JANET Netsight® Transition

This page describes how users will be transitioned from Original Netsight to New Netsight. A list of frequently asked questions is available.
Introduction
Original Netsight consisted of 20+ separate systems located at various points around the JANET network. New Netsight is a centralised system, with equipment at Bracknell, Chilton, Manchester and London.
Users will access the new system through a central Web interface. They will no longer access regional machines.
The transition involves configuring the central systems to duplicate the work of the previous regional installations. This is a non-trivial task.

Transition Process
At its most basic level the transition process consists of four steps

JANET(UK) pre-configures New Netsight using information held within the original system and the JANET(UK) Customer Database. Data then starts to be collected.
The regional network provider and user organisations are advised by email that the new system will be scheduled to be available for use in two weeks, if no issues arise.
Over a two week period, JANET(UK) validates the performance data being measured by New Netsight against the data collected by Original Netsight.
If no anomalies are found, JANET(UK) advises the regional network provider and associated end user organisations that they are able to use the new system.

A transition timetable is available. The timetable shows only the order in which the regions are being transitioned.

The Transition of regional network providers
To ease the burden of transition on the regional network providers, JANET(UK) will pre-configure the initial new system, as described above.
The regional network providers will be expected to maintain the configuration once they have been given access to the new system. User Guides have been produced and are available as downloads via the New Netsight help function.
A new username and password will be issued to the regional network provider for use with New Netsight
In preparation for the rollout...
Regional network providers must configure their routers to enable New Netsight to be able to collect traffic data via SNMP and ping their routers, including the customer B ends.

The Transition of End User Organisations
Two weeks prior to JANET(UK) expecting the system to become available to a region, the registered management and technical contacts for end user organisations in that region will receive a notification email. Another email will be sent once the system is ready for use.
In preparation for the rollout...
The current Netsight sends ICMP ping messages to a device on end user's networks (normally a border router) to monitor the end site's connectivity. The IP addresses used by New Netsight will be different and end sites must ensure that the new addresses can 'ping' their equipment.
The addresses are not published here for security reasons, but can be obtained from the end user’s regional network provider.

Usernames and Passwords
In most cases, the username and password for current Netsight end user organisations will remain unchanged, i.e. they will be duplicated from the existing system. In rare cases where this is not possible, JANET(UK) will contact a user with a new password.
Sites which have a sponsored connection from the regional network provider itself should email netsight@ja.net to request a username and password. Other types of sponsored connection are not monitored by Netsight®.
To increase system security, once the transition has been fully completed, JANET(UK) will introduce new rules for password strength. At that time, users will be forced to change their passwords to comply with the new rules. Full details will be circulated nearer the time, and sufficient notification will be given.

Withdrawal of Access to the Original Netsight
Access to a regional Original Netsight system will be withdrawn from all users of the regional system 21 days after the new system New Netsight has been made available to them.
In special circumstances, an RNO may be granted an extension beyond the 21 days, but this will be restricted to read-only access for a limited period. Requests should be sent to Netsight@ja.net and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the JANET(UK) SAG manager.

Netsight is a Registered Trademark of the JNT Association.