Cisco Network Assistant Cisco® Network Assistant is a PC-based network management application optimized for wired and wireless LANs for growing businesses that have 40 or fewer switches and routers. By using Cisco Smartports technology, Cisco Network Assistant simplifies configuration, deployment, and ongoing management and maintenance of Cisco Systems® networks. The application provides a centralized network view through a user-friendly GUI. The program allows network administrators to easily apply common services, generate inventory reports, synchronize passwords, and employ features across Cisco switches, routers, and access points. Cisco Network Assistant is available at no cost and can be downloaded from http://www.cisco.com/go/cna. NEW IN CISCO NETWORK ASSISTANT RELEASE 5.0 Topology View Enhancements

Increased Device Limits Cisco Network Assistant now supports up to 40 devices, including any combination of supported switches and routers. The number of supported access points and IP phones is determined by the type and number of devices in the network. Tree View Devices can now be accessed from the tree view when working in the topology view. When users click a device icon in the tree view, it pops up in the topology view. All functions available by right clicking in the topology view are also available in the tree view. Zoom With the increase of devices in the topology view, users can enlarge the view of a specific segment of the topology—such as phones, routers, or a subnet. Zoom is accessible from the keyboard or the combo box located on the menu bar.

 

 

Enhanced Discovery Discovery is now enhanced to allow for more control when discovering devices in the network. It is now possible to discover devices by entering a seed IP, range IP, subnet IP, or single IP address. This feature provides more flexibility and time savings when designing the
topology.

 

Event Notification The new Event Notification feature alerts users when a new version of Cisco Network Assistant is available for download, if a potential problem arises with a device in your network, or if a configuration change is required. A dialogue box provides all necessary information regarding the event such as time, description, and, if applicable, suggestions to resolve the problem. Guest Port Guest Port enables companies to provide visiting guests with Internet access, thereby allowing them to establish VPN connectivity to their company resources. Guest Port users are separated from internal network traffic so that the confidential "intranet access only" information and services remain secure from unauthorized guest users. Network Synchronization This feature detects inconsistent settings in the network such as VLAN mismatches, centralized time, and security policies. Working in concert with the Troubleshooting Advisor, these inconsistencies are detected and fixed easily. Online Help A detailed, transparent help function embedded in the framework of Cisco Network Assistant provides an extensive glossary and powerful search engine that takes users to the correct (requested) window or related links to apply specific settings. Online Help empowers the user to find instruction and troubleshoot without having to call for technical support. Cisco Smartports Advisor Cisco Smartports Advisor is an embedded tool that discovers devices connected in the network and recommends appropriate Cisco best practice configurations for security, availability, and quality-of-service (QoS) features on switch ports. This feature saves time by proactively recommending Cisco best practices and removes the need for network administrators to consult detailed design guides or documentation. Cisco Smartports technology saves time for network administrators; avoids human error; and helps ensure the configuration of the switch, router, or access point is optimized for these applications.

 

 

Topology and Front Panel Views Users can monitor their network from two perspectives: the physical topology view or the front panel view. The rich topology view graphically represents the types of devices in the network as well as detailed information about device status, physical connections, and various monitoring capabilities—all from a single view. The front panel view displays switches in the network simultaneously along with the state, duplex, and speed of switch ports. The front panel view also allows users to apply features across multiple ports or multiple switches when configuring features such as VLANs. In addition, real-time comprehensive reports are available for inventory, ports, QoS, and access control list (ACL) statistics. EXCLUSIVE FEATURES FOR THE CISCO CATALYST EXPRESS 500 SERIES Task-Based Menu Navigating through Cisco Network Assistant is intuitive and simple. The main toolbar is divided into four categories so users can easily find the important tasks and features to manage their Cisco Catalyst Express 500 Series Switch: Configure, Monitor, Troubleshoot, and Maintenance.

 

 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Table 2 lists the system requirements for Cisco Network Assistant 4.0. Table 2. System Requirements Operating System Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 3 or later) Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1 or later) Windows Server (Service Pack 1+) Disk space 200 MB Hardware PC with 233 MHz Memory 256 MB (recommended 1 Gb) PC hardware 233 MHz (recommended 1 Gb MHz) Screen Resolution 1024 x 768 AVAILABILITY Cisco Network Assistant 5.0 is available for free at http://www.cisco.com/go/networkassistant