Perform Cisco IP SLA Operations using SolarWinds VoIP

We know that VoIP & Network Quality Manager (VNQM) is a proactive VoIP monitoring tool that monitors real-time QoS metrics such as jitter, latency, packet loss, MOS and more. But, in this blog we are going to dive deeper and understand what VNQM can do with CiscoRegistered IP SLA operations and how it can help you monitor site-to-site WAN performance.

SolarWinds VNQM allows you to automatically discover and add Cisco IP SLA devices to its console, designate monitoring paths (source and destination devices) and configure polling options (frequency). While the challenge has always been to design a tailored set of IP SLA operations for monitoring your devices, VNQM helps you easily build custom IP SLA operations. You’ll be able to add, edit, and remove IP SLA operations in just a few clicks. Let’s look at the various IP SLA Operations you can monitor using VNQM.

Cisco IP SLA Operations in VNQM

WAN Connectivity Operations

TCP Connect

Measure WAN quality by testing connection times between two devices using a specific port

ICMP Echo

Measure round trip time between nodes on your network

ICMP Path Echo

Measure round trip time hop-by-hop between nodes on your network

UDP Echo

Measure round trip time between nodes on your network

WAN Quality Operations

UDP Jitter

Measure WAN quality by testing connection times between two devices using a specific port number

ICMP Path Jitter

Measure WAN quality by testing connection times hop-by-hop between two devices

VoIP UDP Jitter

Measure call path metrics on your VoIP network

Infrastructure Operations

DNS

Measure the difference in time from when a DNS request is sent and when the reply is received

DHCP

Measure the response time taken to discover a DHCP server and then

obtain a leased IP address from it

Application Quality Operations

FTP

Measure the response time between a Cisco device and an FTP server to retrieve a file

HTTP

Measure distributed web services response times

Designating Paths for IP SLA Operations

For some IP SLA operations, VNQM collects performance statistics by sending traffic over paths between sites you have defined. You can choose to select one of the following paths based on your IP routing protocol.

Simple

Contains one source node and only one destination node. This path can be tested bidirectionally.

Fully Meshed

Connects every node you define over distinct call paths to every other node selected

Hub & Spoke

Allows you to designate specific nodes as hubs. Each hub is then connected to all other nodes, with paths representing spokes

Custom

Allows you to define your own paths. All defined nodes are listed under this option, and expanding each node displays a list of all other nodes.

Benefits of Cisco IP SLA Operations

  • Monitor WAN performance between different sites/network locations
  • Test effectiveness of network readiness and performance for remote sites
  • Monitor device performance at different sites from a single location
  • Optimize WAN based on IP SLA operations and results
  • Quicker troubleshooting and time-to-resolution based on real-time WAN performance data

VNQM Summary View of Top IP SLA Operations

IP SLA Operations Expanded View

(Sample dashboard VoIP UDP Jitter Operation)

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Thwack - Symbolize TM, R, and C