Architecture

This topic describes the components of a BMC Network Automation installation.

• • Application server
  • Device agent
  • Client
  • Database
  • Integrations with Network and Service Management Systems
  • Device support

Application server

The BMC Network Automation application server is hosted on a Linux or Microsoft Windows OS, runs as a single Java process that includes a web server. The application server handles all BMC Network Automation processing except for direct device communication and database management.

Device agent

BMC Network Automation device agents run on Linux or Windows hosts and handle all device interaction. A local device agent is embedded with the application server but can optionally be disabled. Remote device agents are deployed to handle devices that are not reachable from the application server or to handle devices with overlapping IP addresses. Device agents interact with devices using telnet, SSH, HTTP(S), TFTP, FTP, SCP, and/or syslog. An SSL link on a configurable port handles the communication between application server and device agent.

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Client

The BMC Network Automation client is a pure-HTML based client so no installation on a client host is required. Starting a supported browser and directing to the application server is all that is required to establish the client session. User login to BMC Network Automation can be authenticated locally or through one of the following external authentication systems: TACACS+, RADIUS, Active Directory, or LDAP.

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Database

BMC Network Automation can support an embedded database or an external database connection. If the embedded database option is selected, it is a PostgreSQL database that is hosted on the application server. External databases supported are PostgreSQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server.

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Integrations with Network and Service Management Systems

BMC Network Automation supports a wide variety of APIs for communication with third-party systems:

• Web Services API (SOAP) with Java wraparound
• In context URL launch from/to BMC Network Automation:
  • Sample of to: Launch from Network Management System (NMS) topology map directly into BMC Network Automation device compliance report or span action window. Sample NMS tools include HP Network Node Manager (NNM) and Entuity.
  • Sample of from: Launch from BMC Network Automation device popup window to Atrium Explorer or NMS device details.
• SQL Device Import Adapter which enables BMC Network Automation to import devices from discovery sources, such as BMC Atrium CMDB, BMC Atrium Discovery and Dependency Mapping, HP Network Node Manager, and Entuity.
• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 notifications to NMS and event collection systems.
• BMC Atrium Orchestrator BMC Network Automation adapter to support higher level workflows and integrations with IT Service Management systems, such as BMC Remedy IT Service Management, and IP Address Management and DNS systems.

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Device support

BMC Network Automation is a multi-vendor solution and provides out-of-the-box support for routers, switches, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, load balancers, and other devices.

BMC recommends that the list of supported devices is consulted before a device is added to the network. See Supported-devices.

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