A network monitoring solution warns business owners at the first sign of problems with their web applications, thus minimizing downtime and maximizing company resources. Furthermore, ipswitch network monitoring keeps track of key performance metrics, so you have the peace of mind of knowing that your network is running at top efficiency.
There are a number of considerations when it comes to finding the best service, such as web bandwidth, types and number of devices to monitor, and cost. Hopefully, this guide gives you some insight into the process.
1) Some Network Monitoring Basics
Most of these tools use Simple Network Management Protocol to harvest key information directly from networked devices. SNMP is a robust tool that’s been around since the early 2000s yet is still on the cutting edge. Typically, the network monitor synthesizes this data into a network map, enabling network administrators to see how a problem on one device affects, or does not affect, the other ones. In many cases, administrators can also make changes through an SNMP portal.
More importantly, the service uses a combination of green, yellow, and red indicators so administrator can quickly and accurately assess the network’s health. This process also yields important baseline information about bandwidth and other metrics.
It all starts with the management information base. Each manufacturer has a unique MIB value, which represents the connection between individual devices and the SNMP.
2) Choosing the Right Service
The proper service can prevent network problems, and not just make these issues easier to locate and diagnose. Some specific considerations include:
- Deployment: Some vendors license software by the device and some issue a license based on monitoring capability. Moreover, there’s often a tradeoff between a fast-deploying single software installation and a flexible, multi-installation approach.
- Usability: Never assume the manufacturer guarantees that its product is easy to use. Perform this evaluation yourself, focusing on things like intuitive commands, an easy-to-follow layout, and any necessary training.
- Compatibility: Most enterprises have several different products from several different manufacturers in their network infrastructure. Makes sure the service works with all these different components, to avoid nasty surprises.
- Scalability: Some network monitoring services can keep track of a few dozen devices; others can effectively monitor a few thousand. Moreover, some services use a single server while others use a series of connected servers.
The service should also work with application performance management, network performance management, network change and configuration management, reporting capabilities, log analytics, and so on.
Making the Right Call
The first two steps make this third and most critical one much easier. Complex networks with high requirements usually require a large-network product that’s also highly versatile. Scalability is most important in large yet simple networks. If non-company professionals will use the network, be sure the monitoring service meets their requirements as well.
Rest assured that most of your competitors use a network monitoring service to keep their networks operating at peak efficiency. If you don’t have such a service, you are definitely at a competitive disadvantage.
