The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.
Cisco IoT Field Area Network Director (FND) is a network management system for the Cisco Field Area Network (FAN).
The FAN is a communication network overlay that provides an end-to-end, IP-based reference architecture from data centers responsible for grid operations to homes and industries. It seamlessly connects IoT devices and services in a power grid infrastructure and provides multiservice enablement, security, fog computing, and more. It also serves as a communication platform for a variety of advanced applications, including Distribution Automation, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and renewable energy.
IoT FND is a core component of a FAN. Through an intuitive user interface, it provides features for managing, monitoring, and troubleshooting supported devices and network operations in FANs of almost any size. Supported devices include various models of field area routers (FARs), headend routers (HERs), gateways, and endpoints. IoT FND ensures smooth device setup through zero-touch deployment (ZTD), secure communication, seamless scalability, and increased network efficiency. It provides real-time visibility of devices and assets, proactive fault detection, and many other important features for the management of the FAN.
For data protection and security, IoT FND uses digital certificates that undergo stringent authentication process based on 802.1x standards. Use of multiple IP encryptions and a standard FlexVPN solution establishes a secure data transmission environment that implements hop-by-hop encryption to safeguard data integrity and confidentiality.
Key features of IoT FND include the following:
Lifecycle management:
On-premises network management system for FAN devices
Secure zero-touch provisioning for enrollment and deployment of devices
Device inventory
Secure tunnel provisioning
Rich APIs for third-party application integration
Network optimization:
Configuration and firmware management
Network management for constrained bandwidth
Multitenancy and RBAC support
Network troubleshooting
Real-time monitoring:
Enterprise-class visibility for routers and endpoints
Device status, health, and performance metrics
Alerts for critical events
Location tracking of all network assets and geofencing
Dynamic and customizable dashboard