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Devices

The list of Devices in the Inventory includes multiple device types. The data sources determine the identity of each device as they discover them. In some cases, two different data sources might identify the same device differently, as when a router is also a gateway.

The following device types are identified in the Device List:

Routers

Forward packets based on Layer 3 header information. Manage congestion using quality of service (QoS) and other policies. Can be managed using SNMP.

Switches

Forward packets based on Layer 2 header information. May also provide higher-layer functionality, such as Layer-3 prioritization. Can be managed using SNMP.

Servers

Can be physical servers or virtual machines.

Pingable Devices

Are network devices, such as routers and switches, that cannot be managed using SNMP: that is, they have not responded to SNMP queries for identification and performance data. CA Performance Center finds their status using ping testing.

The Device List provides the following information about each device in the list:

Name

Identifies the device. If an administrator defined an alias for the device item, the alias is displayed. Otherwise, the discovered device name is displayed.

Alias

If one was set, identifies the alias for a device. You set this name using REST web services. By default, this column is hidden. To view this column, click any column in the table. Click the white arrow on the column, select Columns, and then select Alias.

Note: For information about setting an alias for a device, see the CA Performance Center Web Services API guide.

Type

Corresponds to the type of device, such as Router, Switch, Server, or Pingable Device.

Domain

Identifies the IP domain with which the IP address is associated. Multi-tenant environments only.

Address

Is the IP address that was discovered.

Description

Identifies the device and may include other vendor-specific information, such as serial number.

Interfaces List

The list of Interfaces in the Inventory provides information to identify the type and speed of the individual interfaces on devices.

Use this view for capacity planning or troubleshooting issues associated with routers or switches. For example, a router might have a performance issue that you could trace to a single interface. Or you might need to verify a service-level agreement with an ISP.

The list of Interfaces in the Inventory provides the following information about each interface:

Name

Is the name of the interface.

Description

Is the type of interface, such as Gigabit Ethernet. If an administrator defined an alternate interface description, the alternate description is displayed. Otherwise, the discovered description is displayed.

Device

Identifies the device that is associated with the selected interface.

Device Alias

If one was set, identifies the alias for a device. You set this name using REST web services. By default, this column is hidden. To view this column, click any column in the table. Click the white arrow on the column, select Columns, and then select Device Alias.

Note: For information about setting an alias for a device, see the CA Performance Center Web Services API guide.

Alias

Is the alias assigned to the interface to identify it (ifAlias).

Index

The ifIndex, an index value for the interface in the SNMP ifEntry table.

Type

Is the type of interface, such as 'gigabitEthernet' or 'primaryISDN', based on the ifType identifier.

Domain

Identifies the IP domain with which the IP address is associated. Multi-tenant environments only.

Speed

Is the speed of the interface, as defined by the ifSpeed field in the SNMP ifEntry table. Is shown in bits per second, in both directions of flow.

Flow

Is the traffic flow, if identified by the data source. If not identified, shows 'n/a'.

Addresses

The list of Addresses in the Inventory provides address mappings to the individual interfaces on devices. Where the Interface List describes interfaces and devices, this view provides a more detailed inventory of interface identities and system topology.

Use this view for troubleshooting connection issues. For example, multiple interfaces might share an address. The information in the Addresses list can help you narrow down a problem reported on that address.

The Address list includes the following information about each IP address mapping:

Domain

Identifies the IP domain with which the IP address is associated. Multi-tenant environments only.

Address

Is the IP address that was discovered.

Hostname

Is the hostname of the device associated with the IP address. If an administrator defined an alias for the device item, the alias is displayed. Otherwise, the discovered device name is displayed.

Subnet

Indicates the IP subnet and mask for this address.

Interface

Is the name of the interface. Links to a filtered view of data for that interface.

Interface Description

Is the type of interface, such as Gigabit Ethernet. If an administrator defined an alternate interface description, the alternate description is displayed. Otherwise, the discovered description is displayed.