Optimize service delivery with improved service assurance
IP/MPLS networks face many challenges in managing multivendor traffic routing and rerouting while maintaining optimal network performance. Traditional route optimization tools offer limited, siloed views that fail to provide a comprehensive network-wide perspective. Today’s IP/MPLS networks require real-time route monitoring and troubleshooting tools that help optimize network resources and ensure reliable service delivery. This blog sheds light on how Route Optimization and Analysis (ROA) can significantly improve service assurance for better service delivery in various real-world scenarios.
ROA delivers proactive troubleshooting
Link issues or routing policies that create insufficient bandwidth can cause variations in IP/MPLS network latency that impacts the performance of enterprise applications and user experience. Implementing an ROA tool can transform service delivery over enterprise networks by proactively monitoring latency and jitter along with analyzing recordings of routing paths, events, and performance metrics. ROA routing playback can help determine fault responsibility, leading operations teams to faster resolution, fewer outages, and reduced SLA penalty payouts.
Reduce trouble ticket resolution time
Network operations staff often wade through a tremendous volume of MPLS VPN network trouble tickets, which always include transient routing issues. By identifying what was happening at a specific point in time, operations staff can resolve elusive transient and intermittent problems. Integrated real-time routing telemetry enables the recording of network behavior, along with analysis that correlates traffic and performance metrics. This capability provides real-time and back-in-time forensic details for IP/MPLS service delivery, significantly reducing the time spent on trouble tickets and the number of unresolved tickets, leading to improved MPLS services.
Manage BGP security risks
ROA helps manage exterior Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security risks in the IP address ranges enterprise networks use to route network traffic. This capability enables Network Operations Center (NOC) teams to quickly identify whether routing changes are due to malicious attacks or route leaks, so they can initiate the appropriate remediation activities. ROA monitors trusted IP address ranges, or prefixes, in real-time by looking for routing changes and comparing them to a baseline of known and expected prefixes. ROA triggers alerts when new prefixes are available or when the network pool drops trusted prefixes. It also knows when routes deviate from expected paths or pass through untrusted autonomous systems. This capability helps maintain service integrity in a more secure enterprise network.
Analyze and optimize traffic engineering
ROA traffic engineering integrates routing, traffic, and performance analytics for historical and real-time monitoring in IP/MPLS networks. It helps reduce over-engineering and optimizes network performance. ROA does this by redistributing traffic loads to avoid service slowdowns caused by congested links, helping to balance and optimize network resources.
Access superior root cause analysis
Telemetry monitoring in ROA offers a topology-based approach to diagnosing network problems. It provides insights into an actual routed path for every flow, helping rapidly identify congestion-related issues, whether due to new load or rerouted traffic. Telemetry monitoring displays hop-by-hop latency, aiding in the detection of performance issues. When used with the routing playback, telemetry monitoring assists in troubleshooting and understanding changes over time.
Learn more about ROA
Dynamic and complex IP/MPLS network routing can be difficult for operations staff to manage, leading to downtime, delayed troubleshooting, and security vulnerabilities. Advanced tools that provide Route Optimization and Analysis provide precision route monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities that can lead to:
- Reduced outages and SLA penalties in IP/MPLS networks
- Balanced traffic loads and optimized network performance
- Efficient investigation and resolution of routing issues
- Identification of congestion-related problems
- Detection of suspicious activity.
The transformation from reactive to proactive IP/MPLS network management underscores the strategic necessity of advanced routing tools in modern network operations. ROA empowers NOCs to optimize service delivery and improve service assurance in IP/MPLS networks, leading to greater customer satisfaction, reduced costs associated with downtime and troubleshooting, as well as enhanced network security.
