Key features of Cisco’s vManage dashboard

Cisco's vManage is a central component of the Cisco SD-WAN solution, providing a unified management interface for configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting SD-WAN networks. Here are the key features of Cisco’s vManage dashboard:

Centralized Configuration Management

• Configuration Templates: Simplify and standardize the configuration of network devices by creating and applying templates. This ensures consistency across the network and speeds up deployment.
• Policy Management: Define and manage policies for routing, security, and QoS (Quality of Service) from a central location. This includes application-aware routing policies, security policies, and traffic shaping.

Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics

• Dashboard Overview: Provides a comprehensive view of the network's health, performance, and status. Key metrics include bandwidth utilization, latency, jitter, and packet loss.
• Performance Metrics: Track the performance of WAN links and applications. Real-time and historical data helps in identifying trends, detecting anomalies, and understanding network behavior.
• Application Insights: Monitor application performance and usage, including details on application latency, throughput, and user experience.

Troubleshooting and Diagnostics

• Event and Alarm Management: Receive alerts and notifications about network events, issues, or breaches. The dashboard helps in prioritizing and addressing critical issues quickly.
• Network Diagnostics: Tools for diagnosing network issues, such as real-time packet capture, path analysis, and detailed logs from vEdge routers and vSmart Controllers.
• Troubleshooting Wizards: Step-by-step guides for common troubleshooting scenarios to assist in diagnosing and resolving issues efficiently.

Operational Efficiency

• Automated Provisioning: Simplifies the deployment of new devices and configurations through automation, reducing manual intervention and the potential for configuration errors.
• Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP): Automatically configures devices when they connect to the network, minimizing manual setup and accelerating deployment.

Security Management

• Security Policies: Define and enforce security policies across the SD-WAN, including encryption, firewall rules, and VPN configurations.
• Secure Direct Internet Access (DIA): Manage and monitor secure internet access for branch offices and remote users, ensuring secure and efficient connectivity.

Scalability and Flexibility

• Scalability: Manage large-scale deployments with ease. The dashboard supports a growing number of devices and sites without compromising performance or manageability.
• Multi-Tenant Support: Allows service providers and large enterprises to manage multiple customer or business units from a single vManage instance, with secure separation of data and configurations.

Integration and API Support

• APIs: Provides RESTful APIs for integration with other network management systems, monitoring tools, and automation platforms. This enables custom integrations and extended functionality.
• Third-Party Integration: Supports integration with external security services, cloud services, and other IT infrastructure components.

User Management and Access Control

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Define user roles and permissions to control access to different features and functionalities within the dashboard. This ensures that users have appropriate access based on their responsibilities.
• Audit Trails: Track changes and activities performed within the dashboard for compliance and auditing purposes.

Reporting and Analytics

• Custom Reports: Generate and schedule reports on network performance, usage, and security events. Reports can be tailored to specific needs and distributed to stakeholders.
• Historical Data Analysis: Analyze historical data to identify trends, perform capacity planning, and evaluate the impact of network changes.

Cloud and Hybrid Network Management

• Cloud Integration: Manage cloud-based resources and services, including optimizing access to SaaS applications and managing connections to cloud providers.
• Hybrid WAN Management: Oversee the integration of different WAN transport types (e.g., MPLS, broadband, LTE) and ensure seamless operation across the hybrid WAN environment.