New MIMIC Application Brief: Port Scanner and Sweeper Testing

We have just released a new application brief for MIMIC Server Simulator, which
in conjunction with MIMIC SNMP Simulator creates virtual networks for development,
testing and training of network management applications.

Here is an excerpt:

A fast, easy way of containing capital expenditures for port scanning and network management
software testing is by using the MIMIC Server Simulator. MIMIC Server Simulator creates a large
network with a variety of devices with different IP addresses. Each of them can be setup to
support many services running on different ports. MIMIC makes it easier to switch ports on/off at
run-time. It is also very easy to add latency or create a faulty links by dropping packets. Since
MIMIC’s services are proxied, even the advanced port+probing software can be fooled into
thinking that the actual service is there.

For details, see the Gambit website.

MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 runs on antiX-M8.5

FYI, we have run MIMIC SNMP Simulator on antiX-M8.5 Linux with no problems. The screenshot of an active SNMP
simulation being accessed remotely is below:

MIMIC SNMP Simulator runs on MEPIS Linux 8.5

FYI, we were able to run MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 on
MEPIS Linux straight out of the box,
as shown in the screenshot below.

MIMIC 10.30 Performance Test Report: High-scalability (64-bit) Linux bakeoff

FYI, we have published a new MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 Performance Report

"High scalability (64-bit) for 9 Linux distributions on quad-CPU Sunfire V40z"

This report is part of a series meant to answer the question "which combination of hardware
and software performs the best for a particular SNMP simulation scenario?".

The summary is:
-----------------------------------------------------------

This report compares MIMIC 10.30 running 64-bit mode under 9 different Linux distributions
on a quad CPU AMD Opteron 850 2.4 GHz Sunfire V40z:

1.Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4
2.Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.5
3.CentOS 5.2
4.Fedora Core 6
5.Fedora 7
6.Fedora 9
7.Fedora 10
8.Fedora 11
9.Fedora 12

The 32-bit and 64-bit executables have comparable performance on all tested platforms
(within single-digit percentage difference with minor exceptions). We focused on the low
range (10 to 1,000 agent configurations) in a previous report. In this report we focus on
high-scalability (2,000 to 20,000 agents) requirements which can only be handled with the
64-bit distribution of MIMIC.

In summary, the best overall performer is RedHat Enterprise Linux AS4. RHEL4 substantially
outperforms all other tested distributions in the mid-range (2,000 to 5,000 agents). At the
high-end (8,000 to 20,000 agents), 2nd place goes to Fedora 10, followed by Fedora 9 and
Fedora Core 6, with the remaining distributions trailing badly. Unfortunately we are noticing
that newer releases of Fedora are performing worse in this test.

MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 Performance Report: Linux Bakeoff

FYI, we have published a new MIMIC Simulator 10.30 Performance Report

"Low scaleability (32-bit) for 11 Linux distributions on quad-CPU Sunfire V40z"

The summary is:
-----------------------------------------------------------
This report compares MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 running 32-bit mode under 11
different Linux distributions on a quad CPU AMD Opteron 850 2.4 GHz Sunfire V40z:

1. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4
2. Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.5
3. CentOS 5.2
4. Fedora Core 6
5. Fedora 7
6. Fedora 8
7. Fedora 9
8. Fedora 10
9. Fedora 11
10. Fedora 12
11. Ubuntu 9.10

The 32-bit and 64-bit executables have comparable performance on all platforms (within single-digit percentage difference with minor
exceptions). In this report we focus on low-scaleability (upto 1000 agents) requirements which can be handled with the 32-bit distribution
of MIMIC.

In summary, the best overall performer is RedHat Enterprise Linux AS4, followed by RedHat Enterprise Linux 5.5, then CentOS 5.2, Fedora 7,
Fedora Core 6, Fedora 8, with the remaining distributions trailing the field. Unfortunately we are noticing that newer releases of Fedora are
performing worse in this test.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Mibtree Provides Training for Multiple Network Management Applications using MIMIC Simulator Suite

“MIMIC allows us to simulate multiple network configurations quickly and easily."

Tony Barratt
Training Consultant
Mibtree


Mibtree is a systems integration, training and consultancy company specializing in the design and deployment of network management solutions based around best of breed products, including IBM Tivoli BMC, CA, Compuware and Adaptive Computing. Mibtree provides training and consultancy services worldwide through dedicated training centers and offices.


Training Environment

Mibtree is proud of its reputation of providing training that improves a student’s confidence as well as their skills and knowledge. To achieve this, along with the strong curriculum, Mibtree makes use of realistic labs for the hands-on training. Many of the products monitor or control networked environments.

