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Understanding the Network Topology View

 

PSM provides a main Topology window that displays network elements and links in the managed network. The topology overlays a background image that can be changed to suit your particular needs. The Topology window is the initial view you see when first logging on to the PSM server. You can always go back to the Topology window from other windows by choosing View >Network >Topology.

In the upper left corner, you can select from the following topology views:

  • Map: The topology Map view is used to display the topology of the network. PSM builds the topology map based on discovered information as well as through manual specification. Manual specification allows you to supplement the discovered view to suit your needs.

  • Ethernet: The Ethernet services view is used to display the topology of a specific Ethernet service. To see a service, select the desired Ethernet service from the Network tree. For more information on the Ethernet services view, see Managing Ethernet Services.

  • Transport: The Transport services view is used to display the topology of a specific transport service. To see a service, select the desired transport service from the Network tree. For more information on the Transport services view, see Transport Services.

  • Optical: The Optical services view is used to display the topology of a specific optical service. To see a service, select the desired optical service from the Network tree. For more information on the Optical services view, see Optical Services.

  • Pseudowire: The Pseudowire services view is used to display the topology of a specific pseudowire service. To see a service, select the desired pseudowire service from the Network tree. For more information on the Pseudowire services view, see Managing Pseudowire Services.

The topology Map view shows the following:

  • discovered network elements

  • network element groups that have been created previously (see Network Element Groups and Sites)

  • external devices that have links to discovered network elements

  • links provisioned between any of the following: NEs, NE groups, or external devices

Note

An external device is a device that is unmanaged by PSM. PSM provides the capability to display such devices in the topology Map view.

Additionally, the view provides various visual cues, as follows:

  • The color of the link indicates whether the link is up or down. Green indicates that the link is up. Red indicates that the link is down.

  • A link between a managed device and an external (unmanaged) device is grey if the port status on the managed device is up. It is red if the port status on the managed device is down.

  • In a multi-link representation where multiple connections are represented by a single link, red takes precedence over green which takes precedence over grey.

  • The color of the font below the NE icon indicates whether the NE is reachable or not. Black indicates the NE is reachable. Red indicates the NE is not reachable.

  • The presence of a dot on the upper left corner of the NE icon indicates the existence of outstanding alarms. Red indicates the existence of outstanding critical alarms. Amber indicates the existence of outstanding major alarms. Yellow indicates the existence of outstanding minor alarms. When multiple levels of alarm severity exist, the color reflects the level of the most severe alarm. The absence of a dot indicates no outstanding alarms.

Layer Views

You can select which layer to view in the topology map.

From the upper right corner of the topology Map view, click to enable or disable the desired layer . The selections are not mutually exclusive. You can select multiple layers to view concurrently.

  • Physical: This view shows all the physical layer connectivity (that is, fibers). This is the default view.

  • Layer 0: This view shows the fibers connected to optical layer equipment. Optical layer equipment consists of ROADM modules, multiplexer/demultiplexers, and DWDM line amplifiers. This view is the same as the Physical layer view for the network elements shown.

  • Layer 1: This view shows transport layer connectivity (for example, SONET/SDH connectivity). This view might be different from the Physical layer view.

  • Layer 2: This view shows Ethernet layer connectivity. This view might be different from the Physical layer view.

  • Layer 3: This view is not supported.

Only the connectivity for the selected layer(s) is shown.

You can also control whether connectivity to external devices is shown for the selected layer(s). To show or hide connectivity to external devices, right-click the background in the topology Map view and toggle between Show Unknown Links and Hide Unknown Links.

Network Element and Link Details

Information can be obtained by hovering over or right-clicking certain objects in the view. When hovering over a network element, the information displayed includes the IP address, the name and type of network element, the software version it is running, notes, an alarm summary, and other information. Details on how to interpret the alarm summary can be found in Understanding the alarms summary bar.

Figure 1: Hovering Over a Network Element
Hovering Over a Network Element

When hovering over a PSM server, similar information is displayed. In addition to information found when hovering over a network element, there is an indication to show whether this server is part of a server replication cluster. If this server is part of a server replication cluster, and this is the server to which you are currently logged in, the display includes a listing of the other cluster member(s) (Figure 2). If this server is part of a server replication cluster, but is not the server to which you are currently logged in, the display indicates that the server is a cluster member (with no IP addresses displayed). See Running Multiple Servers with Server Replication for details on server replication.

Figure 2: Hovering Over a PSM Server
Hovering Over a PSM Server

When hovering over a network element group, an alarm summary is displayed.

Figure 3: Hovering Over a Network Element Group
Hovering Over a Network Element Group

When right-clicking on a link, an option is presented to Show Link Details.

Figure 4: Show Link Details
Show Link Details

When selecting that option, a Link Details data widget title bar is presented.

Figure 5: Link Details Data Widget Title Bar
Link Details Data Widget Title Bar

When clicking on the Link Details title bar, a Link Details window is presented.

Figure 6: Link Details Data Widget Window
Link Details Data Widget Window

Each connection can be expanded to show detailed link information. Table 1 shows the type of information that can be displayed. The actual information displayed depends on the type of network element and port. Not all attributes are supported on every network element. Figure 7 through Figure 12 show examples of the link information provided. Some attributes are optional and are only shown if they are configured.

Table 1: Link Details

Attribute

Description

General

Network Element

The network element name or IP address

Port

The port identifier (in the native syntax for the network element)

ID

The optional port identifier (freeform text)

Custom

The optional custom fields for the port (freeform text)

State

The port state (available for managed devices only). The state is shown as UNKNOWN if the device does not provide state information, such as is the case with multiplexers/demultipexers, which are passive devices.

Optical

Span Length

The span length of the fiber

Max Span Loss

The maximum span loss supported on the fiber

Max Span Loss Alarm Threshold

The maximum span loss alarm threshold on the fiber

Channel Count

The number of optical channels provisioned on the fiber

Transponding and Muxponding

Protocol

The protocol

Wavelength

The wavelength

Line Mapping

The line mapping (muxponding)

Figure 7: BTI7000 Series DOL-DOL Link Details Data Widget
BTI7000 Series DOL-DOL Link Details Data Widget
Figure 8: BTI7000 Series PVX-PVX Link Details Data Widget
BTI7000 Series PVX-PVX Link Details Data Widget
Figure 9: BTI7000 Series Transponder-Transponder Link Details Data Widget
BTI7000 Series Transponder-Transponder Link Details Data Widget
Figure 10: BTI7000 Series Muxponder-Muxponder Link Details Data Widget
BTI7000 Series Muxponder-Muxponder Link Details Data Widget
Figure 11: MX Series Router Transponder to BTI7000 Series DOL Link Details Data Widget
MX Series Router Transponder to BTI7000 Series DOL
Link Details Data Widget
Figure 12: External Device to BTI7000 Series PVX Link Details Data Widget
External Device to BTI7000 Series PVX Link Details Data Widget

You can hide Link Details by right-clicking on the same link and selecting Hide Link Details, or optionally, right-clicking anywhere in the background and selecting Hide All Link Details.

Figure 13: Hide Link Details
Hide Link Details