Network Management Solutions

Powered by MDS PulseNET™


  

MDS PulseNET Network Management Software was designed specifically for MDS Industrial Radio communication systems and satisfies the real-time needs of customers who are responsible for managing them. MDS PulseNET software is unique, as it requires no customization to get started – offering true, out-of-the box functionality.

Monitoring and managing the health of your network is a critical and up-front consideration when designing, purchasing, and deploying equipment for your communications system. Equally important is ensuring that you maximize your network’s return on assets by increasing system throughput and uptime, improving the utilization of networked devices, and finally, supporting the deployment of maintenance resources when problems surface.

MDS PulseNET provides for the fundamental system needs of device discovery, proactive monitoring and early warning for radio networks consisting of less than 500 MDS radios.

MDS PulseNET Enterprise (PNE) version is designed for enterprise type systems with greater than 500 devices and which require more robust monitoring that includes third party devices.  MDS PNE simplifies work-flows by utilizing configuration information to automate radio maintenance. Configuration changes become a point and click user interface for bulk provisioning firmware upgrades. MDS PNE can also apply its work flows and warning capabilities to non-MDS equipment. Through MDS PNE, a complete end-to-end view of network performance is available from the field location to the operations facility including attached meters and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs). This provides a consistent view for management and operations to understand the root cause of current incidents and allows proactive avoidance of potential new incidents.



HOSTING OPTIONS


                                               
Choose the Level of Involvement You Want Us to Take on
BronzeWe will host your MDS PulseNET environment and gather statistics on your RF network via a secure VPN. You access the results via a supported web browser and receive alerts via e-mail
GoldBronze features, plus:  we will monitor the alerts and system performance and notify your field technicians if there is an outage or degradation in service that they need to investigate or repair.
PlatinumGold features, plus:  we will dispatch our field technicians if there is an outage or degradation in service that needs to be investigated or repaired.

Resources

PulseNET Comparison Chart
                                                 
Capabilities:
Supports MDS iNET and MDS Mercury Series wireless radios.
     Out-Of-The-Box preloaded data collection settings with                       recommended alert levels.
Exception-Based Alert System via Color Coded Icons
     Warns when out-of-bounds alert levels are exceeded
     Intuitive and color-based icons provides rapid evaluation of alert

Ease-of-Use:
Single User Interface Installation Program Download
     Simplifies installation and reduces level of technical expertise
Upgrade Wizard for Configuration, Diagnostic and Firmware
     Ease of configuration, device software & firmware upgrade
Consolidates Performance Metrics and Displays Via Device Dashboards
     Intuitive graphical presentation of data and alerts
Automatic system discovery based on range of IP addresses
     Simplifies network deployment

Security:
User ID and Password logins
User forced out when inactive for extended periods
Multiple Levels of User Access Control
     Limits screen and configuration access by user type

Communication
Supports Polling of SNMP Version 1, 2c and 3
Network-wide Diagnostics – current and most legacy MDS devices
     Built-in support for GE MDS proprietary communication protocol
Forward Alerts to 3rd Parties – SNMP Traps, API & Email
     Capability to communicate alerts via multiple mediums
Remote Access Via Telnet, SSH and HTTP(S)
     Several options to communicate remotely to network and devices
Enterprise Operations Capable:
Federation
     Allows multiple PulseNET Enterprise to operate as one regionally            deployed network and for central console roll up
External Databases
     Allows use of customer database or PulseNET supplied database
Self Monitoring
     Self monitoring - providing complete end to end support

Security:
Supports Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) Protocol

Provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) management for network services

Configuration Management
Centralized Configuration Management
     Streamline security, auditing, storage and controls
Schedule a global upgrade(s) or change to common models, specific networks, etc.

Track and document changes to configurations

3rd Party Integrations
Allows customers to manage non MDS devices
     GE will continue to incorporate additional Out-Of-The-Box 3rd party        device as requested by customers
     Customers can opt to incorporate non-MDS devices as a generic            devices type for collections and reporting
Notification Application Programming Interface (API) to 3rd party manager of managers, I.e. HP, Quest, IBM, etc
     Software communications via standard interface
     Flexibility to use and interface with other manager of managers

 System Requirements
PulseNET Recommended System:
    •     Dual Core CPU at 1.6 GHz
    •     2 GB of RAM available
    •     30 GB of disk space

Support Operating System:
    •     Windows Vista or Windows 7
    •     Windows Server 2003 or 2008
    •     Red Hat Linux AS/ES 5x. SuSE9 and 10, CentOS AS/ES 5.3/5.4
    •     Virtualized environments supported

PulseNET Enterprise Recommended System:
    •     Quad Core CPU at 2.2 GHz
    •     16 GB of RAM available
    •     160 GB of disk space

Supported Operating System:
    •     Windows Server Windows Server 2003 or 2008
    •     Red Hat Linux AS/ES 5x. SuSE9 and 10, CentOS AS/ES 5.3/5.4
    •     Virtualized environments supported

Supported Web Browsers:
    •     Microsoft Internet Explorer – 7x, 8x+
    •     Mozilla Firefox 3.6.4+
    •     Apple Safari 4.x+