Cisco Systems® announces the availability of the CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution (LMS) 2.5 for Windows and Solaris. Minor update kits for existing CiscoWorks LMS 2.X customers are also being released (updates will not be posted for Web download).
The CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 release is an important milestone in providing network-management tools for simplifying the configuration, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting of Cisco® devices in today's enterprises. It introduces a centralized system for sharing device information across all applications, improving manageability and allowing the management system to more dynamically adjust to changes. CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 also offers a new lightweight desktop interface that facilitates rapid navigation between tools and that can be modified to individual workflow needs. CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 utilizes security information maintained in Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) tosimplify the management of user privileges. Cisco Secure ACS integration provides flexibility in defining user roles, and supports secured user views of specific devices, groups of devices, or by geographic or logical network segments. Significant improvement in performance, such as multithreading background tasks, has reduced the time needed to deliver updates to the network, as well as generate reports. Efficient task processing and its shared database of managed devices allow CiscoWorks LMS to be deployed into larger networks.
With the CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 release, Cisco is offering two purchasing options: the CiscoWorks LMS Large Enterprise package, designed to manage a large number of Cisco network devices, supports the deployment of individual components on separate servers. Second, a 300-device limited version which is intended for smaller enterprises or when multiple copies of CiscoWorks LMS are deployed to branch or regional locations. Both feature a new user-registration process that results in a license being sent during installation. The complete collection of applications in the CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 suite provides the foundation for managing the critical infrastructure of the network.
Table 1. CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution 2.5 Features
Feature
Description
Device Fault Management
CiscoWorks DFM provides real-time fault detection, analysis, and reporting using device knowledge and fault rules based on Cisco best practices for each device.
Campus Management
CiscoWorks Campus Manager includes a robust set of Layer 2 tools for device and connectivity discovery, detailed topology views, virtual LAN/LAN Emulation (VLAN/LANE) and ATM configuration, end-station tracking, Layer 2 and 3 path analysis, and IP phone user and path information.
Resource Management
CiscoWorks RME provides tools for managing Cisco devices using inventory and device change management, network-configuration and software-image management, and network-availability and syslog analysis.
Graphical Device Management
CiscoWorks CiscoView provides back- and front-panel displays of devices in a dynamic, color-coded graphical display. Simplifies device-status monitoring, device-specific component diagnostics, and application launching.
WAN Performance
CiscoWorks IPM is a network response-time and availability troubleshooting application. This tool empowers network engineers to proactively troubleshoot network performance using real-time and historical reports.
Common Services
CiscoWorks Server provides for a common management desktop experience and services for securing access to all CiscoWorks applications. Facilities include a foundation for integrating with other Cisco and third-party applications.
NEW FEATURES
The new features of CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 broaden the solution choices for small or large enterprise and service provider customers. Itsenhancements focus on the important areas of network security, performance, scalability, and improved navigation and usability. Additionally, CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 offers new packaging and licensing options and support for newer versions of operating systems andbrowsers.
New features of the CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 release include:
• Improved security management-Integration with Cisco Secure ACS allows a user's network login credentials to secure access to CiscoWorks LMS tools, devices, and views of the network. Implementation of Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 (SNMPv3) and Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) enhances the security of management instructions sent to devices, and configuration and software update files sent over the network.
• Performance Management- CiscoWorks Internetwork Performance Monitor (IPM) is now included. CiscoWorks IPM samples data packets between user-defined points in the network or over a WAN to determine data paths, hops, and traffic performance. The new lightweight design of CiscoWorks CiscoView 6.1 provides port and device traffic statistics and will provide mini-Remote Monitoring (RMON) statistics monitoring. (Mini-RMON support is a downloadable plug-in expected in May 2005.)
• Device-level data integration-CiscoWorks LMS uses a new centralized Device Credential Repository (DCR), allowing CiscoWorks LMS applications to share common device and inventory knowledge. Data is shared both when all applications reside on a single server and when individual applications are distributed to other servers.
• Improved usability-User-customizable desktop allows frequently used functions to be "bookmarked." New options simplify setting upand centrally managing users' access privileges to devices and tools. Applications launch faster and users can quickly jump between applications and generate reports.
• System support-Windows 2003 Server (Standard and Enterprise Editions) and Solaris 8 and 9 server support.
