Published Date: February 27, 2023
The personal computer may have revolutionized the way people work and play, but it was the computer network that truly ushered in the internet era. When we talk about the value of information, of data and of the efficiencies that computers bring, we often are talking about the value of computer networking. Networked computers have forever changed our daily lives, from the way we communicate with one another, do our jobs, shop, access our entertainment and pursue our hobbies and interests.
Network configuration, maintenance and management is the primary job of millions of IT professionals around the world. That task simultaneously becomes easier and more complex as the demands we place on networks grow. Networks are expected to handle more traffic faster, but at the same time, automation and configuration management tools make it easier to provision, monitor and troubleshoot networks and their potential issues.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the key challenges of network configuration, the risks network administrators face, the benefits of properly maintaining networks and some best practices for keeping networks up and running.
What is network configuration?
Network configuration is the overall design of a computer network, including assigning network settings, creating policies, establishing flows and putting controls in place. Network management protocols that determine how a network operates are also an important part of network configuration. The process of network configuration can also be automated, using network configuration management tools.
Some common network configuration tasks include:
- Router configuration sets IP addresses and route settings.
- Host configuration creates a network connection on a host computer to allow network connections.
- Software configuration grants access to network-based software and establishes the correct credentials.
- Permissions are also required in network configuration for internet access, software and application installation and the configuration of firewalls.
What are different network configuration types?
There are many different types of network configurations, including the following common examples:
- Local Area Network (LAN) is a private network that connects multiple devices, often used in corporate networks.
- Personal Area Network (PAN) is a small network used by one person. Bluetooth connections, for example, are PANs.
- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a larger network that spans an area like a college campus.
- Storage Area Network (SAN) is a local network designed for data retrieval and storage.
- Enterprise Private Network (EPN) is used by organizations to connect and share resources across multiple servers and locations.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network that allows an individual to securely connect to another network, such as accessing a company network when working remotely.
Different configuration types include virtual private network, local area network, personal area network, metropolitan area network, storage area network, and enterprise private network.
What are some network configuration tools?
Network configuration tools are designed to help manage as well as gain visibility into your network. The ultimate goal is to help you proactively perform troubleshooting proactively as well as configuration tasks from a single administrative panel.
There is a wide variety of network configuration tools from many different vendors, but in general they fall into three categories: scripting systems, network configuration management tools and intent-based networking configuration management.
- Scripting systems allow IT professionals to write scripts that determine how the network operates, based on network design models. The advantage of model-based scripting is flexibility, especially when configuring large networks. The disadvantage is that it requires a high level of familiarity with scripting languages.
- Network configuration management tools are offered by vendors designed to perform network configuration tasks. They don’t require the level of code knowledge that scripting systems do, but they also provide less overall flexibility than model-based scripting.
- Intent-based networking configuration management, according to TechTarget, “is a form of network administration that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), network orchestration and machine learning (ML) to automate administrative tasks across a network.” It is a software-enabled service designed to eliminate the human error that often occurs with more hands-on, less automated solutions.
What are the different configuration files and their roles?
In a network, data is stored in configuration (config) files and databases. Some common file types include JSON, INI, TOML and YAML. Configuration files, which store a wide variety of information including usernames, server hostnames, applications, settings and service credentials, make it possible to manage network parameters, configure the network and control the way it behaves.
Here are some examples of network configuration files:
- /etc/hosts map IP addresses to hostnames
- /etc/resolv.conf defines Domain Name Servers (DNS) and determines what search domain is used
- /etc/sysconfig/network files map host information to network interfaces
- /etc/protocols define networking protocols and determine how devices exchange data across networks
- /etc/services files store information about client applications
How do you check network configuration?
The method for checking network configuration depends on whether you are using a command line interface or a network configuration manager. In a command-line environment, the Windows command is “ipconfig.” In a Mac or Linux-type environment, the command is “ifconfig.” These commands let you see information about your network configuration, including its default settings, and also allow you to configure your network interface.
If you are using a network configuration management tool, it will have its own interface for configuring, monitoring and administering the network.
Why is network configuration important?
Correct network configuration is essential for a network to support network traffic, ensure security, reduce downtime and maintain stability. Network configuration management tools can also provide additional benefits, including:
- Automated data tracking and reporting, which allows administrators to identify configuration changes as well as potential issues.
- The ability to apply bulk changes and roll back network parameters to a previous configuration.
- Increased uptime due to increased visibility into the network and any changes.
- Faster maintenance and repair of both physical and virtual network devices.
- Centralized storage management of device configurations.
What are the benefits and challenges of network configuration management?
Networks are constantly changing, making it a significant challenge to track and report on network performance and operation. Doing so, however, is vital to maintaining its safe and secure operation. Network configuration management brings visibility into your network so that you can properly configure it and make sure it continues to function within operational parameters. Network configuration management gives you the ability to:
- Track network configuration: With network management software, you’ll be able to see through a user interface that your network is operating the way you intended it to.
- Identify changes: Once you’ve set a baseline network configuration, network configuration management will alert you to any changes that occur, whether as a result of human error, intended changes, cyberattack or other reason — and be able to recover more quickly.
- Drive efficiency: Because network configuration management includes the ability to automate key setup and configuration tasks, it helps the IT department admins streamline when it comes to network operations, and leaves them free to do more important tasks.
- Get insights into network performance: There are dozens of factors that can affect the performance of your network at any given time. Network management software allows a network engineer to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and see instantly when they begin to deviate.
- Enhance cybersecurity: Poorly configured networks are a cybersecurity risk, as they introduce vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. By helping to track intended and unintended changes to your network, network management software can be an important line of defense against a cyberattack.
