Monitoring, reporting, and troubleshooting of networked devices
Network Monitoring & Reporting
The Network Verification Tool (NetVT) is a portable software-based platform-independent graphical tool that is designed to quickly verify proper initialization, interconnection, and operation of hosts, networking equipment (especially routers and switches), and radio systems on a platform. NetVT, either resident as an application on a host on a platform or as a separate tool plugging into a router or switch, sends a “heartbeat” check (e.g., ping) to expected network addresses to verify that all devices are powered on and cabled properly. It then queries devices for initialization data and compares it against expected data from external planning sources to verify proper setup. Finally, it queries radios and routers/switches to verify over-the-air exchanges have taken place with other platforms to confirm RF equipment, including antenna, are performing as expected. NetVT has been adopted as part of the VICTORY standard for U.S. Army and Marine vehicles, and is easily extensible for use by the Navy.
NetVT was developed to solve the challenges of ensuring that all devices connected to a network are properly configured and connected during a test exercise or during fielding. The tool automates the verification of a loaded network and helps the user with the troubleshooting of any network issue by providing recommendations & courses of actions to resolve the issue. NetVT monitors the status of devices in real time and displays the current health and readiness of the system.
Status Display
NetVT displays an icon, a “gumball”, for every network device along with a status indicator for the device. Additionally, the tool provides an aggregate status for each type of device (e.g., radios, switches) and an overall system health/readiness indicator. Status is presented as a gumball with the appropriate color: Green, Yellow, or Red.
Radio status data collection is performed with no added load on already burdened radio networks since it is derived from information already exchanged as part of normal waveform operations. Waveform status is customized for each instantiation based on waveform and radio type.
Use at Network Integration Evaluation (NIE)
NetVT has been used by the Army at Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) events (NIE 15.1 & 15.2) in VICTORY vehicles to monitor devices connected to the VICTORY IVN (intra-vehicle network). At NIE, NetVT has been proven to be beneficial as it has helped identify configuration issues with the tactical radios. This resulted in significantly less time in diagnosing network issues and in manpower expended to resolve such issues.
Troubleshooting
NetVT helps the user fix the minor issues, such as a loose cable, instead of calling a Field Service Representative (FSR). Recommendations are provided for addressing these issues. For major issues, NetVT helps the user identify the nature of the problem so that the proper FSR can be contacted the first time.
Health & Readiness Reporting
NetVT allows the user to quickly assess the “health” and “readiness” of all monitored devices with a glance at the NetVT display. When the status is Green, health is good; otherwise, NetVT provides additional information to help isolate the scope of any potential network issues. Such network issues may be the result of the following:
- Cabling issues
- Loose cables
- Disconnected cables
- Broken cables
- Powered-down devices
- IP address configuration issue
- IP addresses configured in the NetVT database, based on the plan for the event or fielding, do not match the network devices’ actual IP address
- Radio configuration issues
- Incorrect software version, possibly due to a wrong or misconfigured preset being loaded
- Switch/router configuration issue
- SNMP credentials are incorrect
- Network policies blocking protocols & ports
- Blocking protocols such as SNMP, Ping, etc.
- Blocking specific ports
- Network connectivity issues due to improper configuration of VLANs
- Cybersecurity status (Future)
- Intrusion Detection
- Virus/Vulnerability Scan
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