FNT Command 13

New and improved features and functionalities

New version: FNT Command 13

Our latest release of FNT Command boasts many functional enhancements, technical improvements, and usability optimizations. It has a wide range of innovations that make it even easier to efficiently manage complex IT, data center and network infrastructures.

New and
improved features

Heatmap, Entity Tree, 3D Footprint, fault localization, expansion of existing autorouting functionality, use of assembly units in inventory management, enhanced cable and equipment relocation planning, extended historization of users, groups, roles and privileges.

Technical
improvements

  • Delivery as Docker image enables deployment in the private cloud
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) authenticates users through an authorization server that supports the OpenID Connect standard (e.g., OneLogin, Keycloak)

Implementation of features
requested by the FNT UserGroup

Roll-in process changes facilitate implementation of requested features, such as customization options of result tables and navigation tree as well as improved printing functionality.

New data analysis and
visualization functionality

Two new solution components:

  • FNT GeoMaps: Powerful GIS application based on Esri ArcGIS
  • FNT GraphicCenter: Application for graphical visualization and analysis of infrastructure and service data as well as data from third-party systems
  • FNT Analytics: Business intelligence application for smart evaluations and analysis
Video

FNT Command 13.6: Highlights of the New Release

Highlights of the new release FNT Command 13.6

Enhanced Cable & Outside Plant Management

The documentation of the infrastructure of Outside Plant networks has been further enhanced. This includes, among others, the following new features:

More flexibility in color coating

Users have even more options in documenting ducts now that they can also be recorded in two colors and with freely configurable strip patterns.

More transparent ducts

The transparency of ducts has been further increased: Ducts can now be displayed not only in Tray Management, but also at cable level and in the switch cabinet. Also, in signal tracing, it is now possible to see which cable is assigned to a duct.

New entity coupler

Command 13.6 includes the new entity "coupler", which serves as the start and end point of ducts and connects them to form a route network. This makes it possible to quickly identify which single ducts belong to a longer route. Also, in autorouting, a coupler can be easily selected as a route with just one click of the mouse and the route can be assigned.

Heatmap

Heatmap is an add-on for Data Center Cockpit, based on the new 3D footprint. The feature visualizes the temperature distribution in the data center room, making it possible to quickly and easily identify problems such as hot and cold spots or a problem with the cooling in general. It also helps optimize the asset distribution in the room to fully leverage the available cooling capacity. 

Color schemes can be specified by the user, with presets available based on ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommendations. 

To achieve an accurate depiction, the feature also brings along a new object class "probe" that specifies the exact location of a measuring point for sensor devices. 

The image is static and represents the status at a specific point in time. The feature relies on existing data and does not encompass gathering measurements from sensors. Real measurement data can be pushed into the FNT Command database using FNT Monitoring, FNT StagingArea or third-party tools via API.

Hybrid Infrastructure Management

Many organizations today are already using cloud platforms to deploy their infrastructures and applications - for example, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud. As a result, enterprises increasingly find themselves actively managing their hybrid infrastructures, especially when cloud services are distributed across several service providers in both public clouds and private clouds. It is now possible to document cloud infrastructure elements in FNT Command, e.g., cloud providers as well as virtual servers, which are purchased as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from these cloud providers.

Entity Tree

With Entity Tree it is possible to display complex relationships and structures individually and flexibly in the Navigator by configuration. For each entity in FNT Command, you can specify whether it should be displayed in the entity tree and which relations should be considered. In addition, individual icons can be stored for CIs, which are then displayed in the Navigator.

Advanced Functionalities for Telco Networks

FNT Command 13.6 includes important improvements related to Site Management and Telco Networks. Among them, the most important are: 

Increased visibility of sites

In Site Management, a more consistent display of technology sites has been implemented, so that these can now also be displayed in the Navigator with the devices as well as in the object data of devices.  

Connected Services Report

The functionality of the Telco Connected Services Reports has been extended. It is now also possible to detect service failures for tray sections, signal paths, fibers, and zones. In addition, usability has been improved so that the Connected Services Report can now be accessed directly in the object navigation without blocking other areas. In addition, a better object navigation has been implemented: it is now possible to navigate directly to the results of the Connected Services Reports via "open with".

Aggregation and subdivision

Improvements in the use of aggregations and subdivisions on logical ports lead to more flexibility. For example, logical ports can now be aggregated on different chassis within a network element.

Improved telco structures

Enhancements to telco structures reduce the effort required to connect circuit switched point-to-point services. In addition, flexible structure tables can now be created. When switching services, service type definitions and information (ID, structure name) from these structure tables are displayed. 

Highlights of FNT Command 13.4

Fault Localization

Fault Localization utilizing signal tracing to speed up locating and documenting faults in the cable network.

In combination with FNT GeoMaps, faults can be visualized on a geo-referenced map.

