netbrain instant trial edition 5 · netbrain ite 5.2 workbook | 14 4. a new chart will open...

NetBrain Instant Trial Edition 5.2

Quick Start Workbook

NETBRAIN ITE 5.2 WORKBOOK | 2

NetBrain ITE 5.2 Quick Start Workbook

Thank you for downloading NetBrain Instant Trial Edition (ITE). This workbook will help you make the most of your trial by

introducing you to 11 essential NetBrain features, some of which are demonstrated in the videos on the start page.

Getting Started 4

How do I login?

1. Search & Map the Network 5

How do I use the search function?

How do I create maps from search results?

How do I extend device neighbors on a map?

2. Decode Network Design 7

How do I view interface configuration details?

How do I access detailed device information?

How do I visualize routing protocol?

3. Map an Application Flow 9

How do I create a Layer-3 map between two endpoints?

How do I map an application flow in Layer-2?

4. Monitor Overall Health 11

How do I view real-time performance data on the map?

How do I see NetFlow data?

5. Discover Network Changes 13

How do I quickly identify network changes?

How do I compare EIGRP neighbor tables?

How do I batch compare route tables?

How do I visualize route table changes on the map?


6. Diagnose Interface Issues 16

How do I view interface errors on the map?

How do I detect MTU or Speed/Duplex mismatches?

7. Export to Visio & Word 18

How do I export a NetBrain map to Microsoft Visio?

How do I create a design document?

8. Highlight Spanning-Tree 20

How do I visualize STP blocked ports on the map?

9. Push Configuration Changes Automatically 22

How do I define network changes in a map?

How do I automatically deploy changes?

How do I automatically verify network changes?

How do I create a change document?

10. Config File to Map 26

How do I add my configuration files to create a map?

11. Write Your Own Qapp 34

How do I create a Qapp from scratch?


Getting Started

To get started, login to the NetBrain workstation using the instructions below.

Instructions:

1. Launch NetBrain ITE 5.2 from your desktop.

2. When prompted, login with the credentials that were sent to you via email.

Server: trial.netbraintech.com : 80

Email: <Sent via email>

Password: <Sent via email>

Workspace: Server Workspace (NetBrain-Trial)

Note: If you requested a username/password and did not receive an email with your login credentials, please check your Junk email. If you have not yet requested a username and password, please create an account by filling out the following form: www.netbraintech.com/trial

In order to follow along with this workbook, you must be connected to NetBrain’s Trial Lab (default upon initial login). We

recommend that you use this workbook to familiarize yourself with NetBrain features before discovering devices on your

own network (see image below).

NetBrain Start Page

Note: When you are ready to discover your network, you can watch this video to see how.

http://www.netbraintech.com/trial

http://bcove.me/6tigi6lm


1. Search & Map the Network

On-demand mapping can be performed in several ways within NetBrain. This section will demonstrate how to instantly create a

network diagram by searching for a device and mapping its neighbors.

Instructions:

1. To get started, type hostname Bos-WAN into the Search box under the Home tab.

Search Hostname

1. Under the Search Results tab, hover the

cursor over the device and click the icon for a Layer-3 preview map. Click Map to open a new Qmap centered on the search result.

Tip: To open the map full-screen, right-click the map tab and click ‘Move to Previous Tab Group’.

Map Results

2. Devices displayed with a icon have neighbors not currently displayed on the map. To display the neighbors, click and then double-click a device.

Tip: To select multiple neighbors simultaneously, use the CTRL key followed by ENTER. You can also double click All Neighbors to display all neighbors on the map

Identify Neighbors

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/RRMaDM4J1zk


3. Repeat Step 3, extending neighbor devices, until you have a network map satisfying your area of interest.

Add Neighbor Devices to Map

4. Also try searching IP address (e.g. 10.30.10.10) and Configuration snippet (e.g. EIGRP 200)

Layer-2 Map from IP Search


2. Decode Network Design

You can interact with the map to access network configuration and design data. This section will demonstrate how to display

detailed configuration data on the map, access live and historical device data, and annotate the map with routing design.

