Management for NIS updated servers

ENUM: management of ENUM configuration and NAPTR records

DHCP Tab

DHCP servers: Add, modify and delete of DHCP servers. Both primary and failover servers

DHCP Templates: Administration of DHCP related templates

DHCP Client Class: Management of user and vendor classes

Access Control: Allows management of a third level of authentication MAC address. This tab manages the mapping of individual users to multiple devices via MAC address

Infrastructure Tab

Manage Organization: Administration of VitalQIP organizations.

Administrator: Allows for very granular administration permissions and privileges.

Global Settings: Used to manage settings that are used globally across VitalQIP. Global policies, object classes, contacts and locations are all managed here.

Templates: IPV4 address, subnet profile and reverse zone templates. IPV6 address templates are managed here as well.

Attributes: This tab allows for the set up and management of the User Defined Attributes (UDAs). UDAs allow you to specify values you want to associate with elements such as pools, blocks and nodes in the VitalQIP database. You can use these values to tie Address Allocation, Address Management and DNS and DHCP infrastructure into your corporate processes. For example, you can associate an employee’s badge number or cost center with a subnet.

There are three components to attributes. The attributes themselves and attribute groups.

1. Attributes are individual pieces of information you want to associate with items in the VitalQIP Database. Examples could be Employee Badge Number. Manager’s Name. Product Name or Department.




2. Attribute groups are a way to organize attribute names. Examples could be Employee Information. Products or Departments. An attribute does not have to be assigned to an attribute group or can be assigned to more than one attribute group.

3. Infrastructure objects such as pools, blocks and nodes are defined on the attributes section. You can associate an Attribute with any defined infrastructure object.

Domain Controllers: Active director domain controllers are managed here.

Reports Tab

Reports: Reports provide the user with information to manage pools, blocks, IPv4 subnets, IPv6 subnets, nodes, views and allocation rules. Each report can be formatted and saved as a file, as well as displayed on the screen. You can access reports from the following locations:

From the Reports Tab

From the Reports icon on the toolbar

From the Properties page of an item selected in the hierarchy.

Original Reports from the “Thick” client.

Tasks Tab

Scheduler – The feature allows tasks to be scheduled.

Change Password – Change users current password.

Links Tab

This tab was reserved for additional features that were developed potentially outside the scope of the core VitalQIP product but are integrated to the core appliance.

AutoDiscovery - AutoDiscovery allows you to inventory the network, compare the result against the VitalQIP database and produce comparison reports. You can then use the comparison reports to help define new networks, reconcile an existing VitalQIP database, and detect rogue and duplicate IP addresses.

VitalQIP AutoDiscovery allows you to create profiles from your VitalQIP instance and then run the network discovery function on that part of the network. Integrating with VitalQIP for input eliminates the possibility of errors in data entry and makes the




discovery process seamless. Creation of profiles allows the user to run the discovery in an “offline” mode even when it is not connected to VitalQIP database. The same profile information is then used to extract the corresponding data from VitalQIP. VitalQIP AutoDiscovery includes a configurable Diff Engine that can compare the two inputs received from network data extraction and VitalQIP data extraction. The output of the Diff Engine is displayed in a user-friendly HTML format. The users can also filter the reports to see subsets of the report like view dynamic addresses, view static addresses, filter out zero MAC addresses etc. For programmatic processing of the output, this information is also available in an XML format. AutoDiscovery includes the following components:

Network Data Extractor – Discovers the Ethernet and IP network elements and related equipment configuration information for a set of one or more subnets defining the scope of the network query. The Network Data Extractor uses Request Profiles to determine the scope of network discovery and other parameters applicable to the network discovery request.

VitalQIP Data Extractor – Extracts the corresponding VitalQIP object data for the set of subnets used by the Network Data Extractor. The VitalQIP Data Extractor uses the same Request Profiles as the Network Data Extractor to determine the VitalQIP Organization and list of subnets from which to extract the object data.

Diff Engine – Compares the output of the Network Data Extractor and the VitalQIP Data Extractor, and based on a configurable set of fields (referred to as “Diff Keys”), generates a Diff Report showing the differences between the two sets of data.

Administrative GUI – Permits the configuration of the Network Data Extractor and the VitalQIP Data Extractor. In addition, it is the mechanism for invoking each of these processes, and provides access to the various Diff reports.

