SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)

Description

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a powerful and comprehensive network management tool designed to streamline and automate the management of network device configurations. It helps network administrators monitor, manage, and maintain the configurations of routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices across multi-vendor environments. With SolarWinds NCM, organizations can significantly reduce the time and effort required to manage network configurations, improve network security, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Key Features of SolarWinds NCM

Some of the key features of SolarWinds NCM include:

1. Configuration Backup: Automatically backup network device configurations to ensure quick recovery from configuration errors or device failures.
2. Configuration Change Management: Monitor, manage, and track configuration changes, and receive real-time notifications for unauthorized or unexpected changes.
3. Compliance Management: Assess network configurations against predefined compliance policies and industry standards, and generate detailed reports for compliance audits.
4. Vulnerability Assessment: Identify security vulnerabilities in network device configurations and receive recommendations for remediation.
5. Network Automation: Automate repetitive tasks and configuration changes using built-in templates or custom scripts, reducing human error and saving time.
6. Integration with SolarWinds Orion Platform: Leverage the power of the SolarWinds Orion Platform for enhanced network monitoring, alerting, and reporting capabilities.

How SolarWinds NCM Works

SolarWinds NCM uses Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Secure Shell (SSH), and Telnet to communicate with network devices and retrieve configuration data. Device configurations are stored in a centralized repository, allowing administrators to view, compare, and manage configurations from a single interface.

The NCM engine processes network device configurations, applying compliance policies and identifying vulnerabilities. Administrators can schedule automated tasks, such as configuration backups or bulk configuration changes, to run at specified intervals or in response to specific events.

By integrating with the SolarWinds Orion Platform, NCM can leverage additional data from other SolarWinds modules, such as Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA), to provide a comprehensive view of the network environment.

Special Table: SolarWinds NCM Workflow

Benefits of Using SolarWinds NCM

SolarWinds NCM offers several benefits for network administrators and organizations, including:

• Reduced operational costs: By automating repetitive tasks and configuration changes, NCM reduces the time and resources required for network configuration management.
• Improved network security: NCM’s compliance management and vulnerability assessment features help organizations identify and remediate security risks in their network configurations.
• Enhanced network reliability: With automatic configuration backups and change tracking, NCM helps prevent network downtime caused by configuration errors or device failures.
• Streamlined compliance reporting: NCM simplifies the process of generating compliance reports for internal and external audits, ensuring organizations meet regulatory requirements.
• Centralized management: NCM provides a single interface for managing network device configurations across multi-vendor environments, increasing efficiency and reducing complexity.