Architecture for Integration of Multi Vendor Network Management Systems into a GIS Capable Singular Monitoring Solution for Holistic visibility of Security / Performance Events

Abstract

Enterprise Organizations which hold multitude of equipment not specific to a single vendor often face difficulties in maintaining and monitoring a network which encompasses Network equipment, Servers, Passive Networks, Power Infrastructure and Telecommunications hubs. Every vendor provides a complete Network Management System (NMS) Solution or tools necessary for maintaining and monitoring its manufactured equipment. Few vendors like Huawei, ZTE and Ericson manufacture variety of hardware and suggest to use specific NMS for each type of equipment. As an enterprise it is expensive to buy Licenses / support for these NMSs on yearly basis. However, if these NMSs could be integrated into a single holistic solution it would provide a cheap alternative with additional capability of GIS as an underlying Geospatial layer for plotting nodes (NMS End points) over a map for improved visibility as Dashboards. Integrating multiple vendor Network Management Systems (NMSs) can be challenging, as each system may use different protocols and have varying levels of support for interoperability. However, there are several approaches to integrating multi-vendor NMSs. Many NMSs support APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow for integration with other systems. By using APIs, data can be extracted from one system and shared with other systems. This approach requires that each vendor's NMS has a documented API that can be used for integration. Network Management Protocols, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), can be used to integrate NMSs. This approach requires that each vendor's NMS supports the same network management protocol. Data mapping and conversion involves taking data from one NMS and mapping it to the format required by the other NMSs. This approach can be time-consuming and requires a deep understanding of each vendor's NMS. Middleware is another option to achieve NMSs integration. Middleware acts as a layer between the NMSs, allowing data to be shared between them. This approach can be expensive and requires specialized expertise. There are several open-source integration solutions, such as OpenNMS and Zabbix, which can be used to integrate multiple vendor NMSs. These solutions provide a platform for integrating multiple NMSs, monitoring and managing the network, and providing a centralized view of the network. In summary, integrating multi-vendor NMSs requires careful planning and consideration of the available options. API integration, network management protocol integration, data mapping and conversion, middleware integration, and open-source integration solutions are some of the approaches that can be used to integrate NMSs. The approach chosen will depend on the specific requirements and capabilities of each vendor's NMS.