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Updated:April 6, 2011
Document ID:1518934709033533
Bias-Free Language
The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.
It all comes down to knowing. Knowing who is using the network, knowing what applications are running on the network, knowing how the network is performing, knowing how traffic over the network is being used and how it is performing are the foundation for managing and improving the delivery of your business-critical applications. Knowing is the foundation for establishing and verifying quality of service (QoS) policies, undertaking WAN optimization projects, and rolling out voice over IP (VoIP). It is also the foundation for recognizing when a configuration change has unintentionally degraded application performance or for providing proof points that it is the application and not the network that is causing one of your business planning systems to perform poorly so that the appropriate actions can then be taken.
Product Overview
The Cisco Branch Routers Series Network Analysis Module (NAM) helps you know. It is your source for unparalleled network and application visibility, analyzing traffic flows between users and their critical applications to help you ensure that the network performs to the rigorous demands of the business. And, when there's a problem, the Cisco NAM can help you find it fast, reducing the time it takes to resolve it from days to just minutes.
Figure 1. Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM, NME-NAM
As a member of the Cisco NAM portfolio of products, the Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM provides granular traffic analysis, rich application performance metrics, comprehensive voice analytics, and deep insightful packet captures to help you manage and improve how your users experience the delivery of applications and services in your Cisco Borderless Network. Its unique design combines embedded data collection and analysis capabilities with a remotely accessible, web-based management and reporting console, all of which reside on a single blade that is installed into the Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR) and ISR Generation Two (G2) family of routers.
Figure 2. Cisco NAM Traffic Summary Dashboard
The Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM includes a snappy graphical user interface (GUI) with dashboards (Figure 2) to give you an immediate view of network performance and workflows to help you simplify problem detection and resolution. It also uses a rich set of Cisco infrastructure features as sources of data, such as Cisco Express Forwarding copies of packet data and NetFlow, giving you more ways to see and understand what's happening on your network. And, with an array of vital features and functions, such as a new Performance Database, which preserves historical data, allowing you to understand what happened in the past when an event that affected network performance occurred, the Cisco NAM makes it easier than ever before to manage and improve network and application performance anytime and anywhere.
The Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM is the glue binding your Cisco Borderless Network deployments, providing application visibility within the branch, between branches, and between the branch and data center. Cisco NAM deployed in the branch provides end-to-end visibility for branch-to-branch applications, such as voice, and for TCP-based applications hosted in the data center, driving application delivery consistency and efficiency across the network.
Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM Features and Benefits
The Cisco NAM offers an extensive set of features (Table 1) that provide a multilayer view of network performance to help you successfully navigate the labyrinth of application delivery challenges in today's hyperconnected world. They provide the foundation of knowing, giving you the edge in managing and improving network and application performance. Detailed description of software feature and benefits can be obtained from
Cisco Prime NAM Software Datasheet.
Table 1. Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM Features and Benefits
Feature
Benefit
Infrastructure integration
Deployed in the Cisco ISR and ISR G2 routers, the Cisco NAM provides greater investment protection, lower total cost of ownership, and a reduced footprint to save premium rack space.
Application performance intelligence
Characterize the end-user experience for TCP-based applications and isolate application response time problems to the network, server, or the application minimizing any triage process.
Comprehensive voice quality monitoring and real-time troubleshooting
Gather real-time reports on Mean Opinion Score (MOS) and other key performance indicators (KPIs) such as jitter and packet loss to understand and improve how the end user experiences the delivery of voice services. MOS is computed based on ITU-T Recommendations G.107 offering accurate characterization of voice quality. Combine monitoring with real-time troubleshooting using pre-packaged dashboards to improve the end-user service levels.
WAN optimized networks visibility
Obtain end-to-end proof points demonstrating how WAAS has improved application delivery (for example, decreased application transaction times, improved WAN bandwidth utilization). Accelerate the ROI for your investment by assessing the best site and application candidates for optimization as part of the phased roll-out plan.
Detailed traffic analytics
View short- and long-term performance data on hosts, conversations, and applications that use critical network resources.
Historical analysis
Look back to the past with the embedded Performance Database to understand what happened when an event that affects network performance occurred to accelerate root-cause analysis and prevent any reoccurrence. Use historical analysis for advancing optimization and capacity decisions.
Deep, insightful packet captures
Use capture features, such as trigger-based captures, filters, decodes, and Packet Capture Error Scan, to increase troubleshooting agility.