Request Handler – Handles GUI/CLI requests to run Network Data Extractor, VitalQIP Data Extractor and Diff Engine. It provides a common interface for all three requests. It is logically made up of one request handler to interface with each of the three components of a discovery job. A fourth request handler, not shown in the illustration, permits all components to be run as a single request.

Appliance Management Software (AMS) – This link allows users to quickly access the VitalQIP AMS when it is installed. Among other things, the AMS includes the following functionality:

Inventory of Appliances and Software on Them

Appliance Software Deployment and Rollback

Start and Stop Services on Appliances

Monitor Appliance Performance

View Appliance Logs




Configure DNS and DHCP Test Probes

.

3. New functions with VitalQIP 7.3

3.1. New Search engine

For VitalQIP 7.3, a global search will be implemented to allow users to search across multiple infrastructure types. Currently within VitalQIP there are many different search mechanisms which are specific to a certain module of VitalQIP (IPV4, Address Allocation, etc). Customers who need to search across different modules have to execute multiple searches or create scripts to accomplish the search. Users have the ability to create new search profiles, save them for later use, and export search results. The new search control will be located in the upper right corner of the VitalQIP web UI as shown here:

CCChhhoooooossseee nnnaaammmeee,,, ccchhhoooooossseee ooopppttt iiiooonnnsss,,, ssseeellleeecccttt ssseeeaaarrrccchhh cccrrr iii ttteeerrr iiiaaa




3.2. Export searches in csv format From any search result tab VitalQIP 7.3 allows administrators to export their searches content into csv file that could be worked with other tools later on like Microsoft Excel.

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3.3. Single screen DHCP / DNS server creation VitalQIP 7.3 now allows to create a DHCP or DNS server in just one screen. Enter the IP address of the server, specify its type and version, adjust the option and just save it. VitalQIP 7.3 will insert for you a static object in the corresponding subnet as static.




3.4. Client_id from the UI Starting in 7.3 administrators can setup objects to be using client-id instead of mac address lookups .

Client ID

Type the IP address, name and type and the server will have its corresponding static object automatically created




3.5. Error protection VitalQIP 7.3 has built in a new mechanism that avoids many common mistakes such as invalid IP address, mac address, duplicate name or policy. This intelligent mechanism highlight to the administrator potential source of mistake with a red decoration.

3.6. Visual IP Space

Visual IP Space will allow administrators to quickly add, modify and delete objects as well as review status of all objects on each subnet. Visual IP space can be used as the only screen administrators who only have object privileges need to view. An example screenshot of a Visual IP Space screen highlighting some of its helpful features is presented below.

3.7. VitalQIP Client GUI – Traditional “Thick Client”

The Thick client is not supported for VitalQIP 7.3 and higher. The VitalQIP web GUI supports all of the functionality of VitalQIP.

Sort by name or IP subnet

Meaningful icons Last octet




3.8. ENUM Manager Intégration in VitalQIP

When licensed, ENUM Manager (which manages NAPTR records) is now integrated into the core VitalQIP product. Consequently, it no longer requires a separate installation and no longer uses a separate GUI.

3.9. VitalQIP supports Multi-Vendor solutions




VitalQIP is a centralized IP management tool, which is also used to configure DNS and DHCP servers from a variety of vendors. This provides a tremendous amount of flexibility to bring VitalQIP in to existing environments and provide consolidated management of the existing infrastructure. VitalQIP supports the following servers.

Alcatel-Lucent DNS servers Alcatel-Lucent DHCP servers

Microsoft DNS servers Microsoft DHCP servers

Any BIND 8 or 9 compliant DNS server

Alcatel-Lucent Software Appliances in a Virtual environment

Alcatel-Lucent Appliances

Alcatel-Lucent Software Appliances

Alcatel-Lucent DNS and DHCP on Riverbed Wan Optimizer

End user PCs, broadband devices, etc. utilize RFC compliant DHCP or DNS transactions to interface with these servers. Please see the VitalQIP Release Notes for the latest releases of software supported.

For Further information on VitalQIP please visit http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=VitalQIP&page=overview

http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=VitalQIP&page=overview

http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/?product=VitalQIP&page=overview

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