iServer for Network Architecture
Server for Network Architecture is a
Network Diagram Repository and Collaborative Modeling environment
that builds on MS Visio and Office.
In addition to managing Visio network diagrams and associated MS
Office documents, iServer's real power is that it manages the Visio
shapes that represent devices, servers, routers and switches in the
network as individual repository objects. This means, for example,
that a change of hostname to a device will be automatically
propagated to all the other diagrams where the device is
represented.
As well as providing the only network diagram repository to hold
and reuse diagrams and diagram components, iServer delivers
extensive capabilities to help create, monitor, analyze and report
on an organization's network infrastructure. Network diagrams are
generated quickly and easily within the familiar environment of
Microsoft Visio and Office and unlike other modeling tools, the
content stays in its original Microsoft format and can be easily
extracted from the tool when needed.
Data Interchange tools speed migration from other tools,
generate diagrams from manually or automatically produced lists,
and have synchronization options to ensure that network information
is always up-to-date. Analysis tools help to identify network
dependencies in addition to issues or opportunities for
improvement. Publication tools enable network diagrams to be
distributed to Operations staff (who may not be familiar with
Visio) and the wider business. They also enable review and issue
capture by those that need the information to perform their jobs
successfully.
Capabilities for the Network Planner
Those involved in creating/defining the network diagrams will be
up and running immediately as they will be working in the familiar
environment of Visio (iServer's modeling environment). All process
information (diagrams and documents) is managed in a single,
central Windows Explorer style environment, with simple but
comprehensive search and filtering tools to generate user-defined
views of the Network. Furthermore, once in the repository, network
diagram or their component shapes can be re-used when creating new
diagrams, saving time and ensuring consistency. Updates to re-used
objects are propagated throughout the repository instantly.
Capabilities for Network Operators
Network Operators (E.g. Engineers, Security, Repair Persons,
etc) can reap the benefit of a single central repository of
diagrams for their reference. As iServer users they can take
advantage of up-to-date and consistent diagrams which enable them
to execute their roles correctly, In addition, they can provide
valuable and relevant feedback to document creators (eg Planners)
from the 'coal-face' through iServer's Issues Management feature.
Even those who are not licensed iServer users can still have
visibility of the network through iServer's powerful Publisher and
Portal capabilities.
