Chapter 4. Performance Measurement and Reporting | Performance and Fault Management: A Practical Guide to Effectively Managing Cisco Network Devices (Cisco Press Core Series)

As companies have migrated from centralized mainframe-based networks with strong performance-related tools to distributed networks, they have discovered the increased complexity of trying to monitor and analyze performance data gathered from varying vendors' devices.

For example, mainframe availability is a key performance measurement for traditional SNA networks. IT groups measure the availability of their mainframe, its applications, and its network connections and controllers. They then roll these numbers into a single availability number. This is the coveted "five nines," or 99.999 percent, which some IT groups try to achieve.

Upon moving to a distributed networking model, data and applications are distributed across multiple file servers and the network is segmented into multitudes of routers, switches, and concentrators. The determination, collection, and reporting of performance-related data have become considerably more difficult. The capability to roll up performance analysis into reports that can be consumed by upper management is equally difficult.

Fortunately, as methods and equipment for distributed networks mature, methodologies and tools that collect and report on performance data have become more accessible.

This chapter covers the following aspects of performance measurement and reporting:

What performance management is
Performance data collection
Performance data reporting
Measuring network performance