Managed Networks

Overview
Comino Connect has recognised that there are a growing number of organisations that do not want the burden of having to design, roll out and then manage networking and data communication systems. Incremental upgrades and changes can often reveal hidden costs. Experienced network skills resources also add significantly to the cost of running a network, and do not guarantee a level of service. Additionally, many organisations prefer the option to have WAN equipment provided as part of the service, rather than capitalise equipment that quickly becomes out of date.

Current Market Offerings
Many large telecom carriers offer a "managed router" facility. This is essentially a carrier owned router that is configuration managed remotely. Whilst this router will appear on a central management map recording up or down status, there is no commitment from the carrier to manage end to end problems, such as a user not being able to access a remote host. Management effectively "stops" at the LAN port on the router.

Comino Connect's Solution
Comino Connect offers a new concept in full network management, extending beyond the concept of basic managed routers. Within the solution we will also be responsible for being the point of contact for all line and service problems, dealing with the appropriate carrier on behalf of the customer.

Comino Connect’s first managed network is our own Comino Connect Internet service. This is now approaching a 200 node routed network over a mix of carrier media (leased line, Broadband, ISDN). The network currently supports around 10,500 users accessing Internet services such as mail and web. The network not only consists of managed routers but also fully remote managed Internet Access Servers (a vast remote managed email and web access service). Our expertise in this sits very comfortably alongside the requirements of a private organisation. It is important to note that in buying into managed networks, a company is buying into a first class, highly qualified skill set.

The Technologies
Comino Connect provides the managed network service using router and switch equipment from the enterprise-class portfolio. As an enterprise-class Premier Partner - demonstrating a high level of technical expertise in the product - Comino Connect recognises that enterprise-class offer industry leading levels of reliability, performance and configurability. Put simply, by using the best of breed, Comino Connect is able to provide a qualified level of service. The product range has a number of key advantages that enable true remote management, as follows:

  • HTTP Web management access to any enterprise-class device
  • DHCP Server for local allocation of IP addresses
  • support for full resilient on-site routers and line backup
  • configurable "Quality of Service" parameters
  • multiple application support (e.g. voice, data, video)
  • lowest MTBF figures

Comino Connect adds to the enterprise-class Portfolio the Comino Connect Management Console (MMC) - a secure, rack mount PC based device acting as the central management station for the customers Wide Area Network.

The team behind managed networks consists of individuals with many years experience in enterprise class networking. All staff working on managed projects are enterprise-class design or engineering qualified and have a detailed understanding of networked applications and services.

What are the key features of a "managed network"?

1. Planning
Comino Connect will design a network infrastructure to best meet the customer needs. The design will be led by one of our enterprise-class qualified design experts and represents a significant consultancy exercise. Issues covered in the initial and on-going planning include:

  • topology (network "shape") and resilience levels
  • performance sizing
  • IP and network level addressing schemes and standards
  • roll out project planning
  • migration issues
  • recommendation on server and device location appropriate to the network constraints
  • security planning
  • capacity planning
  • circuit costing

2. Implementation
Each phase of the network will be implemented on-site by an enterprise-class qualified engineer, taking into account the services and systems at each site and not in isolation. The entire project is overseen by a project manager who has a detailed understanding of the entire project, thus removing the issues of managing a rollout from the customer. Comino Connect absolutely believes that implementation of this kind of network MUST take into account what the network is to be used for with due consideration given to the services that will be using the network. We will always work closely with the customer to achieve this.

3. On-going support
On-going support falls into a number of key areas:-

  1. Configuration management
    Comino Connect maintain master copies of the dynamic configurations used on each remote router. We are able to quickly restore these if needed as they are held on the management station resident on the customer LAN (as well as backed up to Comino Connect Internet).

    Comino Connect will make any required on-going changes to any remote router device to reflect the changing requirements of the network and offers unlimited levels of changes during the contract period.
  2. Fault Management
    Via the MMC, "up status" of all remote routers is monitored. In the event of loss of a remote site, a notification is sent to Comino Connect so that fault resolution can begin immediately. In a fully resilient network, the fault should not affect operation of the network as managed networks will fail over to either ISDN or alternative backup paths. Carrier problems, such as loss of a leased line, will be owned by Comino Connect and progressed/resolved on behalf of the customer.
  3. Performance Monitoring
    It is not practical to have continuous proactive monitoring of every aspect of a customer network. However, if a customer reports poor performance/unreliability of a link or other such issue that does not form part of the standard management activity, Comino Connect will set-up traces and diagnostic activities to identify and report on the problem. We will then work closely with the customer to effect a resolution via recommendation of remedial action.
  4. End to End Management
    Via a single customer contact, we will endeavour to trace connection problems from device to host, to eliminate communications paths as being the problem.
  5. Annual Review
    Comino Connect will perform an annual review of network performance, review of faults and produce a report for the customer recommending future upgrades, highlighting critical issues and addressing any other needs.