AMF Plus and AMF Feature Overview and Configuration Guide

AMF is the Allied Telesis Autonomous Management Framework™, and AMF Plus is an expanded version of AMF. Both AMF and AMF Plus are a suite of features that combine to simplify network management across all supported network equipment from the core to the edge. They also integrate with Vista Manager, our graphical monitoring and management platform.

AMF and AMF Plus provide simplified device recovery and firmware upgrade management. Their primary function is to reduce the management and maintenance overhead on a network, while improving its responsiveness in handling equipment failures. They:

• enable an entire network to be managed as a single virtual device from any node within the network (except guest nodes). Configuration changes can be simultaneously made on multiple devices, and new devices can easily be assimilated into the network.
• can easily be overlaid on top of an existing network without changing its physical topology. They
  will determine the optimal logical topology for their own control plane.

The features of AMF and AMF Plus enable network engineers to lower network operating costs by reducing the complexity of network management and automating many routine tasks.

This guide provides a conceptual introduction to AMF and AMF Plus, together with their benefits, and presents configuration guidelines that explain their practical application in real networks.

From Vista Manager EX version 3.10.1, you can access the AMF Plus menu in Vista Manager EX. The AMF Plus menu replaces the AIO menu once all AMF master and controller devices have an active AMF Plus license.

This guide includes information on configuring your devices to communicate with Vista Manager EX, and how to navigate the AMF Plus menu in Vista Manager EX's GUI.

AMF Plus is available on AlliedWare Plus devices running software version 5.5.2-2.3 and later. The following guide describes both AMF Plus and AMF on 5.5.2-2.3 and later:

AMF Plus and AMF Feature Overview and Configuration Guide (Rev C)

Earlier software versions support AMF only. See the AMF Feature Overview and Configuration Guide for an AMF-only version of this guide for earlier software versions.