Data flow

In an integrated Netcool Configuration Manager, Network Manager, and Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus solution, data travels from the network resources that are being managed through a number of product components and networking layers, until it is presented to the network operators.

At each stage of this journey, components and processes categorize, cross-reference, and enrich the collected network data. To enable these components and processes to integrate, you perform a number of tasks.

Integrated data flow

The following figure shows the data flow between product components in an integrated environment.

Note: The focus is on data relevant to configuration and compliance policy management, rather than all data.

Figure 1. Integrated data flow

This figure shows the data flow between product components in an integrated environment. It focuses on data relevant to configuration and compliance policy management, rather than all data. It presents the integrated data extracted from the network as split into three layers: The visualization layer, the data layer, and the network layer.

1: When a configuration change or policy violation occurs in a network resource, information is sent to Netcool Configuration Manager.
2: Netcool Configuration Manager logs the data and sends a corresponding event to the Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus ObjectServer via the Probe for SNMP.
3: Network topology data stored in the Network Manager NCIM database is made available to the Event Gateway.
4: Netcool Configuration Manager events are passed to the Event Gateway, where they are enriched with network topology data and then returned to the ObjectServer.
5: The Active Event List (Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus) displays configuration change and policy violation events stored in the ObjectServer.
6: Event information is shared by the Active Event List and Network Manager views.
7: Network Manager GUIs display network topology data stored in the NCIM database. This data is enriched by configuration change and policy event information from the ObjectServer.
8: Configuration changes and policy violations are displayed in the Network Manager and Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus GUIs. Using the right-click menus, operators can launch in context across into Reporting Services, the Activity Viewer, the Netcool Configuration Manager wizards, and a range of Netcool Configuration Manager UIs for further analysis.
9: The full Netcool Configuration Manager functionality remains available through the Netcool Configuration Manager GUIs.

Integration tasks and associated data flow

The following figure shows the post-installation tasks a network administrator performs in order to create an integrated solution.

Remember: Before performing these integration tasks, you must install and then configure the individual products.

Figure 2. Integration tasks

This figure shows the tasks a network administrator performs in order to create an integrated solution. It again presents the integrated network split into the visualization layer, the data layer, and the network layer. It presents the administrator tasks sequentially, indicating whether these are performed within the visualization layer or the data layer.

1: Network administrators create and configure the user roles required for access to the Netcool Configuration Manager components that are launched from within Dashboard Application Services Hub
2: Network administrators install the Netcool Configuration Manager Dashboard Application Services Hub components.
3: Under certain circumstances, such as when different or remote databases are used in an integrated environment, network administrators perform additional database configuration steps.
4: Network administrators install the Netcool/OMNIbus Knowledge Library (Nickle) files specific to Netcool Configuration Manager.
Note: If you have installed Netcool/OMNIbus Knowledge Library Enhanced Probe Rules Version 4.4 Multiplatform English (NcKL4.4) on your Netcool/OMNIbus Knowledge Library server, which is the recommended option, you do not need to install these rules files.
5: Network administrators copy a number of jar files from the Network Manager GUI server into the Netcool Configuration Manager instance of WebSphere.
6: Network administrators configure Netcool Configuration Manager device synchronization to extract the network data discovered by Network Manager.; This extracts the data from the NCIM database and adds it to the Netcool Configuration Manager database.
7: Network administrators add Netcool Configuration Manager menus and tools to the Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus AEL.
8: To preserve custom reports in an existing installation of Netcool Configuration Manager, you migrate the reports into the Network Manager instance of Reporting Services.
9: To prevent multiple logon prompts when using multiple applications within a single integrated solution, you configure single sign-on.