Sept, 2015

How to Choose Collection Options for Smart Net Total Care

2© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential

How to Use This Presentation Audience: New Smart Net Total Care customers

What’s covered in this presentation: Details about the collection options available and factors to consider when choosing a collection solution for Smart Net Total Care

Purpose: Help the customer choose the best option for collecting and maintaining data in their Smart Net Total Care system

Last updated: Sept 30, 2015

3© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential

The latest release of Smart Net Total Care provides flexible options for how data is gathered for analysis.

Collection Options

For first time userswho have a small to medium size network

CSV File Import

For customers alreadyusing DesignXpert

Netformx DesignXpert

For customers starting fromscratch who have a medium

to large size network

Cisco CSPC Collector

4© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential

The more effort you put into Smart Net Total Care

The options are not mutually exclusive. You can use one, two, or all three options.

Use CSV file import as a quick and easy first step to get started and discover the significant value of the SNTC portal and reports

If you’re using DesignXpert currently, this is probably your best option

If you’re starting from scratch and have a medium to large network, choose the Cisco CSPC collector

Cisco Smart Assist Service is available if you want help with collection deployment and ongoing use. And it provides TAC support for portal and collections

…the more you get out of it!

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CSV File Import

Pros

No collector required No additional cost Temporary internet connection required for data

upload to Cisco May be able to extract required data from other

systems (ex: NMS)

Provides a mechanism to upload unreachable devices and devices that are not part of the network (ex: spares)

Cons

Limited information & analysis in reports (for alerts, s/w versions, etc.)

Limit to amount of info that can be provided; 50K lines Manual process; customer takes responsibility for

ensuring data is accurate and representative of their network

May be time consuming to gather device info and create CSV file

Data must be supplied in fixed format Import can not be scheduled to run regularly Updating for network changes is completely manual No SmartData Advantage support

Typical User: Small to medium company; Stable network with minimal changes

Skills Required: Minimal network skills

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Netformx DesignXpert

Pros

No permanent installation of collector on network Temporary internet connection required for data

upload to Cisco If already using with Cisco SmartAdvisor,

essentially no additional effort Full range of report data presented Remote collection and upload supported Project file/transport file can be uploaded from any

DesignXpert tool and from anywhere

Cons

Requires temporary network connection for discovery and data collection

Requires SNMP to be configured on target devices Can’t schedule uploads; requires manual process Data collection may require opening firewalls DesignXpert cost not included in SNTC Service No SmartData Advantage support No Cisco support for DesignXpert collector setup or

operation

Typical User: Medium to large company; Fairly stable network with limited changes

Skills Required: Moderate network skills

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Common Services Platform Collector (CSPC)

Pros

Options for turnkey h/w appliance or s/w collector (3 virtual machine options)

CPSC software collector is free Discovery and collections can be scheduled for

regular, automatic updates Full range of report data presented On-demand transport file upload through the portal Supports SmartData Advantage Optional Smart Assist for help with deployment

Cons

Requires installation in the customer network Requires effort & expertise to install collector Requires SNMP to be configured on target devices Persistent internet connection required for

scheduled uploads to Cisco Data collection may require opening firewalls Customer must supply environment for software

collector virtual appliance

Typical User: Medium to large company; Dynamically changing network

Skills Required: Moderate to Expert network skills

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Smart Net Total Care Collector Options Comparison Chart

CSV File Upload Netformx Collector CSPC Collector

Network Size Small Medium to Large Medium to Large

Network Change Status

Stable Fairly Stable Dynamic

Technical Skill Level Entry Moderate Moderate/Expert

Collector None App on LaptopAppliance on

Network

Upload Cadence Manual / On-

demandManual / On-

demand Manual or Scheduled

Internet Connection to Cisco

Temporary Temporary Temporary or Scheduled

Level of Effort Low Moderate Moderate/High

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Smart Net Total Care Report Content Comparison Chart

CSV File Upload

Netformx Collector

CSPC Collector

Contract Coverage

Comprehensive PSIRTs optional fields required

Comprehensive EOL SW optional fields required

Comprehensive EOL HW optional fields required

Field Notices optional fields required

Device Diagnostics Readiness Report X X

SmartData Advantage X X

Running/Startup configuration information X if configured if configured

Bug correlation X