Noc Theory and Practice

Timothy Brown, Independent ConsultantMatthew F. Ringel, Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Introduction

“So you want to build a NOC?”

Two parts: theory and practice Theory: the functional components of

a NOC, and how they’re put together. Practice: the organizational details

that make a NOC work on a day-to-day basis.

Part I: NOC Theory

Taking It Apart, Putting It Back Together.

Definitions

What is a NOC? A network operations center (NOC), is

an organizational unit that:Handles day-to-day monitoring of the

networkServes as a point of contact for

customers, internal and externalCreates, processes, and sometimes

resolves events that arise in the network

Overview

All NOCs have things in common, regardless of sizeWho and where are the customers? Internal vs. external

SLAs shape the infrastructure as well

The Model

Inputs “Something has happened” Event sources

Monitoring programs (e.g. HPOV, Netcool, netsaint,

etc.)

The Model (Cont’d)

Outputs “We have taken care of what

happened.” Event sinks

Fixing problems, handing off other issues to be resolved by others

The Model (Cont’d)

Process The actions in the middle while and

event is being worked Two schools of thought

NOC as first-level techNOC as dispatchers only

Ticketing systemsLife-cycle of an event

Scaling and Portability

Large variety of scale NORAD vs. “Two guys in a cage”.

Portability Can you pick up and monitor

somewhere else? Integral to Disaster recovery

Example: Bare-Bones NOC

Are all the functions there?

Example: NORAD-style NOC

Are all the functions there?

The Portable NOC

The definition of NOC says nothing about locationNOC isn’t just a set of big screens with blinkenlights.“Go home and monitor!”Distributed functions

Model of the Portable NOC

Are all the functions there? Inputs Outputs Services

Evaluation: Portable NOC

Organizational Unit, independent of location.Centralized event sources and sinks with distributed observersDiminished intra-NOC communications, but sufficient for emergency.

Conclusion

A NOC is not just a place It’s a set of inputs, outputs and

processes that are accomplished by people.

Function is similar regardless of scalePortability is important And it emphasizes the functional

divisions

Next- Part 2: The Nuts & Bolts