Instructions:

1. To visualize interface configuration such as routing protocol, multicasting, ACLs, etc., simply zoom into the map (using the wheel of the mouse).

Zoom In to See Configuration Details

2. The configuration data behind the map labels is accessible. Just hover the mouse cursor over a label to see a configuration snippet.

Tip: To save this snippet as a note on the

map, click the save icon on the Configlet window.

Hover Cursor over an Interface Label

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/Dxj4Hx7IfpU


3. NetBrain’s ‘Observer’ feature displays detailed device properties, performance data, historical data, and more. To access this information, continue to zoom in on a specific device until the device is targeted in green brackets.

Zoom Into a Device for ‘Observer’ View

4. Continue to scroll through Observer cards with the mouse.

Tip: You can interact with these cards to perform actions (e.g. create new map, launch live device monitoring, etc.).

Scroll through Observer Cards

5. To visualize design criteria at-a-glance, you can instantly annotate the map with routing, multicasting, or MPLS VRF. From the map’s floating menu, select Highlight then click Routing Protocol…

Annotate Routing Design on the Map

6. Devices and interface links will be color-coded (with a legend) to reflect configured routing protocol.

Map Color-Coded for Routing Protocol


3. Map an Application Flow

NetBrain can automatically map a path between any connected devices in the network, such as an application flow. The

technologies supported include routing, switching, NAT, ACL, MPLS, PBR, Load Balancing, QoS, etc. and can be dynamically

extended for newer network technologies. This section will demonstrate how to create a layer-3 and a layer-2 map of an

application flow between two data centers.

Instructions:

1. To get started, specify a source and destination address under the Home tab. Using the NetBrain Lab try:

Source: 10.20.2.10 Destination: 10.30.10.10

Input Source & Destination Addresses

2. To map the path in one direction only, click

the button and switch it to forward

path ( ). Then click Find Path.

Select Forward Path

3. NetBrain will begin drawing the Layer-3 path between source and destination hop-by-hop.

Map Path in Real-Time

4. To customize the map layout, move icons with the mouse. Alternatively, right-click the blank map space and select Auto Layout.

Customize Path Layout

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/C2Iz3OvnpCE


5. To map the same application path in layer-2, right-click the dotted line representing the path, and select View L2 Path…

Right-Click to View L2 Path

6. A new Qmap will open with inbound/outbound connectivity details for each Switchport in the path.

L2 Application Flow

7. You can quickly glance port configuration by hovering the mouse cursor over any switch’s port.

Display Port Details

8. Note that you also have the ability to select a

Layer-4 protocol and port number when defining the traffic path.


4. Monitor Overall Health

NetBrain can help to diagnose network health in order to determine if any device is over-utilized or if any interfaces have high

delay or bandwidth utilization. Monitoring data is displayed in real-time on the map. NetBrain also charts each metric over time

from the moment monitoring is turned on.

Instructions:

1. To get started, click the Monitor button from any map’s floating menu. Then click Run to launch the ‘Overall Health’ diagnosis.

Click to Turn On Monitoring

2. After a few seconds of SNMP polling, NetBrain will populate the map with real-time data to indicate:

Interface Up/Down Status

CPU/Memory Utilization

Interface Delay

Bandwidth Utilization

Note: Measurements over threshold are displayed in red.

HeatMap with Diagnostic Data

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/W96xUb8r7XQ


3. The chart at the bottom of the screen displays device and interface data as well as any Alarms or Messages that may indicate a problem.

Chart Interface Statistics

4. To access a performance chart for any label in the map, hover the cursor of the mouse over that label.

Chart Bandwidth over Time

5. For any devices configured with NetFlow, NetBrain can display NetFlow data in a chart at the bottom of the map. Just right-click a bandwidth utilization label and select NetFlow.

Right-Click for NetFlow Data


5. Discover Network Changes

You can quickly discover network changes from within a NetBrain Qmap. NetBrain’s historical analysis can detect changes in

configuration and route/CDP/ARP tables. Additionally, routing and multicast neighbor changes are detected.

Instructions:

1. To get started, click the Compare button from the map’s floating menu. Then click Compare Historical Data.

Note: To follow along with this walkthrough, open Map 5 from the NetBrain Start page.

Click to Compare Historical Data

2. Choose two benchmark data folders to compare data between:

First DataFolder ::Current Baseline

Second DataFolder ::Last-Week

Note: Benchmark data is captured on-demand or on a schedule and stored on the server.

Select Benchmark Data for Comparison

3. In this walkthrough, we will look for changes in routing occurring since last week. Leave checkboxes in the two following fields:

Route Table

EIGRP Neighbor

Then click Compare.

Select Criteria to Compare

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/_Wm0q9UZoDM


4. A new chart will open indicating whether or not route table and EIGRP neighbor changes have occurred for each device.

Right Column Indicates Changes

5. Double-click the entry for a device with a neighbor-change to see details about the change (SF-WAN2).

View Details about the Device Change

6. To view changes in route tables, click the Batch Compare Route Tables tab at the bottom of the chart.

Compare Route Tables

7. This chart has columns to indicate New, Deleted, and Changed route table entries. To see changes for a particular route table, click a device and click Compare Route Table.

Click Compare to Highlight Changes


8. NetBrain will segregate route entries that have been modified.

Modified Routes Segregated at Bottom

9. Route entries can be dragged to the map to visualize the next hop.

Drag Routes to Visualize on Map


6. Run a NetBrain App to Troubleshoot

With a NetBrain App, you can automate data collection and analysis across the entire network. There are dozens of built-in apps

to help diagnose routing, QoS, multicasting, etc. In this example, you will run an app to detect interface errors for every

interface on the map.

Instructions:

1. To get started, open a map with a lot of interfaces on it. Click the Monitor button from the map’s floating menu. Then select Check Interface Errors and click Run.

Run App to Check Interface Errors

2. After a few seconds of data collection, NetBrain will populate the map with the status of all interface errors. NetBrain checks the following errors:

CRC

Input/output

Frame Errors

Collisions

Note: Links with errors are displayed in orange. Errors are highlighted in pink

Interface Errors Automatically Displayed on the Map

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/FgP5qV2LKk8


3. The Interface Data tab in the Results pane at the bottom of the map displays a chart of the errors on each interface. By clicking an error in the chart, you can display a graph of the error incrementing over time.

Errors Charted in Results Pane

4. The ‘Check Errors’ app will also detect Speed or Duplex mismatches. Detected mismatches will be displayed on the map with a note.

Duplex Mismatch Detected


7. Export to Visio & Word

A NetBrain Qmap can be exported to a Microsoft Visio diagram or a detailed design document in Word.

Instructions:

1. Click Export from any map’s floating menu and then click Visio Map.

Note: Microsoft Visio is required for this feature.

Click to Export Visio Map

2. NetBrain will launch Microsoft Visio and quickly draw a static replica of the Qmap.

Replica of NetBrain Map in Visio

Note: Visio map updates can be scheduled on a recurring basis. To schedule map updates, use the Schedule option under the Map tab.

Schedule Visio Map Updates

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/vZb4CHfyFq8


3. To export embedded Qmap data to a design document in Word, click Export Word Document.

Click to Export Design Document

4. Click Finish on the Network Documentation template wizard to create the document.

Network Documentation Wizard

5. The resulting document includes device and configuration information, diagrams, routing design, and more.

Exported Design Document


8. Highlight Spanning-Tree

NetBrain can analyze spanning-tree automatically and display blocked ports on a layer-2 map.

Instructions:

1. From the map’s floating menu, select

Highlight STP Blocked Ports.

Note: To follow along with this walkthrough, open Map 8 from the NetBrain Start page.

Click to Highlight STP

2. Click OK to highlight blocked ports for All VLANs in the map. NetBrain will issue the show spanning-tree blockedports command for on all switches in the map.

