We're thrilled to introduce the Forward Networks 24.7.0 release. This update brings new features and improvements designed to increase usability, efficiency, and integration capabilities for our users. Let’s dive into the new updates in this release:
NQE - New Query Editor
The Network Query Engine (NQE) has received a significant upgrade with a new query editor! This editor retains the familiar look and feel and introduces several powerful features to streamline query writing and improve user experience.
- Mini Map: Provides a bird's-eye view of the entire query, making it easier to navigate large queries quickly.
- Error Markers in the Scrollbar: This feature highlights errors directly in the scrollbar, allowing users to quickly identify and address issues without scrolling through the entire document.
- Fully Featured Find and Replace: Enhances the search and replace functionality with advanced options, making managing and editing queries easier.
- Vertical Rulers at the Indentation Level: Improves code readability by visually aligning indentation levels.
- Collapsible Sections Based on Indentation: This feature enables users to collapse and expand sections of the query, simplifying navigation and allowing them to focus on specific parts.
- Sticky Scrolling Based on Indentation: Keeps relevant sections visible while scrolling, improving readability.
- "More Actions" Button: Offers a range of actions and maintains a history of changes for easy reference.
- Autocompletion of Variable Names: Speeds up query writing with intelligent suggestions for variable names.
- Font Size Adjustment with Persistence: This option allows you to customize the editor's font size, with settings retained across sessions.
These upgrades make the NQE editor a powerhouse for writing and managing queries, helping you get more done with less effort.
Integrations - Custom Webhook Payloads
The 24.7.0 release enhances Forward Enterprise's integration capabilities by introducing advanced customization options for webhook payloads. You can now tailor webhook payloads to your specific needs, supporting both JSON and plain text formats.
Key Features:
- Advanced Customization: Users can modify existing JSON keys, create new key/value pairs, and incorporate supported variables into custom strings.
- Flexible Configuration: This flexibility enables seamless embedding of Forward Enterprise into diverse automation workflows, significantly improving operational efficiency and integration versatility.
These enhancements empower users to create highly customized and dynamic configurations, facilitating smoother and more efficient integration with other systems.
Search - Limit Search Results by Location: Focusing on Relevant Data
Users often need to tailor search results to specific areas within their network. The 24.7 release introduces the ability to limit search results by location, allowing users to constrain the search engine to a chosen location.
- Enhanced Search Capabilities: This feature lets users focus on results pertinent to a specific area, improving search relevance and efficiency.
- Improved Network Management: Users can ensure accurate placement within the global topology and easily find relevant information by assigning specific locations to devices.
This long-requested feature helps users better manage their network layouts and quickly find the necessary data.
RBAC - Resource-Based Access Control: Granular Permissions Management
Forward Networks introduces a new resource-based access control (RBAC) approach in the 24.7.0 release. This approach provides more granular permissions by separating the role and functions a user can access from the ability to view and download raw collected data.
- Granular Access Control: Users can now grant or deny access to the raw collected data of specific resources, such as classic network devices, VCenters, and managed wireless controllers.
- Maintains Existing Roles: The original five roles (Org Admin, Network Admin, Network Operator, Read-Only, Limited Read-Only) are retained while adding the ability to control access at a more detailed level.
This new RBAC structure offers a higher level of control and security, ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users.
Discovery - Optimizations for Extremely Large Subnets: Enhancing Performance
The 24.7.0 release brings significant performance improvements to the discovery process, especially for large and sparsely populated subnets.
- Increased Scan Rate: The scan rate, configurable under Advanced Network Collection settings, now defaults to 2,000 connections per second.
- Customizable Port Scanning: Users can customize the ports to be scanned using the Subnet Scan Wizard.
These enhancements ensure that Forward Enterprise continues to lead in efficiency and adaptability, meeting the demands of the most challenging network environments.
Collection - Backfill Device Data When Collection Fails: Ensuring Data Availability
In large networks, it is common for some devices to fail during data collection. The 24.7.0 release introduces a feature that allows Org admins to backfill data for failed devices using the last good processed data available.
- Data Backfill: The system can use the last good data for devices that fail collection, keeping them available for analysis.
- Configurable Max Backfill Age: Org Admins can set the max backfill age to 5 days.
This feature ensures that the system remains comprehensive and up-to-date, even when some devices fail to collect data.
Modeling - NQE-Based Dynamic Connections for Intranet Nodes: Automating Network Changes
The 24.7.0 release introduces a significant improvement to the management of Intranet synthetic nodes by enabling NQE-based dynamic connections.
- Dynamic Updates: Users can now associate an NQE query with the Intranet synthetic node, which will automatically update node connections based on network changes at each new snapshot.
- Example Queries: Forward Enterprise provides examples of NQE queries to help users leverage this key improvement.
This feature automates the maintenance of Intranet nodes, reducing manual efforts and ensuring accurate network modeling.
