Cisco SmartAdvisor (CSA) (previously Cisco Discovery Service) is a network assessment tool completely managed by Cisco in order to help its partners to evolve customer networks. IP Explorer has been admitted by Cisco as a client side tool of the CSA in order to maximize its capabilities in the network management process. The main objective of the service is to find out product lifecycle status for identifying outdated software and hardware components, locate possible security issues, gather contract information, and assess the capabilities of the involved device to introduce new services or technologies. CSA is an assist for Cisco partners to understand thoroughly the network concerned and plan network migration or upgrade network optimally.
Using NETvisor’s IP Explorer certified Cisco Partners are able to perform Cisco Discovery Service in order to:
- automate network discovery and documentation process
- analyze the network’s health and end-of life state
- identify network related problems of the customer
- propose Cisco product improvement strategies
Features & Benefits
- Up-to-date CDS information of devices based on automated vendor-independent network discovery
- Easy-to-use interface to launch and track CDS transaction process
- Built-in CDS reports with extended network inventory information
- Requested CDS reports stored in local database
How it works
- CDS data is gathered from Cisco products via configuration files and specific SNMP requests during the network discovery process done by IP Explorer. Collected information is sent to the CDS servers from IP Explorer by using the CDS API in order to make a comprehensive analysis. To initialize a complete examination, a new transaction is required to launch through the CDS interface of IP Explorer web GUI. Furthermore, the whole transaction can be customized based on special user needs by selecting the transaction type to define the necessary report set as a result of the analysis or by picking the desired network devices to be included in the transaction. By launching a new transaction, the status of the process can be also tracked through the web interface, where a complete summary is available for all the finished and pending CDS processes.
- When all the relevant information is transferred to Cisco, a comprehensive analysis takes place. As a result lifecycle reports (such as EoX including the hardware and software components), PSIRT containing possible security issues, FN with not security-related product deficiencies and KTN with contract information are available. These reports are accessible via:
- The Cisco SmartAdvisor portal (formerly known as CDS/360 Portal), to summarize transactions and manage reports.
- The built-in CDS web interface of IP Explorer, where they can be also downloaded and exported. Furthermore, as they are stored in the local database, always available through the web GUI.
Requirements
- Cisco.com User ID with Partner level
- Internet access from the IP Explorer Server to transfer data for CDS servers
Try IP Explorer for 60 days
NETvisor provides a full version of IP Explorer for an evaluation period of 60 days in order to test the software and utilize the benefits of the CDS tool. During the trial, NETvisor is at your disposal to optimize IP Explorer to your needs to make network management process more efficient.
After the evaluation period, license will automatically expire and you can buy a new one from NETvisor.
- PLEASE CONTACT: sales.cds@netvisor.hu
