1. Concepts
  2. Managing Network Integrity

4 Managing Network Integrity

This chapters provides an overview on managing Network Integrity.

About Managing Network Integrity

You use the following tools to manage Network Integrity:

  • Oracle WebLogic Server Administration Console

  • Oracle Enterprise Management Fusion Middleware Control

  • Oracle Enterprise Management Grid Control

Network Integrity uses the Oracle WebLogic Server Administration Console primarily for application server management functions, and optionally for user management (only when the WebLogic Embedded LDAP server is used as the security provider). For complete details on monitoring and managing all aspects of Network Integrity, refer to the "Network Integrity System Administration Overview" in Network Integrity System Administrator's Guide.

About Oracle Fusion Middleware Platform

Network Integrity is built on the Oracle Fusion Middleware platform, an industry-standard, open standards-based suite of services. Components of this platform include Oracle WebLogic Application Server and a range of middleware options such as:

  • Oracle Analytics Publisher

  • Oracle Identity Manager

  • Oracle Enterprise Management Fusion Middleware Control

Oracle Fusion Middleware is licensed separately from Network Integrity.

About the Reporting Solution

Network Integrity provides an open reporting interface to support reporting applications and a documented data store for integration with these reports. You use a reporting application to generate, view and extend reports based on data collected during discovery and reconciliation scans. Reports can be available in various formats such as HTML, PDF, RTF, and Microsoft Excel format.

Network Integrity is pre-integrated with Oracle Analytics Publisher. Pre-loaded report templates and sample reports which are tailored for use with Network Integrity are provided. These can be further customized to meet your needs. Examples of provided sample Oracle Analytics Publisher report templates are:

  • Scan History Report

  • Discrepancy Corrective Action Report

  • Discovery Scan Summary Report

  • Device Discrepancy Detection Summary Report

  • Device Discrepancy Detection Detailed Report

OA Publisher is optional and is separately licensed.

You can use a third-party reporting tool to run reports on Network Integrity.

About Scalability and Reliability

Network Integrity is a scalable solution that can be expanded to accommodate network growth. Oracle RAC is supported, making the database reliable and highly available.

About User and Identity Management

Any compatible Security Providers can be used for user access and identity management. As a result, Network Integrity can be integrated into an enterprise's existing security infrastructure. Network Integrity is validated with Oracle WebLogic Server Embedded LDAP and Oracle Internet Directory 11g. User access and identity management are supported by:

  • Embedded LDAP, as part of the Oracle WebLogic Administration Management Console

  • Oracle Internet Directory 11g

  • Third-party identity management system

For more information on Oracle Internet Directory, see the documentation for Oracle Identity Management Suite 11g. Oracle Identity Management allows enterprises to manage the end-to-end life cycle of user identities across enterprise resources independently from enterprise applications. This allows you to separate business logic from security and resource management.

Managing Network Integrity Using the Web Services API

You can manage Network Integrity from external applications using the web services API. Network Integrity's web services are consistent with Oracle's SOA strategy and allow interoperability with Oracle Fusion Middleware Suite. The Network Integrity web services API reduces the complexity of integration and supports:

  • Scan management: Enables scans to be created, run, configured, stopped, and queried without using the user interface. Ad hoc scans can be triggered through the API, allowing quick response to customer inquiries.

  • Scan result retrieval: Allows scan results to be fetched directly from the database.

  • Resolution actions: To reconcile with inventory and other applications.

  • Common UI functions.

The Network Integrity web services API is standards-based. It supports JAX WS over HTTP, uses asynchronous calls, and shares a common security framework with the user interface.

To illustrate the range of web services API support, Network Discovery-related API calls include functions to:

  • Create, Get, Update, and Delete Discovery Scans

  • Create, Get, Update, and Delete Blackout Schedule

  • Start and Stop Discovery Scans

  • Get Latest Scan Status

  • Get Discovery Results

For details on all the web services API calls, and on working with the samples, see "Using Design Studio to Extend Network Integrity" in Network Integrity Developer's Guide and "Overview" in Network Integrity UIM Integration Cartridge Guide.