The application-independent RAD creates powerful agents that combine device, service, and application data with the business logic necessary to drive root cause and service impact analysis capabilities. For example, existing network fault and service data can be mined and combined with newly added business logic to create entirely new service level functionality and significantly reduce costs.
RAD is driven by a graphical network analysis language that enables network proficient staff to quickly build agents to communicate with network elements, EMS/NMS, applications or databases without the need to write code. Highly customizable, these management agents support new and legacy elements, as well as system applications.
Why is that important? Data models drive the automation of applications. Our patented modeling capability makes it cost-effective to unify the data of the multi-vendor elements and systems in your network. Now applications have the ability to automatically adapt and react to configuration, fault, performance, and service level changes in the network. The RAD provides a cost-effective way to add new solutions to an existing network.
The RAD Platform creates application runtimes that are independently downloadable into any network supporting the NetBoss XT runtime framework. For example, you can go to the NetBoss Applications Store and download the latest WDM configuration app to re-provision a new PON feature or add the latest Cisco performance app to track link utilization.
Of course you, NetBoss Technologies engineers, or any certified integrator can create management agents to your specifications.
| RAD Development Environment |
You can create full FCAPS-capable management agents with stunning visual depictions to include physical and logical layouts of network elements, or a combination of both. Additional models can be built to provide highly functional command and control actions to give, for example, complex configuration control to operators in an easy-to-use integrated interface.
Visually created models communicate to network devices and applications to provide the control and data normalization necessary to manage the network from one common view, regardless of the device and application mix. Furthermore, automation of changes in the network and multi-system processes becomes a reality. Operations staff with no coding or scripting experience can drag and drop device interfaces, state machines, and processes to create an agent to control network functions such as notifications, alerts, and performance statistics.
Capability Rich Library
The NetBoss library includes built-in element models, actions, state transitions, and interfaces such as CORBA, TL1, and SNMP. Each is configurable to maximize your ability to create unique functionality while minimizing the time spent creating complex agents. With an extensive library of standard agents, users will typically upload an existing agent and then make modifications to add or change functionality rather than start from scratch. The built-in debug mode utilizes previously recorded data, for example SNMP traps, to test all agent functionality.
Flexibility
The development environment creates agents that execute in the NetBoss XT application framework, specifically:
- New agents
- Supplemental agents – add functionality to existing agents
- Test agents – used in integration labs
Mobile Field Ready
Cloud ready and without the need to code, agents can be modified during installation by field staff. As such, in the field, you can immediately fix situations where the device generates erroneous notifications due to a new version or functionality that was simply omitted. Likewise, applications that cannot share data across an interface can be altered in the field. This powerful capability saves valuable time and resources, including enabling a faster time to market.
Agent Store
The development environment provides the facilities to make an agent available for download into the application framework. This store and distribution facility can be public or company domain specific. Therefore, a locally developed agent can be released into a private company or a public domain store for distribution. This open environment delivers the opportunity to create and purchase a world of third-party apps. With a licensed application framework, you can download a new agent at any time.
Test Agent Applications
Agents can be run in simulation mode to comprehensively test the functionality and performance. The simulation supports either manual or replay mode run from a previously captured log file.
RAD Application RunTime Framework
The RAD Engine supports a runtime framework that stores and executes agent applications. Here agent runtimes manage network devices, managers, and applications. The framework runs in a distributed “cloud” environment using NSA approved security based on SSL standards. The runtime framework also supports a repository for the distribution of agent applications.
Downloading Agent Applications
Once developed, an agent can be downloaded directly into a runtime framework for execution or stored in either a public or private store for future distribution. From the development environment you can load, test, and push agents to any associated runtime environment.
Run and Connect to Devices and Applications
Multiple agents can run on a network processor and can manage devices either in conjunction or independent of one another. The managed devices can be located anywhere a secure connection can be established. Agents support 3 levels of field debug mode operation.
- Level 1 is a manual step-through
- Level 2 collects extensive logs with performance impacts
- Level 3 collects minimal logs with optimal performance
