Network Lifecycle Management Guide
The network lifecycle management process can help network
professionals plan for changes, deploy these changes, and guide ongoing
operations. So, what are the steps involved in this process, and how does the
network team apply it?
Without a certain framework, it is difficult for the network team to predict how changes will affect the user experience and the system itself. Teams can learn network behavior, reconfigure their network to adapt to changes, and improve their overall business strategy by tracking the various stages of the network life cycle.
Network Life Cycle Stage
In its simplest form, network lifecycle management includes
three stages: planning, construction, and management. It is also called design,
implementation, and operation (DIO). When new requirements are determined
during the planning phase, this cycle repeats. Life cycle processes can also be
applied to subtasks.
(1) ITIL framework
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is
another management framework that describes similar processes. It focuses on
service strategy, service design, service transformation and service
operations. The fifth phase (continuous service improvement) should be
integrated with the first four phases at the same time so that the team can
improve operations as needed.
(2) PPDIOO framework
Enterprises can expand the basic three-phase network life
cycle into sub-phases. For example, Cisco has developed a six-phase network
management life cycle: preparation, planning, design, implementation, operation
and optimization (PPDIOO).
The extended PPDIOO model decomposes the three-phase life
cycle into the following sub-phases:
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Check PPDIOO Network Life Cycle
The following are the steps included in each of the six
phases of the PPDIOO life cycle defined by Cisco.
(1) Preparation
As with any business process, the most critical step is to
determine the requirements and outline the business goals. At this stage, the
team spends most of their time determining the location of their business at
the end of the cycle so that they can evaluate how the network can best support
these goals. At this point, network professionals should conduct financial
analysis and calculate the return on investment for potential changes.
The team should also learn how to predict future demand. For
example, they should consider tracking industry trends and understanding their
importance to the business. Other sources of information include industry
analysts and conferences.
(2) Plan
The planning phase closely follows the preparation phase.
This is when the team begins to create a project plan to help their
organization manage the rest of the life cycle. The team should consider issues
related to supplier selection and management, such as:
How will the necessary equipment and supplies be funded?
Which suppliers should be considered?
Are popular startups using the latest technology worth the
risk?
(3) Design
The design phase begins to get into the details, subject to
the constraints established in the previous phase, such as budget. The design
team should use the selected supplier to create a detailed design that meets
the requirements.
At this time, it may be necessary to build a prototype and
conduct a proof of concept to minimize the risk of using any new technology.
This is also the stage where a new process may need to be defined, such as when
to adopt automation.
(4) Implementation
At this stage, the implementation team transitioned from the
previous cycle to the new deployment. Companies have begun to adopt the idea
that the design team is responsible for implementation and only transfers it to
the operations team after the design has been fully verified, automated, and
managed.
(5) Operation
When a new network (or a new part of the network) is
operational and the operational process has been defined, the operations team
will take over. The design and implementation phase should identify common
operational problems and create mechanisms for monitoring and diagnosing these
problems. This stage is the stage of thorough testing of the network management
design.
(6) Optimization
The final stage of the life cycle continues to improve the
design and operation of new network functions. At this stage, network
professionals create processes to identify unforeseen operational problems, and
determine ways to improve the network and the process of operating the network.
However, the network team should be aware that
over-optimization of the network can cause other operational problems. For
example, just to save some capital equipment funds, modify the branch design,
resulting in multiple samples, which may lead to higher operating expenses.
What about testing?
Testing is not clearly listed as a step because it should be
included in each stage. Testing will be a key element in the design,
implementation, operation and optimization phases. There are also tests in the
preparation phase, where network professionals can test the risks of business
leaders using new technologies.
Integrate Network Life Cycle and Business Process
The best performing companies will use some form of network
lifecycle management process as part of their overall IT management process.
Many Internet professionals may have been using similar temporary processes
without knowing the formal definition.
Top companies incorporate the network life cycle into their
annual IT planning and budgeting process. Some companies follow a three-year
network life cycle. In this timetable, about one-third of the network
infrastructure is upgraded every year to ensure that the company uses modern
technology. They can track industry trends and technological innovations, while
forecasting annual budgets and personnel requirements.
Other companies may need to increase or decrease their cycle
duration to meet their needs. No matter how long the cycle lasts, it makes
sense for companies to formally adopt the network life cycle process and
incorporate it into the annual business planning process.