Chapter 3. Developing the Network Knowledge Base
A knowledge base is a collection of information about your network that you use in the process of managing your network. This information can be anything from a collection of flat files to a full-blown DBMS. The knowledge base should be stored in a way that makes it easy to use and update.
Although collecting and maintaining the information can be quite time-consuming, the time spent gathering the information will be well spent when your first network crisis arrives. Having this information will enhance the management of your network and improve your ability to respond in a timely manner. The resulting knowledge base will make managing your network easier. It will allow you to quickly determine the key areas in your network that need attention and reduce the number of times your network management station “cries wolf” or reports excessive or false faults to an acceptable level.
This chapter discusses the following: