Glossary

Engine

An "engine" is used to refer to a hardware vendor switch type or subtype, such as HP, CISCO, or CISCO-ASA. Engines are configured site-wide in the System settings.

Multiple engines can be enabled for the site, and each switch in within the site is assigned to a specific engine. This allows for the use of multiple switch types within the same site.

The engine of a switch will affect how operations are performed on it, and which (device profile) port configuration is used when configuring ports on the switch.

Virtual

Virtual groups does not hold any physical switches. The group will not be displayed on the dashboard. This is generally used for virtual machines or other devices that do not have a physical port.

Import

"Import", in the context of network data and documentation, usually refers to the procedure of retrieving the actual network status through the On-Site Appliance unless stated otherwise. In this process, each port on each switch is scanned and its status recorded. This data is used in various places throughout the application to essentially compare the network design to the actual network status.

"Design" and "Actual state"

The concepts of "Design" and "Actual state" are fundamental in network management and are seen throughout ZEM. In the context of this distinction, "Design" refers to the planned or intended configuration of the network. The configuration of the site in ZEM is sometimes called the "digital twin" of the network. On the other hand, "Actual state" refers to the real-time status of the network as it occurs in the physical world, such as the status of a switch, a port and a device. This information is received from the On-Site appliance within the network, and stored alongside the design data in ZEM. Understanding both the design and actual state is crucial for effective network monitoring and troubleshooting, as it allows for comparison between the intended setup and the real-world state.