Specify VLANs

3. Click OK once the command has been successfully executed for each device.

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/O93T9EpcQB4


Click OK for Results

4. NetBrain will apply a label to each blocked port indicating which VLAN’s spanning-tree is blocking for that port.

Blocked Ports Annotated on Map


9. Push Configuration Changes Automatically

From within a Qmap, you can define and execute network changes automatically. NetBrain’s change management workflow

also helps you verify the impact of changes with comparative analysis.

Instructions:

1. To follow along with this walkthrough, open Map 9 from the NetBrain Start page and click the Attachment File.

Open Change Workflow Attachment

2. The attachment opens a change task file that documents the process of implementing NetFlow across the network. Along the top of the window is a set of buttons for each step of the workflow.

Change Task Workflow

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/DUYQSvamd0s


3. The Define Network Changes section is where a configuration template is used to specify the intended configuration changes. The left column shows impacted devices and interfaces.

Define Network Changes

4. The Execute section contains the execution logs for each device. This is also the screen where configs are deployed. Click a device to see its execution log.

View Execution Log

5. The Compare section is where you can verify the impact of the changes. This is done by comparing config files, route tables, and any CLI commands from before and after the changes were executed. Click the Compare button to populate the table with change information for each device. The right-hand column indicates if a configuration change has occurred.

Look for Config Changes


6. Double-click a row with changes to see them highlighted side-by-side. You can highlight changes in Route Tables in a similar fashion.

Compare Config Changes

Note: Data for comparison is captured both before and after changes during the Benchmark phases.

Capture Benchmark Data

7. Through the Document section, you can export the change task to a Microsoft Word document. Just select the data you want to include and click OK.

Export Change Document


8. The resulting Word document contains an organized summary of the review history, the impacted devices, and configuration result.

Change Document Table of Contents


10. Config File to Map

You can import a set of configuration files to map the logical relationship between a set of devices. Even without live access to

the network, NetBrain can create detailed maps with embedded design data.

Instructions:

1. Using the NetBrain menu in the top left, select the New option to create a blank Qmap.

Create a New Qmap

2. Select a folder containing a set of configuration (.txt) files, and drag and drop the folder to the blank map.

Drag & Drop Config Files

Note: Windows 7 has a default security constraint preventing this feature. To disable this constraint, search for “UAC” from the windows search bar to open User Account Control Settings. Move the slide-bar to “Never Notify” and click OK.

Change Windows User Account Settings

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/L039_iI6uI8


3. After you drag-and-drop the config files to a new map, the Import Configuration Files window is displayed. Make sure every device you want to import has a check mark next to it. Then click Import.

Import Configuration Files

4. NetBrain will automatically analyze the configuration files and create a detailed layer-3 diagram.

Map Configuration Files


11. Write Your Own Qapp

NetBrain uses the network map as a single pane of glass for automated data collection and analysis. The key component

of automation is Qapps – self-contained applications that are designed to automate all types of network management

tasks. Below is a set of instructions on creating your own Qapp to check CPU.

Instructions:

In the ribbon menu under the Home tab, click the New Qapp link within the Automation Qapp Group block, and

the New Qapp window will open.

The new Qapp has the default name of My Qapp and you can name your Qapp as you wish. We will call it My first

Qapp and click the Description field to open the window where you can enter a description for this Qapp.

There are two steps in creating a Qapp. The first step entails defining an execution procedure to retrieve and parse

data from the live network:

Watch Demo Video

http://youtu.be/L039_iI6uI8


1. Enter the CLI command “show process cpu” in field 1.

2. Retrieve the sample output. Click the Retrieve Sample button (field 2) and select a Cisco IOS device. The sample output is shown in field 3:

Bos-Core1-Tr>show process cpu

CPU utilization for five seconds: 4%/0%; one minute: 5%; five minutes: 5%

PID Runtime(ms) Invoked uSecs 5Sec 1Min 5Min TTY Process

1 0 8 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Chunk Manager

2 346 4136854 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Load Meter

3 552473 13148400 42 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 OSPF-1200 Hello …

3. Define the parser.

A parser defines the retrieval of the data from the sample. Depending on the sample formats, you can select four

types of parser: Keyword, Paragraph, Table, and Filter. Defining the parser correctly is the key task to create a

commonly used procedure.

