Documentation forNetwork Topology Mapper

NTM 2.1.1 release notes

Updated March 15, 2018

These release notes provide additional guidance for SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper 2.1.1.

New features

NTM version 2.X includes these features.

NTM version 2.1.1

  • VLAN: rollover connection details (HP/3Com and Juniper Switches).
  • SNMP V3: support for AES 192 and 256 encryption.
  • Node Details: right-click access to enhanced interface and information.
  • Tools: Discovery Log records devices for which SNMP information could not be retrieved during a discovery; SNMPWALK begins with a specified Root OID and queries the device for each OID in sequence, displaying its current value.
  • Discovery Scan: message box displays events.

NTM version 2.0

  • Shared credentials: re-use credentials associated with previous network discoveries.
  • FIPS compliance.
  • Network Segment Nodes: see the network subnet to which a otherwise unconneected node is connected.
  • Microsoft Hyper-V mapping: see virtual machines related to Hyper-V nodes.
  • Integration with Network Atlas: import maps to and from Network Atlas.
  • Improvements in map updates based on scheduled discovery.
  • Improvements to the Discovery Wizard.
  • Modify node details and add custom connections from within a map.
  • Integration with Toolset.
  • Improvements in role detection for WMI/VMWARE.

Fixed issues

NTM version 2.1.1

  • Fixed the detection of existing as new nodes during rescan.
  • Resolves an issue with initial discovery that generated a "Job failed" error.
  • NTM can now open maps exported to Visio.
  • Fixes the issue with 'Group by VLAN' showing as 'Unknown'.
  • Fixes display of unknown nodes with random ASCII characters for names.
  • Fixes a license-related and other network scan obstacles.
  • Resolves problem with network subnet discovery failing due to a single virtual machine.
  • Incorrect topology in maps due to NTM showing same connections from LLDP and CDP tables as distinct.
  • Resolves problem with a core switch not pulling STP Information under Node Details
  • Fixes a problem with STP and VLAN information not showing in the connection between 2 Core Switches when VLAN filtering is on.
  • It is by design that interface speed on switch inaccurate/incorrect when target node is unidentified.
  • Fixes a problem that caused NTM to crash at start-up.
  • Fixes the problem with NTM shutting-down when field for specific time is empty on the Discovery scheduling tab.

NTM version 2.0

  • Fixed an issue impeding use of Juniper devices as seed routers.
  • Resolves the issue that causes NTM to shutdown when "Map Name" (Discovery Settings screen) includes the "&" character.
  • Improves the node spacing and performance for Layered and Orthogonal map layouts.
  • Fixed an issue where NTM could quit unexpectedly if you run a new discovery that finds a node without an IP address (an Unidentified or a Proxy node) and you afterwards change the discovery type to Automatic in the Edit Map Properties dialog box.
  • Fixed an issue where NTM could quit unexpectedly if you copy a scheduled map that has pending scheduled results to a second computer and attempt to merge those pending results on the second computer.
  • Fixed an issue where NTM could quit unexpectedly if you change the password of a map before merging any pending scheduled discovery results.
  • NTM may quit unexpectedly if you change the Compositing Mode setting to SourceCopy in the Graphics Settings Editor dialog box of the Print Preview.
  • Fixed an issue with NTM shutting-down due to credential cache cleanup.

Known issues

Installer

  • If you try to install NTM on Windows Server 2003 that doesn't have Windows Imaging Components, the installer fails with the error "0x800713ec - Asia".
  • Download link for 64-bit WIC: https://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Windows-Imaging-Component-64-bit/3000-2192_4-75578538.html (© 2021 DOWNLOAD.COM, A RED VENTURES COMPANY, available at https://download.cnet.com/, obtained on October 18, 2021.)
  • On Windows 2003 SP1, selecting the repair option in the Setup wizard sometimes causes the installer to quit unexpectedly.
  • If you have Microsoft SQL CE 3.5 SP1 or SP2 installed, then you must remove it before running the NTM installer or the installer may fail.

Stability

  • Network rescan detecting existing nodes as new nodes
  • NTM halting when requesting reports.
  • NTM may quit unexpectedly if you try to print to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.
  • NTM may quit unexpectedly if you change the Compositing Mode setting to SourceCopy in the Graphics Settings Editor dialog box of the Print Preview.

Product Limitations

  • Ports behind VOIP phones are not properly mapped.
  • Corruption of WMI service on a customer machine causes NTM to shutdown.
  • NTM is not showing CDP details.
  • Whitespace in Switching from Layered or Orthogonal View.
  • White space appears where excluded nodes would be.
  • Missing L2 connections between switches.
  • Nodes identified using CDP/LLDP may display ASCII characters.
  • This behaviour is seen if nodes identified connecting to a SNMP device have unknown or empty device ID information.
  • A scheduled NTM data export to Network Atlas functions only when both applications are open.
  • If you run a discovery for an NTM map that contains virtual machines for which you have already entered credentials, then discovery will run twice.
  • Network Discovery also runs twice when when NTM exports map data with VIM credentials into Network Atlas.
  • Maps containing larger than 1000 nodes may introduce a slight delay while toggling between filters and map layouts.
  • If your devices do not support CDP/LLDP or Bridge table data, then NTM cannot display Layer 2 connections between the devices. More likely these devices will show up as orphan nodes.
  • De-duplication does not work for connections, which were reported by CDP and LLDP.
  • If you run discovery for an NTM map that contains virtual machines that you've already entered credentials for, the discovery will run twice.
  • NTM can only run one discovery job at a time regardless of how many map tabs are open.
  • It takes a long time to open maps larger than 1000 nodes. NTM may appear unresponsive, but the map will open eventually.
  • The integrated Remote Desktop function won't work on Windows Server 2003 64-bit unless you have applied the Microsoft Hotfix and append %winDir%\Sysnative to your %path% variable.
  • If the NTM certificate is deleted or modified by another program, none of the scheduled discoveries will work until you repair the certificate and then reschedule all the discovery jobs.
  • You may see unpredictable results if you open the same map in different NTM clients at the same time.
  • NTM can't display L2 connections from devices that do not provide bridge table data. If you are missing L2 connections, this is the likely cause.
  • NTM does not import unmanaged nodes and edges from Network Atlas maps.
  • Network Segment Nodes do not show up by default in maps created in NTM 1.0.
  • Help links default to the top of the file when displayed in Internet Explorer v8. The workaround is to use a later version of the IE browser.

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