Providing network management training is a difficult task. Underlying the training of the software needs an extensive network of multi-vendor hardware that gives the student a real-world network management experience. Also, the training environment should be safe enough so the students can exercise the hands-on training freely without disturbing other students or the network.

The difficulty faced by Mibtree, however, is providing students with real life infrastructures and situations. They had a hardware lab consisting of a Cisco switch and a couple of small routers on the local LAN. They really needed many more devices from a variety of manufacturers to setup the training, but the expense in terms of time and money, along with complications was very high. The hardware expense, space and setup requirements at multiple sites, was cost prohibitive. Also setting up practice networks to any realistic degree in order to train students with a wide variety of element configurations and other negative conditions is challenging. It was harder to setup the network for training, dismantle it and then setup another one for different management software. To set this up at a customer site is even more cumbersome.

Instead of using a costly hardware infrastructure, Mibtree decided to create a safe sandbox environment for students, which closely simulates the required networks. After looking at a few simulators, Mibtree chose MIMIC SNMP Simulator to provide the underlying network for their network management training classes.

Solution

Mibtree selected MIMIC SNMP Simulator as a way to create realistic network environments. It provided the flexibility they needed to create any network lab they needed, at their local and remote locations.


MIMIC is used with the training of the following products:
   • IBM Tivoli Netcool Manager for IP Networks (NMIP)
   • IBM Tivoli Netcool Proviso
   • Nimsoft

 Figure 1 - IBM Tivoli ITNM connected to MIMIC and shows the network view

Mibtree uses MIMIC to simulate mesh network containing multiple routers and switches from various vendors. MIMIC is used to demonstrate SNMP based discovery, specifically with IBM’s NMIP product. MIMIC simulated networks are also used to teach network monitoring and root cause analysis techniques such as suppressing downstream symptom alarms and escalating actual root cause alarms.

Instructors just need to load the saved lab configuration before the class. They don’t need to worry about the network setup or trouble shooting. They are able to simulate a variety of scenarios that students might shortly face back at their workplace. For example, instructors are also able to simulate failure in any node and train students in root cause analysis. They can also dynamically simulate lightly loaded and overloaded routers by changing some parameters using the MIMIC GUI. They can deliver the same labs at all locations so all instructions in the course material remain the same.

MIMIC allows Mibtree to simulate multiple network configurations quickly and easily. With MIMIC, Mibtree can do this with a much lower capital investment than buying real network equipment for demonstration purposes and with much higher availability and security than if they tried to reuse bits of their live infrastructure. Mibtree deploys the same MIMIC simulator for different courses as needed and turns it on only when required which minimizes power costs.

MIMIC saves time in setting up the lab by creating complex scenarios and storing those for future use. With MIMIC, Mibtree saves a significant amount of money by simulating expensive devices which are cost prohibitive. Instructors can train on the real issues quickly and reliably using simulation rather than physical devices. The consulting division can tailor demos to the individual customer's environment. MIMIC Simulator helps Mibtree to keep their enterprise students happy and staff more productive.

MIMIC SNMP Simulator on Debian GNU/Linux 5.04

We have been able to run MIMIC SNMP Simulator 10.30 on
Debian GNU/Linux 5.04 straight out of the box.

10 new H3C devices for MIMIC SNMP Simulator

FYI, we have released 10 new H3C device SNMP simulations:

• H3C Comware Software Version 5.20, Release 1206P02, Basic..H3C Series
  Router MSR30-20
  
  
• H3C Comware Software, Version 3.40, Release 0112P02.H3C Router AR18-31E
  
  
• H3C Comware Software, Version 3.40, Release 6101.H3C Router AR18-63-1
  
  
• H3C Comware Software, Version 3.40, Feature 1643 H3C Router SecPath F100-E
  
  
• H3C Comware Software, Version 3.40, Feature 1655 H3C Router SecPath F1000-S
  
  
• H3C Comware Software, Version 3.40, Release 1608 H3C Router SecPath F100-S
  
  
• H3C S7500E -CMW520-6105P05, H3C S7500E Series Switch
  
  
• Huawei-3Com Comware, Version 3.40, Release 1607 Router SecPath F1000-A
  
  
• H3C Versatile Routing Platform Software..VRP (R) Software Version 3.40, Release 0201..Quidway Series Router AR46-40
  
  
• H3C Versatile Routing Platform Software..VRP (R) Software Version
  3.40, RELEASE RT-0014..Quidway Series Router AR46-20
  
  

You can download them with the Update Wizard in MIMICView.