Nortel Networks: A Beginner's Guide

by James Edwards (Conducted by)

Overview

This introduction to Nortel Networks should be essential to every network professional because it offers hands-on implementation techniques and real world case studies. Key features include an introduction to LAN and WAN technologies, an introduction to managing and maintaining devices using Nortel tools and an outline of the Nortel certification track and objectives. Blueprints map out sample network designs using Nortel products so it should function as a springboard for certification study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780072130898
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Companies, The
Publication date:	01/01/2001
Series:	Network Professional's Library
Pages:	401
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.89(d)

About the Author

Jim Edwards, Billerica, MA, is a senior network engineer and is a member of the Premium Services Staff at Nortel Networks. He has supported numerous enterprise environments and is the key point of contact for multiple premium-services customers. Mr. Edwards has taken most of the Nortel Networks certification examinations and continues to work with most of the technologies that are introduced throughout this book. Mr. Edwards is the author of several technical documents, publications, and training manuals. Along with his networking experience, he has spent several years as a senior PC software technician, technical trainer, and help desk manager. He holds many networking and computing certifications. He can be reached at [e-mail].

Matt Jensen, Omaha, NE, works as a senior network engineer in the Global Customer Care Services group at Nortel Networks. He provides capacity planning, network design, implementation, and support services for multiple customers throughout the Midwest. Prior to coming to work for Nortel, Matt worked as a sales manager for a regional ISP, a customer service and sales manager at a national ISP, and a network analyst at a major IT outsourcer. Matt holds multiple vendor certifications and enjoys teaching what he knows at any community college that will let him. He can be reached at [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 2: Introducing Nortel Networks

An Overview of Nortel Networks Software Applications

All the hardware that Nortel Networks has to offer provides various software applications that allow easy access to the device for monitoring, maintenance, and configuration. The Site Manager application offers a graphical user interface (GUI) view of the Baystack router family. The Device Manager application package offers an excellent and easy-to-use GUI for the Passport 1000/8000. The GUI application used by the Centillion 50/100 and the 500OBH product families is the Speedview application package. In addition to the GUI application interfaces, each one of the hardware devices that we have mentioned has a non-GUI interface as well. Let's take each of the product families that we have discussed and introduce the software applications that are used to configure and maintain these devices.

Nortel Networks Router Software Applications

The Nortel Networks routers have the capability to be configured and maintained by Site Manager, Technician Interface (TI), and Bay Command Console (BCC). All three perform basically the same functions, although there are times where one application might be more appropriate to use than another; therefore, it is important to have a general understanding of each application. Chapter 6 discusses these applications in depth.

Site Manager: An Introduction

Site Manager is a straightforward GUI interface that allows users a simple-to-use application for configuring the Nortel Networks routers. Site manager can transfer files, download and save the router log, reset slots, reset or reboot the router itself, and perform many more functions.

Site Manager can be loaded to many different PC platforms, but does have minimum system requirements. It is important to review the release notes before loading Site Manager onto your PC to ensure that you meet all of the minimum requirements.

There are some router configuration requirements that must be met before you can use Site Manager. You must have a valid IP address assigned to the router, and an SNMP community name must be known. It also is very important that you use a compatible version of Site Manager. You can determine which version of Site Manager is to be used by the following methods:

If your router code is 14.00 (or previous), you must subtract 6 from that number to determine which version of Site Manager you must use. For example,

Router code 12.05 - 6 = 6.05

In this example, the router code version being used is 12.05. We subtract 6 from the 12.05 and discover that the minimum code version of Site Manager we have to use is 6.05.

If your router code version is 14.00 or higher, the minimum version of Site Manager that has to be used it the same version as the version of router code. For example,

Router code 14.00 = Site Manager version 14.00

In this example, the router code version is 14.00, so we know that because it is 14.00 or higher, the Site Manager version that we can use is 14.00.

If there are any doubts about what version of Site Manager to use, you can look at the release notes for the version of router code you need to match, and it will tell you what version of Site Manager to use.

The Technician Interface (TI)

The TI allows the user to connect to a router through a console port or through a telnet session and is a required application for the initial configuration of the router. Before Site Manager can be used, TI must be used to set up the initial IP address on an interface to allow the router to be accessed by Site Manager.

The TI has the capability to allow the user to use simple script commands to access the Management Information Base (MIB) and review network status. The TI also allows the user to use a complex instruction set known as MIB objects, attributes, and instances. There also are some useful command-line syntax commands that allow for monitoring and review.

The TI is a useful and a necessary application tool, but is complicated to use for configuration changes, which is why many prefer to use Site Manager. Many engineers prefer using the TI for implementing MIB changes, but often this can take years of experience.

The Bay Command Console (BCC)

The BCC is an addendum application for the TI. The BCC uses script files, which offer an easier way to use applications for router configuration. The BCC is not a GUI, but it is a configuration tool that is much simpler to use than what the TI has to offer. One of the big benefits of the BCC is that it offers users the ability to telnet, dial in, or connect to a console interface to have modification abilities that were not offered previously.

Nortel Networks Switch Software Applications

The Nortel Networks Passport routing switches have the capability to be configured and maintained by Device Manager, the GUI, or Command-Line Interface (CLI). Both perform basically the same functions, although there are times where one application might be more appropriate to use than another; therefore, it is important to have a general understanding of each application.

Device Manager

Device Manager is the primary method that is used for configuring the Passport routing switch. Device Manager is to Passport routing switches much what Site Manager is for the Nortel Networks routers. Device Manager uses SNMP to manage the Passport routing switch.

To use Device Manager, like Site Manager for routers, you must have an IP address established on an interface for connectivity purposes. Device Manager also offers additional flexibility in that you have the capability of monitoring multiple Passport devices and Baystack 450 switches within one running session of Device Manager.

As with any version of software, it is a good practice to verify release notes before installation to ensure your PC meets minimum operating requirements. It is also a good habit to get into to verify release notes of the routing switch code version you are using to ensure that you have the correct version of Device Manager.

The Command-Line Interface (CLI)

The CLI gives user the ability to connect to the Passport routing switch through a telnet session, dial-up, or the device's serial port. With the CLI, users have the ability to make all changes to the Passport routing switches that are available in Device Manager.

The CLI offers different levels of access:

• Read Only-Allows a user to connect and view settings and configurations, but will not allow the user to make any changes.
• Read[Write-Allows a user to connect and view settings that are not related to security. In other words, changes to passwords cannot be made.
• Read/Write Layer 2-Allows a user to connect and view settings and configurations, but will allow changes to only the layer 2 parameters.
• Read/Write Layer 3-Allows a user to connect and view settings and configurations, but will allow changes to only layer 3 parameters.
• Read/Write All-Allows a user to connect and view settings and configurations as well as make any changes to the device...

Table of Contents

1	Networking Basics	1
2	Introducing Nortel Networks	29
3	Nortel Networks Certifications	55
4	Switching Technologies	101
5	Nortel Networks Routers	133
6	Accessing the Nortel Networks Router	169
7	Routing Protocols	217
8	Network Management Overview	241
9	Wireless Networking	271
10	VPNs and the Contivity Extranet Switch	289
11	An Introduction to Network Troubleshooting	317
A	Glossary	339
B	Passport CLI Overview	347
C	TI and BCC Command Reference	369
	Index	383