DCIM – 3D Footprint

3D Footprint enables a 360° view of the data center. Proven functionalities of the 2D Footprint, such as filter functions or physical and logical layers, are now also available in 3D.

Various standard perspectives and capacity views provide a quick and detailed overview of both the actual and the planned state.

Site Management

Site Management supports the search (e.g., within a defined georeferenced search radius) and documentation of new technology sites (e.g., for mobile antennas or during FTTx rollout). In addition, detailed information about the respective location, such as zones or devices, can be assigned.

In combination with FNT GeoMaps, selected sites can be visualized on a georeferenced map for a more detailed evaluation.

Bulk Change

Bulk Change makes it possible to edit objects and their attributes as a groupwith a single click of the mouse.

Highlights of FNT Command 13.2

Table Handling

An enhanced navigation tree provides users with a better overview of tables.

Result tables can be configured individually.This includes hiding and unhiding any columns and changing the order and width of columns.

DCIM – 2D Footprint

Broader scope of functions and important usability optimizations make it significantly more efficient and easier to document your data center footprint.

Extended Layer Functionalities

Users have more options for documenting the physical layers, including superimposed cabinets and multiple route levels.

Footprints can be structured according to logical aspects (e.g. technologies, user groups).

Flexible filter options and color-coded levels make it much easier to analyze the graphical information contained in the footprint.

Reference Grid

Now reference grids can be defined individually and independently of other elements in the data center.

Usability Improvements

Create footprints much faster, with greater accuracy, and in more detail:

  • Snap to grid functionality
  • Flexible creation and editing of graphic objects
  • Polygon functionalities
  • Labeling of objects

Cable Management

More comprehensive and flexible fiber management facilitates daily work.

Conductor as an Object

Flexibly define cable types in terms of bundles, number of fibers and color codes. Link additional information on single fiber level (e.g. details on contracts or organizations). Optimize management of port and fiber status.

Autorouting Within a Zone

Routing functionality can be used in Signal Management even if the start and end points of the route are in the same zone. This means autorouting can now be used within a room in the data center.

Cassette Spanning Slices

Splices can now be created between fibers that are located in different cassettes. More detailed splice information is available in Signal Tracing.

Telco Networks

Easier and more efficient planning and modeling of complex telecommunications networks.

Autorouting Packet Data

Packet data services can now be switched via autorouting in addition to circuit switched services. Configurable routing criteria identifies several available routes to create a new service based on unused and planned logical resources. Autorouting will determine the best route based on your criteria.

Example

Initial situation:

Different bearers (1 GE / 10 GE) exist. These bearers provide links between:

  • Berlin and Hamburg
  • Hamburg and Hanover
  • Hanover and Cologne

 

Use case:

By means of autorouting, a 1 GE service is to be connected between Berlin and Cologne.

Service Category Trail

This new service category offers increased flexibility in mapping the various network technologies. Services can now be switched with or without incomplete routing.

Example

Initial situation:

Different bearers (1 GE / 10 GE) exist. These bearers provide links between:

  • Berlin and Hamburg
  • Hamburg and Hanover
  • Hannover and Cologne

 

Use case:

A 1 GE service is to be switched between Berlin and Cologne. If the routing is not (yet) known or only partially known or irrelevant, the services can be documented as trails. The routing resolution (unresolved / partially resolved / fully resolved) can be determined automatically depending on the route assignment.

Service Type Change

The service type can be changed for bearers and services. This allows resources and bandwidths to be adjusted quickly and easily without having to dismantle the telco structure.

Example

Initial situation:

Existing bearer or service.

 

Use case:

Service type to be changed – e.g. 500 MB instead of 1 GE.

Loop-in Net Nodes

To support network expansion measures, cut-in and cut-out functions are provided at the logical (bearer) level. This makes it possible to loop network nodes into an existing connection structure or to remove them both directly in the actual state and in connection with planning.

Example

Initial situation:

Existing connection structure (services) across different hops:

  • Berlin and Hamburg
  • Hamburg and Hanover
  • Hanover and Cologne

 

Use case:

Network node is to be added or removed in the routing, for example:

  • Loop-in a node Dortmund between Hanover and Cologne: Hop „Hanover – Cologne“ is replaced by 2 hops "Hanover – Dortmund" and "Dortmund – Cologne".
  • Loop-out the node Hamburg: the two hops "Berlin – Hamburg" and "Hamburg –Hanover" are replaced by one hop "Berlin – Hanover".

IP Management

When searching for a specific IP address, the network in which an IP address exists is now displayed if this IP address has not been created. Searching for free IP networks of a certain size (according to CIDR notation) within a certain range can be performed (e.g. /24 network within a larger /20 network). The search results are displayed clearly, and networks can be created directly from the search results.

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