UPGRADE OPTIONS
The CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 release offers two upgrade programs. Table 2 and 3 provide information on upgrade paths available to customers currently owning specific older versions of CiscoWorks LMS or related products such as CiscoWorks Routed WAN Management Solution (RWAN) or CiscoWorks Small Network Management Solution (SNMS). CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 introduces user registration and electronic licensing. The prerequisites listed in the following update and upgrade options are enforced through CiscoWorks LMS licensing, and customers may be asked to provide evidence of the prerequisite product to successfully complete the CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 installation.
Table 2. CiscoWorks LMS 2.x to CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Minor Update Options
CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise (unrestricted device license)
CWLMS-2.5-RCONV-K9 (Conversion Upgrade from CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Enterprise to CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise, Unrestricted Device License for Windows and Solaris)
AVAILABILITY
CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution 2.5 and associated minor release update kits will begin shipping on February 28, 2005. Customers can order these new products through normal Cisco sales channels beginning February 8, 2005.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Table 4. Ordering Information for CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution 2.5
Part Number
Description
CWLMS-2.5-UR-K9
CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise for Windows and Solaris, with unrestricted device-usage license and one server-installation license.
CWLMS-2.5-R-K9
CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Enterprise for Windows and Solaris, with 300-device restricted usage license and one server-installation license.
CWLMS-2.5-URUP-K9
Upgrade from CiscoWorks LMS 1.X or RWAN 1.X to CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise for Windows andSolaris with unrestricted device-usage license and one server-installation license. (Note: CiscoWorks SNMS 1.X customers must upgrade to LMS 2.5 Enterprise through part number CWLMS-2.5-RUP-K9 beforepurchasing the conversion upgrade to LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise through part number CWLMS-2.5-RCONV-K9.)
CWLMS-2.5-RUP-K9
Upgrade from CiscoWorks LMS 1.X, RWAN 1.X, and SNMS 1.X to CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Enterprise for Windows and Solaris with 300-device restricted usage license and one server-installation license.
CWLMS-2.5-RCONV-K9
Upgrade for CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Enterprise customers wanting to convert to LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise for Windows and Solaris with unrestricted device-usage license and one server-installation license.
CWLMS-2.5-MR-K9
Minor update kit for existing CiscoWorks LMS 2.x to CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise for Windows and Solaris with unrestricted device-usage license and one server-installation license.
CON-SAS-CWLMS25U
Software Application Support (SAS) for CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise for Windows and Solaris with unrestricted device-usage license. Provides Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) support, Cisco.com Software Center access, and minor updates.
CON-SAS-CWLMS25R
Software Application Support (SAS) for CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Enterprise for Windows and Solaris with 300-device restricted usage license. Provides Cisco TAC support, Cisco.com Software Center access, and minor updates.
Note: Interim patches and updates may be available for the components listed. Customers with Cisco Software Application Support (SAS) should check the Cisco.com Software Center for these updates.
EXISTING PRODUCTS AFFECTED
With the availability of CiscoWorks LMS 2.5 Large Enterprise, Cisco is announcing that July 31, 2005 will be the end of sale for the following products. Customers continuing to need new copies of the older CiscoWorks LMS 2.2 version should use the following part numbers (Table 5) to place orders before the end-of-sale date. Information on timelines regarding technical support for past versions is provided in CiscoWorks LMS end-of-sale documentation.
Table 5. End-of-Sale Products
Part Number
Description
CWLMS-2.2-K9
CiscoWorks LMS 2.2 for Windows and Solaris.
CWLMS-2.2-P1-K9
Cross Bundle Discount for CiscoWorks RWAN users adding LMS 2.2 for Windows and Solaris.
CWLMS-2.2-UP-K9
Upgrade to CiscoWorks LMS 2.2 for Windows and Solaris from LMS 1.X and SNMS 1.X.
The nGenius Real-Time Monitor application offered in previous releases of CiscoWorks LMS is no longer included in the solution. The CiscoWorks Internetwork Performance Monitor (IPM), previously offered in the CiscoWorks Routed WAN Management Solution (RWAN), has now been added to this release.
For more information about the CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/lms or contact your local Cisco sales representative or send an e-mail to the Product Marketing group at ciscoworks@cisco.com.
