Peer-to-Peer

Tata Net gets one view through SAAZ

Managing VSATs from different vendors was a nightmare till Tata Net decided to deploy SAAZ, a network infrastructure management tool from Zenith Infotech, says Srikanth RP

VSATs are a preferred option for fast connectivity in remote locations. However, it becomes a challenge for a VSAT service provider when the network consists of VSATs from different vendors. As each VSAT vendor provides its own proprietary software, service providers do not get a unified view of different VSATs in their network. Tata Net, the VSAT network division of the Tata group, faced this problem when the company had to manage seven VSATs from multiple vendors.

Because the VSATs came with their own software, managing bandwidth across several locations and customers was tough. Additionally, the organisation was growing rapidly, especially after it decided to widen its focus to non-Tata group customers. This focus saw the company having to manage a network of around a thousand VSATs with a client base of 75 customers. Apart from basic connectivity services, Tata Net also provides mission-critical services such as VoIP, file transfer and the monitoring of enterprise applications like SAP and Siebel to its customers. Since most of these services were mission-critical, Tata Net had to ensure always-on connectivity and optimise bandwidth across different VSAT networks.

The complexity rose because each customer had unique requirements. Around 250 VSATs addressed the requirements of the broking community, which had a high number of concurrent users. On the other hand, corporates had different needs since enterprise applications such as ERP have high bandwidth requirements. There were specific applications such as video conferencing, digital cinemas and village telephony services in states such as Andhra Pradesh, which meant that the complexity was immense. Without a unified view of applications across VSATs, the task of prioritising bandwidth (and in turn, bandwidth utilisation) was difficult.

With its customer list in diverse industries was growing at a fast clip, Tata Net began looking for a network management tool that would provide the company with a unified view of its different VSAT networks. After looking at a range of alternatives, the company finally selected the SAAZ network management system (NMS), a network management tool from Zenith Infotech. The decision in favour of SAAZ was aided by the fact that Zenith installed an evaluation copy on Tata Net’s network. The flexibility of the software and its ability to meet the service provider’s network monitoring and reporting needs swung the deal in Zenith’s favour.

Explains Sanjay Tari, head, operations, Tata Net, “While each VSAT service provider had its own NMS, these products could only address their respective VSATs. This meant that an umbrella view was not possible. With SAAZ, we have addressed this issue and it is possible now to get an overview of the entire network.” Implementing the product proved to be a breeze—the process took only two weeks. Tata Net currently uses the SAAZ NMS to monitor link status across India with respect to link up/down statistics as well as bandwidth and port utilisation. NMS’ are crucial to the management of VSATs as they can not only ensure bandwidth availability but also alert the concerned staff in case of a link failing.

See-through network

In addition to the unified view, the deployment of SAAZ also meant that Tata Net could provide details of connectivity and bandwidth to its customers in a proactive manner. For example, using SAAZ, Tata Net provides modules wherein the customer can see his entire network. Using the SAAZ Web console, the company can also provide its customers with details regarding bandwidth utilisation. Says Tari, “The detailed nature of reports in terms of network traffic was not possible without SAAZ. It helps us predict forthcoming roadblocks, upgrade whenever necessary, and scale the network.”

Using the NMS, the company can now provide customised data reports to its customers, and manage clients more effectively. From being reactive, Tata Net has become proactive in offering customised services to each of its customers.

srikanth@expresscomputeronline.com