Nexus 1000V deployment visibility
Simplify the operational management of Cisco Nexus 1000V switch environments by gaining visibility into the virtual machine (VM) network including interactions across virtual machines and virtual interfaces. Monitor the VMs uninterrupted by vMotion operations.
Pre- and postdeployment metrics
Glean valuable before and after traffic analytics to help plan for and verify changes in network resources, such as introducing new applications, establishing QoS policies, consolidating servers, and deploying VoIP.
Open interface
Ease NAM configuration and export of computed NAM data using standards-based APIs (XML/REST for configuration, NetFlow Version 9 for data export).
Anytime, anywhere access
Access the embedded web interface from any desktop, eliminating the need to send personnel to remote sites or haul large amounts of data over WAN links to the central site.
Supported Router Platforms
The Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM, NME-NAM-120S, can be deployed in any network module slot in the Cisco router platforms indicated in Table 2. An NM adapter card is required to successfully integrate the NME-NAM into supported ISR G2 platforms. The NME-NAM supports the router platforms with NAM software version 3.6.1b or later. Only one Cisco NAM can be installed in each Cisco branch router.
Table 2. NME-NAM Supported Router Platforms
Router Platform
Minimum Cisco IOS® Software Required
NM Adapter Card Required
Cisco 3945 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 15.0(1)M
Yes
Cisco 3925 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 15.0(1)M
Yes
Cisco 2951 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 15.0(1)M
Yes
Cisco 2921 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 15.0(1)M
Yes
Cisco 2911 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 15.0(1)M
Yes
Cisco 3845 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 12.4(9)T
No
Cisco 3825 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 12.4(9)T
No
Cisco 2851 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 12.4(9)T
No
Cisco 2821 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 12.4(9)T
No
Cisco 2811 ISR
Cisco IOS Software 12.4(9)T
No
Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM Software License Options
The Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM offers two license options for monitoring voice traffic. One license allows the monitoring of 50 voice (RTP) streams; the other, the monitoring of 100 voice streams. Both license options are supported on Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM, NME-NAM-120S.
Product Specifications
Table 3 lists the product specifications for the Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM.
Table 3. Product Specifications
Feature
Description
Hardware architecture
1.0 GHz Intel Celeron M CPU with 1 GB RAM and 120 GB hard disk drive.
Monitoring interfaces
Two monitoring interfaces: One internal backplane interface for receiving a copy of WAN traffic through the Cisco Express Forwarding copy packet monitoring feature in the router's Cisco IOS Software and one external Gigabit Ethernet interface for receiving traffic directly from local or remote LAN ports. Either can be used for management traffic, for receiving NetFlow data, or for receiving flow agent data from Cisco WAAS.
Performance
Using the internal monitoring interface, traffic monitoring throughput of up to 100 Mbps has been benchmarked for the NME-NAM-120S installed in Cisco 3900 Series and Cisco 3800 Series ISRs, and up to 45 Mbps in Cisco 2900 Series and Cisco 2800 Series ISRs. The external monitoring interface has been benchmarked to support up to 200 Mbps throughput monitoring. Your monitoring performance may differ based on factors such as packet size, traffic burstiness, collections enabled on the NAM, and features enabled on the router. Contact your Cisco sales representative to obtain further information about NME-NAM-120S performance characteristics.
Supported topologies and data sources
• WAN: Packets on WAN interfaces are copied by a special packet monitoring feature using Cisco Express Forwarding and sent to Cisco NAM through the internal backplane interface for analysis at the IP layer and up. NetFlow (versions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) data from local and remote devices is sent through the internal or external interface.
• LAN: An external Gigabit Ethernet interface receives packets directly from local and remote LAN ports. NetFlow (versions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) data from local and remote devices is sent through the internal or external interface.