- Ensure compliance: For organizations in regulated industries that must be able to show their efforts at regulatory compliance, network management software provides the tracking and reporting capabilities they need.
What are the risks of a poorly configured network?
A poorly configured network, in short, will not operate with the speed, efficiency and security necessary to meet the organization’s needs. Configuration management is vital to making sure that your network is doing its job. Some of the risks of a poorly configured network are outlined below.
- Network outages: First, a poorly configured network won’t be able to operate with the uptime and reliability necessary for a modern, data-driven organization. Network outages can cause loss of revenue, financial penalties, reduced customer satisfaction and damage to your organization’s reputation.
- Data theft: Poor configuration can leave your network vulnerable to data theft, which often comes in the form of a firmware hack. If your firewall is breached, your data is at the mercy of attackers, which can be disastrous for any organization, especially ones that maintain sensitive financial, medical or other confidential data.
- Ransomware: Ransomware, an exploit in which attackers encrypt your data and extort a fee to release it again, is another threat made more likely by vulnerable firmware.
- Device hijacking: With more and more business and personal devices connected via the Internet of Things (IoT), hackers have even more ways of accessing a poorly configured network. They can take over devices and use them to exploit other vulnerabilities in your network and gain access to sensitive data.
What is network configuration monitoring?
Network configuration monitoring is a network management function that provides network monitoring and alerts network administrators when a potential issue arises. Network or system administrators have the ability to set the monitoring tool to report on various issues at different thresholds. When network configuration monitoring determines that an issue has occurred, administrators can use network configuration management tools to address and correct the problem.
Why is network configuration monitoring important?
The primary, vital function of network configuration monitoring is to provide visibility across the entire network and identify issues and bottlenecks that impede its smooth and efficient operation. Network monitoring oversees all networking components including network access, routers, servers, devices and switches, while tracking key performance indicators. Network monitoring allows organizations to maintain uptime and identify and solve critical issues before they have a significant impact on the organization.
How do you reduce costs of network configuration management?
Network management can be a significant cost for any organization. One of the biggest challenges is to draft a change management strategy to maintain proper functioning of the network while at the same time reducing unnecessary expenditures. Here are a few suggestions that can help keep costs down.
- Consolidate network vendors: As an organization’s networking needs grow, they may find themselves holding contracts with multiple network vendors. Keeping your networking contracts with a minimum number of vendors can help you gain efficiencies and economies of scale. Evaluating your network contracts is the best way to start.
- Consider total cost of ownership: Total cost of ownership (TCO) refers to every expense related to installing, maintaining and operating a network. When evaluating your networking spend, be sure to consider management costs, service plans, the cost of IT department time and all expenses you incur as part of maintaining your network. That way, you’ll have more information to evaluate, and more data if you decide to pursue a new vendor or renegotiate a contract.
- Centralize network management: It’s very likely that your IT department spends a considerable amount of time on network management tasks, and that many of those tasks are manual, repetitive and time consuming. Implementing a centralized network management approach saves time and money by reducing the amount of time IT professionals spend on networking. Unified network management processes and tools allow the IT department to to update and configure hardware remotely, and can completely automate many of the simplest tasks.
- Increase network security: The total cost of a cyberattack can run into the millions of dollars, not including the intangible costs of lost reputation and customer trust. Increasing your network security isn’t just a best practice, it has a bottom-line business value. Making an investment in enhanced cybersecurity should be considered an essential part of reducing networking expenses.
- Automate your network: The cost of IT department time can be a considerable expense that adds to the total cost of network ownership and operation. If IT professionals are manually testing, configuring, deploying and managing devices on the network, they are spending time that could be greatly reduced by network automation hardware and software.
What are some network configuration management best practices?
Understanding what’s happening at all times in your network is the key to maintaining its safe and effective operation. Here are some best practices that can help you keep your network properly functioning.
- Map out your network: You need a complete understanding of how your network is designed and configured, what devices are connected to it and how it all works together. Document the software, hardware, systems and devices in a network map. Include all devices including servers, firewalls, routers and switches.
- Standardize device configuration: Create standard configurations for each device classification on your network (routers, switches, network topology, etc.) so that you can avoid human error or other potential configuration errors when provisioning new devices. Network configuration management software is the simple way to accomplish this goal.
- Track and document changes: Keep track of configuration changes when they are made, and set up alerts that will notify you when they occur. Keep backups of all changes made to the network so that you can review them when errors occur and restore previous configurations if necessary.
- Automate: Automating processes that would otherwise require human intervention can eliminate human error, help teams handle repetitive tasks, manage configuration changes across multiple devices and help maintain compliance to regulatory standards.
- Focus on cybersecurity: As important as it is to understand how your network is configured and how it operates, it can be even more important to understand how you will protect it from cyber attacks. A security breach can do significant harm, often far greater and more expensive than other network issues.
- Build in redundancy: No matter how well prepared you are, network components can fail, bringing your operations to a halt. Avoid potential disasters by building redundancy into your network so that if a device fails, your network will continue to function.
Network configuration management best practices include the ability to automate processes and maintaining a strong focus on cybersecurity.
Computer networking is the key to computing power, which in turn, drives the data revolution. The skills and abilities necessary to properly provision, configure, build, maintain and upgrade a computer network are specialized and valuable, and the demands placed on the people who do the job have never been more important to meet. And as these demands grow, networking professionals need to have the right tools to automate and monitor network operations, keep them secure from cyber attacks and make sure they live up to their potential to drive the modern economy.