To retrieve the CPU usage for 1 minute and 5 minutes, select Keyword parser and copy the related text, “one

minute: 5%; five minutes: 5%” into the pattern field (field 4). You want to keep the keywords the same and replace


the sample value that changes with the variables. For example, we replace the sample value with the variable

$cpu1 for one minute CPU and $cpu2 for five minute CPU. A variable always starts with ‘$’ and should not include

space or any special character. You should end up with the following pattern definition:

one minute: $cpu1; five minutes: $cpu2

After clicking Add Parser, the matched value is highlighted in the sample and the value is displayed at the right

pane of the parser tree (field 5).

You just defined your first Keyword parser. A Keyword parser defines one or more variables. A variable always

starts with $, and it is a string by default. The pattern “one minute: $cpu1; five minutes: $cpu2” asks the system to

find the keyword “one minute:” and assigns the word between “one minute:” and “;” to the variable $ cpu1. In the

sample, $cpu1 is set to the value “5%”.

4. Click the Next button to go to second step to define the analysis and alert.

All variables defined in first step are displayed in the right pane (field 1). There are two variables, cpu1 and cpu2.

Select the variable cpu1 and click the arrow icon in the middle and the variable will be added as the first item

( ) in the Device Level Analysis pane(field 2). Select the other variable cpu2 and click the arrow icon to add

it as the second item ( ). Click the Legend link in the middle to see where each of the device or interface

variables will be displayed on the map.

Now click OK and the Select Location window opens.

In the Select Location window, you can add the Qapp to an existing location or create a new location. Click the

Create New link next to the Location field to create a new location. In the Create New Location window, select My

Files from the drop down menu. You can add a Qapp to three types of locations:


Built-in Files: contain NetBrain built-in Qapps and we do not recommend modifying any built-in Qapps.

Shared Files: contain Qapps shared through the NetBrain server.

My Files: contain Qapps only accessible by you.

Enter Qapp tutorials or any unique name you prefer in the Qapp Group Name field and a Function Category such

as chapter 2.

Click the OK button to finish the Qapp. Open the Qapp Center pane and you can see the Qapp group Qapp

tutorials you just created. The Qapp you just created, My first Qapp, is under this group.


Qapp groups and their categories can be displayed in the menu bar within the Automation Qapp Group block. In

the menu bar under the Home tag, click the Select a Qapp icon and check the checkbox in front of the Qapp group

for it to be displayed in the menu bar. Click OK to save your choice. Then you can select the Qapp group (Qapp

tutorials) in the drop-down. All categories of this group are displayed in the menu bar. Currently there is only one

category, chapter 2, for this group.

Create a new Qmap (Qmap1) to map out a few Cisco IOS devices or open a Qmap. Select My first Qapp under

chapter 2 category. The Instant monitor window will open; click the Run button to execute the Qapp.


The map turns into the monitoring mode. The variables cpu1 and cpu2 with their corresponding values are

displayed in the specified locations and are refreshed every 2 minutes, which is the default frequency.

The floating Qapp control shows you how long the Qapp has been running. Click the Stop button to pause the

Qapp and the Clear button to clear all monitoring data in the map.

The current values as well as the historical data of the variables are displayed in the device data pane and charts under the Qmap.


Want to Learn More?

Join our weekly online training sessions. The NetBrain Training series features a live instructor, lab environment, and interactive

exercises. These free courses teach you how to use the core functions of NetBrain products.

If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Support questions: Training questions:

+1 800.605.7964

[email protected]

+1 800.605.7964

[email protected]

VIEW COURSE CATALOG

http://netbraintech.com/netbrain-support/training.php

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]






netbrain instant trial edition 5 · netbrain ite 5.2 workbook | 14 4. a new chart will open...

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