Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 16.1
The monitored patch system. (Courtesy of RIT Technologies Ltd.)
Some systems can even detect where a patch cord has been moved to and
report an alarm to a monitoring station. The monitored patch system in Fig. 16.1 is
an example of this capability.
SNMP Monitoring and Control
Effective remote access to network devices may be provided by using the simple net-
work management protocol (SNMP). This protocol communicates over the network
to a management workstation via an extension of the popular TCP/IP suite.
Monitoring of all sorts of hubs, bridges, routers, and other devices can be accom-
plished by using SNMP. SNMP management can be expanded to almost any device
with a network connection. Some devices that have no native LAN ports, such as
T1/E1 communication equipment, are now being equipped with a LAN port just for
an SNMP interface.
SNMP-based monitoring and control techniques may also be applied to cable
management. Particularly with hub-based cable management, SNMP is a welcome
tool for both management and control. Some of the intelligent patch panel equip-
ment can communicate via SNMP for both monitoring and control. As networking
hardware becomes more complex, global network management solutions will
become more important. Often, these management tools will offer some degree of
cable management along with their other functions.