Supported interfaces
• HTTP/HTTPS with embedded web-based Cisco NAM
• Simple Network Management Protocol Version 1 (SNMPv1), Version 2c, and Version 3, with standards-based applications
Cisco Prime Network Analysis Module Software
• NAM Software 5.1
• Web-based: Requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0+ or Firefox 3.6+; Supports both English and Japanese versions
• Supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) security with up to 256-bit encryption
• Role-based user authorization and authentication locally or using TACACS+
• Supported with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXJ (minimum). Refer to the NAM 5.1 Release Notes for more details regarding supported system software
MIBS
The Cisco NAMs are standards compliant and support the following major MIB groups:
• MIB-II (RFC 1213) - All groups except Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) and transmission
• RMON (RFC 2819) - Alarm and Event groups only
• RMON2 (RFC 2021) - trapDestTable only
• Cisco Discovery Protocol
• EntityMIB (RFC 2737)
Protocols
Cisco NAM identifies hundreds of unique protocols and automatically detects unknown protocols. The NAM also allows customization of the protocol engine by defining protocols on a single port or on a range of ports. Protocols supported include (this list is not all-inclusive):
• TCP and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) over IP including IPv6
• HTTP and HTTPS
• VoIP including Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP), Real-Time Protocol/Real-Time Control Protocol (RTP/RTCP), Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• SigTran protocols
• Mobile IP protocols including General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP)
• Storage area network protocols
• Database protocols
• Peer-to-peer protocols
• Switch and router protocols
• Cisco proprietary protocols
• Unknown protocols by TCP/UDP ports, Remote procedure Call (RPC) program numbers, and so on
Physical dimensions and weight
• Dimensions (H x W x D) 1.55 x 7.10 x 7.2 inches (3.9 x 18.0 x 18.3 centimeters)
• Weight: 1.5 lbs (0.7 kilograms) maximum
Operating environment
• Operating temperature: 41 to 104 degrees F (5 to 40 degrees C)
• Nonoperating and storage temperature: -40 to 158 degrees F (-40 to 70 degrees C)
• Operating relative humidity: 5% to 85% (noncondensing)
• Operating altitude: -197 ft to 6000 feet (-60 to 1800 m)
For new Cisco NAM customers, please select NAM Software 5.1, part number NME-NAM-SW-5.1-K9, as the software option when ordering your Cisco NAM and it'll be delivered to you preloaded on your NAM hardware. For current Cisco NAM customers, NAM Software 5.1 can be downloaded from the Cisco.com Software Center at no charge using your Cisco SMARTnet
® contract access privileges.
Table 4. Ordering Information
Product Information
Part Number
Cisco Branch Routers Series Network Analysis Module (Spare)
NME-NAM-120S(=)
Cisco NAM Software 5.1
NME-NAM-SW-5.1-K9
Voice Monitoring Software License for NME-NAM-120S, 50 RTP Streams (Spare)
SNAM-50VOICE(=)
Voice Monitoring Software License for NME-NAM-120S, 100 RTP Streams (Spare)
SNAM-100VOICE(=)
NM Adapter Card for integration of NME-NAM into supported ISR G2 platforms (Spare)
SM-NM-ADPTR(=)
Services from Cisco and Our Partners
Realize the full business value of your technology investments with smart, personalized services from Cisco and our partners. Backed by deep networking expertise and a broad ecosystem of partners, Cisco Services enable you to successfully plan, build, and run your network as a powerful business platform. Whether you are looking to quickly seize new opportunities to meet rising customer expectations, improve operational efficiency to lower costs, mitigate risk, or accelerate growth, we have a service that can help you. For information about Cisco Services, go to
http://www.cisco.com/go/services. Table 5 shows the technical support service recommended for NME-NAM.
Table 5. Cisco Technical Services
Technical Services
Cisco SMARTnet Service
• Around-the-clock, global access to the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC)
• Unrestricted access to the extensive Cisco.com resources, communities, and tools
• Next-business-day, 8x5x4, 24x7x4, and 24x7x2 advance hardware replacement
2 and onsite parts replacement and installation available
• Ongoing operating system software updates within the licensed feature set
1
• Proactive diagnostics and real-time alerts on Smart Call Home enabled devices
Footnotes:
1. Cisco operating system updates include the following: maintenance releases, minor updates, and major updates within the licensed feature set.
2. Advance hardware replacement is available in various service-level combinations. For example, 8x5xNBD indicates that shipment will be initiated during the standard 8-hour business day, 5 days a week (the generally accepted business days within the relevant region), with next business day (NBD) delivery. Where NBD is not available, same day ship is provided. Restrictions apply; please review the appropriate service descriptions for details.
For More Information
For more information about Cisco Branch Routers Series NAM, visit
http://www.cisco.com/go/nam, contact your local account representative, or email the Cisco NAM product marketing group at
nam-info@cisco.com.