NetBrain-Mergers-and-Acquisitions

NETBRAIN SOLUTIONS Streamline Network Integration | Network Document Automation & Change Verification

NetBrain Technologies, Inc. © 2013 All rights reserved

Smooth Network Integration for Mergers & Acquisitions

CHALLENGE:

Merging two independent networks proves difficult due to the lack of rational when dealing with two distinct sets of standards. Tasks must be completed within a tight timeline and the network must remain fully operational during the entire consolidation process.

SOLUTION:

Enterprises can overcome operational and technical hurdles by employing NetBrain software. Automation of mapping and change verification reduces the amount of man-hours associated with such projects and minimizes costly outages.

BENEFIT:

Large enterprises are able to reduce costs associated with data collection, documentation, consolidation and resultant downtime. They are also able to automate and increase the accuracy of the entire migration process.

When the news of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is announced, a network team is established to connect the two organizations as soon as possible. Typically there are three phases in merging two networks together after M&A, as shown below.

Major hurdles discovered when merging networks can be categorized as either operational or technical. Operational Hurdles:

Documentation Knowledge transfer Ticketing and escalation procedures

Technical Hurdles:

IP addressing IP routing Security policy Scalable architecture for merged network

By leveraging NetBrain’s comprehensive solutions for large network integration, engineers can overcome the following operational and technical hurdles:

Discovering and documenting live networks automatically (Week 1) Planning a virtual network merge in a visual workbench (Month 1) Executing live network merges with protection (Year 1)

Discover and Document the Pre-Merged Networks (Week 1 Task)

Neither party involved in a merger has holistic knowledge of the full project scope. NetBrain can be used to perform a full network discovery to automate the creation of diagrams and documents to showcase L3/L2 topology and design. With these documents, both parties have the benefit of updated network knowledge. NetBrain Workstation is an on-demand knowledge station which can reduce the need of traditional knowledge transfer efforts.

NETBRAIN SOLUTIONS

Mergers & Acquisitions | 02


EXAMPLE 1:

Compare One-IP Tables between Company A and Company B workspaces to discover overlapping IP address assignments.

EXAMPLE 2 (A):

Plan 192.168.1.0/24 subnet migration for Company A within NetBrain.

Merge Networks Virtually (Month 1 Task)

Leveraging the discovery results, NetBrain can be used to plan the merge virtually. Three NetBrain workspaces would be created:

Company A Company B Company A&B

In this format, common challenges of network merges can be handled directly within NetBrain Workstation. IP Addressing Discover overlapping private IP address assignments, or plan IP addressing migration.

Company A Company B

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EXAMPLE 2 (B):

Plan 192.168.1.0/24 subnet migration for Company B within NetBrain.

EXAMPLE 1:

Routing domains for Company A and Company B workspaces populate in an easy to navigate list system.

IP Routing NetBrain can quickly analyze routing protocol inside each company, and provide both a list and graphical view of the collected information. For example, if Company A and B both used OSPF and two area-0s exist, NetBrain can quickly visualize that issue. Use the routing table comparison feature to spot any problematic routes to be merged (namely over-summarized, under-summarized or overlapping routes).

Company A Company B

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EXAMPLE 2:

Routing adjacencies for Company B displayed in dynamic map format.

EXAMPLE 3:

The core network for Company B dynamically mapped showcasing the various protocols configured on each device.

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EXAMPLE 4:

The BGP core network for company A color-coded according to protocol.

NetBrain can further be used to analyze the existing security policies and implementations across each network, and design an approach that will fit both. Inside NetBrain, the two networks can then be put together and the proper inter-connection will be designed and documented.

Execute the Live Network Merge (Year 1 Task) To achieve the full network merge, tens or maybe hundreds of sub-tasks will be created. Inside NetBrain’s visual workbench, those tasks are created and defined with data-driven dynamic maps. Further, NetBrain’s one-click benchmark and compare feature will ensure that the merge will not negatively impact either company’s business applications. The data that can be benchmarked and compared includes:

Routing tables Configuration files One-IP tables (L2 connectivity) CDP tables Key traffic paths

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EXAMPLE 1:

In phase I, both core networks for Company A and B are defined and interconnected.

EXAMPLE 2:

Compare route tables to ensure there are no missing routes after the merge.

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NetBrain-Mergers-and-Acquisitions

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