Users Guide

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Introduction
Active Fabric Manager (AFM) is a network automation and orchestration tool with a graphical user
interface (GUI) that allows you to design, build, deploy, and optimize a Layer 3 distributed core, Layer 3
with Resiliency (Routed VLT), and Layer 2 VLT fabric for your current and future capacity requirements.
This tool helps you simplify network operations, automate tasks, and improve efficiency in the data
center.
Use AFM to monitor performance at the network, fabric, switch, and port level or display additional
performance statistics through AFM using a Dell OpenManage Network Manager (OMNM) server. It
automates common network management operations and provides advanced network element
discovery, remote configuration management, and system health monitoring to proactively alert network
administrators to potential network problems. OMNM provides SOAP-based web services to provide
integration with non-Dell products. AFM supports Dell Networking S4810, S4820T, S55, S60, S5000,
S6000, IOA blade, MXL blade, and Z9000 switches.
NOTE: Before you begin, review the Getting Started page. To learn how to install AFM, including
instructions on completing the Initial Setup, refer to the Active Fabric Manager Deployment Guide.
Introduction
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