Learn how to monitor collaboration services like WebEx. This presentation will cover:
- How Webex access works and its implication on monitoring
- Best practice recommendations for monitoring WebEx using ThousandEyes
2. @ThousandEyes
• Welcome & Introduction
• Webex Architecture
• Monitoring Webex with ThousandEyes
• Demo
• Best Practice Recommendations
• Q&A
Agenda
Archana Kesavan
Sr. Product Marketing Manager
@archana_k7
3. @ThousandEyes
About ThousandEyes
Network Intelligence solution
that helps you understand
performance from every user
to every application over any
network
User App
Enterprise, Endpoint and Cloud Agents
Routing
End-to-End Performance Data
User
Experience
App
Performance
Routing
Topology
Network
Topology
Network
Connectivity
Device
Performance
18/20
top SaaS
companies
5/6
top US banks
50+
Fortune 500
companies
8/10
top global
software
companies
4. @ThousandEyes
Why Monitor WebEx?
• Cisco is the dominant provider of web and
video conferencing
• Highly Impactful
– Enterprise-grade, business-critical app for both
internal and external communication
– Directly impacts employee productivity
• Troubleshooting Complexity
– Collaboration, Voice & Video all built into one
seamless app
– SaaS-based delivery
– Increased reliance on the Internet, no guaranteed
performance from a ’best effort’ network
– Voice and video highly susceptible to network chaos
53%
22%
12%
13%
Market Share
Cisco Citrix Microsoft Other
* Synergy Research, Cloud SaaS Services Market
Share and Forecast, Q2 2016
5. @ThousandEyes
WebEx Architecture
WebEx Nomenclature
• Cisco WebEx Collaboration Cloud
– Global network dedicated for
Webex traffic
• Meeting Cluster
– Central location for all meeting
functions (voice, video, sharing)
• Webex Data Centers
– Every Webex instance (cluster)
located in two geographically
redundant locations
– Transparent to the end-user
ThousandEyes Webex
instance is hosted in
cluster “S” in the SJC
and DFW data centers
7. @ThousandEyes
Collaboration Bridge
Multimedia Platform
Meeting ZoneOn the Road
WebEx Users
Internet
Home
WebEx Users
Enterprise
WebEx Users
Session
Initiation
Meeting Traffic
VoIP/Video
Servers
WebEx
Database
Recording
Web Zone
On the Road
WebEx Users
Internet
Home
WebEx Users
Enterprise
WebEx Users
Servers
WebEx
Database
Recording
Web Zone
Collaboration Bridge
Multimedia Platform
Meeting Zone
Session
Initiation
Meeting Traffic
VoIP/Video
Webex Deployment
• Web Zone vs
Meeting Zone
• Web Zone in the
parent data center
• Meeting Zone data
centers closest to
the end-user
• Multiple
simultaneous
communication
threads
WebEx Architecture
8. @ThousandEyes
Key Monitoring Considerations
• Always start with the basics
– DNS is the most critical piece of service delivery
• Monitor external dependencies you don’t own
– Upstream ISPs, UCaaS providers
– Gather evidence. Shift from reactive war rooms to proactive escalation.
• Single app but multiple communication threads
– Monitor not just your WebEx instance, but collaboration and media servers
– Webex Productivity Tools for off-meeting functions
– Monitor VoIP and SIP gateways for WebEx voice
9. @ThousandEyes
ThousandEyes Monitoring Approach
Lightweight software-based
agents easily installed on your
own network, in data venters and
branch offices.
Enterprise Agent
Browser-based plugins installed on
end-user laptops and desktops
Endpoint Agent
Globally distributed agents
installed and managed by
ThousandEyes in 150+ POPs
around the world.
Cloud Agent
ThousandEyes
Platform
Internal Monitoring
Remote User Monitoring
External Monitoring
10. @ThousandEyes
Test Type What is it? Use Case
Transaction Tests Simulate end user interaction with web services Validate if you can start a WebEx meeting
HTTP and Page
Load Tests
Check service availability and individual page
load components
Monitor service availability and performance of:
• WebEx instance
• WebEx productivity tools
• Media control and multimedia server (TCP
443)
DNS Server Tests Validate availability of authoritative DNS servers
Make sure DNS is not the root cause of your
WebEx issues.
Voice: SIP and
RTP Tests
Monitor VoIP quality and SIP server availability
and authentication procedures
Monitor voice call connectivity and quality for
the “Call via conference room IP phone” option
Network Tests
Visualize network paths and network
characteristics like loss, latency and jitter
All of the above (except Transaction tests)
Monitoring WebEx with ThousandEyes
Use CaseWhat is it?Test Type
12. @ThousandEyes
Unable to start a Webex Meeting
Webex instance
unavailable as indicated
by a dip in HTTP
availability
DNS seems to be the root
cause of Webex server
unavailability
13. @ThousandEyes
Digging into DNS Issues with DNS Server Tests
DNS Server Tests monitor
DNS server availability
and responses.
DNS authoritative server
returning “REFUSED”
indicating that this is
indeed a problem with
DNS
14. @ThousandEyes
Implement a Cloud Readiness Lifecycle
• Uncover connectivity issues
• Baseline performance
• Establish success criteria
• Get to know service providers
• Define escalation procedures
READYREADYREADY
• Incremental roll out
• Validate success against
pre-established criteria
• Create self-serve Dashboards for
internal users
DEPLOYDEPLOY
Proactively monitor network/app
to reduce MTTR and assure
positive user experience
OPERAT
E
OPERATE
15. @ThousandEyes
Cloud/SaaS Adoption Lifecycle Best Practices
Readiness
Deployment
Operations
Baseline
performance from
user locations to
PoC instance
(latency, page load)
Ensure all sites can
optimally connected
to primary and
secondary data
centers
Test to WebEx
PoC instances
from user
locations
(remote users,
office locations)
Define success
criteria for each
location
Develop and train
on escalation
procedures
Proactively monitor
network & application
layers
Deploy endpoint
agents for remote
workforce
Set up self-service
dashboards for
internal users
Continuously
monitor and
optimize
App
Lifecycle