The network is and has been one of the critical components of business success, irrespective of the size of the organization. When a network faces downtime, customers and employees cannot access critical information and in turn, they cannot communicate leading to loss of productivity and loss of revenue. A network monitor software allows businesses to operate more fluently, prevent revenue loss, and also cut costs. Here are a few aspects you need to know about network monitor.

The elusive search for a good network monitor tool

A network monitor application helps to keep your enterprise network operating at its maximum capacity. Enterprise networks are becoming increasingly complex every day to meet the rising need and demand for digital business solutions. A business needs to ensure that its network is performing at the speed and efficiency required of it. An essential tool for enterprises to measure their network performance is to utilize a system that constantly monitors a network for slow or failing components. In more practical terms, a network monitor is a software that continuously observes your network and the data that flows through it. Network monitoring tools notify the network administrator in case of outages or issues.

Why are network monitoring tools important?

Network monitoring tools play a vital role in the following aspects:

  • Optimize network performance: The network monitor application captures data directly from the network, interprets this data, and displays it via a dashboard, which allows you to get a glimpse of your network, even on the go.
  • Gain in-depth visibility: .A network monitoring tool offers in-depth visibility into network architecture to help you visualize performance and locate devices easily in the event of downtime.
  • Manage faults better: If the network monitor finds any issues with the network or signs that might indicate a potential possibility of failure, it will alert your IT team to the problem so they can get straight to work on fixing it.
  • Automate troubleshooting:   To help network admins save time on redundant manual tasks, network monitoring tool helps you automate certain repetitive tasks leveraging AI and ML-based algorithms.

How does a network monitor work?

Network monitoring applications are typically equipped to track network performance through multiple different methods and techniques. However, network monitoring works by performing these three steps:

Establish connectivity: Connects to network devices

One standard way a network monitor uses to connect to the network devices is through the SNMP protocol. SNMP monitoring uses management information base (MIB) to collect data from any device connected to the IP networks such as modems, routers, servers, printers, and switches. Network monitor also uses ICMP ping function to keep devices' availability in check. WMI, CLI and Telnet are also other options.

Monitor essential metrics: Keeps the network performance in check

Once connected, network monitor tool scrutinizes network performance metrics with dedicated monitors. Network monitors perform threshold based monitoring so as to instantly alert you on network issues or violated thresholds. For example, if you are curious about your company's bandwidth usage or latency/packet loss, you can set up a network monitor to observe just that and see how the latency is or how many packets are dropped in your network at any given time. If the network monitor notices that any metric is reaching critical levels, it will inform your enterprise on which devices need to be checked on.

Resolve faults: Analyzes the root-cause of network issues

When a network fault is detected, network monitor zero in to the root cause of an issue, informing you whether the fault is due to hardware or software issues, bandwidth issues, and configuration issues. Apart from alerting, network monitor also performs troubleshooting with pre-loaded scripts or commands and even automate certain actions like restarting a service, shutting down a device and more.

Why should enterprises adopt a network monitor solution?

To manage network on an enterprise level, you need a comprehensive, future-ready network monitor tool to protect network from any potential hazards and maintain network uptime. Enterprises require network monitor solution for the following reasons:

Network Monitor Solutions- ManageEngine OpManager

Advanced alerting:

In enterprises where there are numerous network devices, there are high chances for proxy alerts to be triggered. An efficient enterprise network management software will go beyond basic threshold-based alerting and manage flood of unnecessary network alerts due to dependencies and the like. You should also be able to send alerts via different channels such as SMS, email, web alarms and more.

Learning network issues before end users:

Network monitor solutions observe the network in real-time to alert you on performance issues even before the network team would ever discover it. This reduces the time between when a problem happens and when your enterprise learns of this. You will also know about every performance hiccup on your network especially those that are otherwise undetectable to network teams. Even if the issue is only marginally affecting performance it could be skated to something much bigger so you will want to be aware of them

Distributed monitoring:

As enterprises grow and scale across different geographic regions, you need a robust network monitor solution that provides centralized control over different branch offices, and remote sites. Also, any updates or changes done in the central site will reflect across all the networks.

Resource management:

Resources accessibility is inevitable for optimal performance of both hybrid and virtual networks. Network monitoring tool is crucial to manage resources and keep their availability in check. Network monitor tool records all the information related to data utilization, and growth in the form of reports. You can analyze the growth trends, predict storage needs and take judicious storage decisions. This will help eliminate indiscriminate storage purchases and save on the IT budget.

Multi-vendor support

When it comes to enterprise, multiple vendors will be in the picture already. Network monitor solution with support for multi vendors and device types eliminates the need to toggle multiple vendor specific tools. For example, OpManager extend its support to over 450 vendors such as Dell, HP, Juniper, Cisco, IBM and more. You can also create custom device templates to add devices from any vendor and perform monitoring.

Network monitor application requirements:

Customizable

Data is valuable and can be interpreted accurately only when it is presented meaningfully to the right audience. An actionable intelligent network monitor dashboard with customizations can help achieve this. This is a basic requirement of any network monitor tool.

Scalable

When a business or organization grows, network monitor solutions must be viable to change and expansion, without compromising on the reliability. Network visibility across multiple locations with real-time data sync is a game-changer for networking tools.

Support integrations

Readily available integrations to extend the functionality of the network monitor tool and offer flexibility to manage the other aspects of the network help administrators manage the entire network from the single console.

Quick technical support

Round the clock premium support with onboarding assistance, upgrade assistance and periodic health check-ups is the highlight of a top-notch network monitor system.

Feature-rich

Everyone wants more bang for the buck. Network monitor tools must be able to monitor all the network resources and must have high scalability to support the growth of the business/organization.

Easy to install and use

The real-time network monitor has to be intuitive enough to get you started without the hassle of going through pages and pages of documentation.

Low cost

The network monitor tool has to be affordable and light on the pocket to maintain.

OpManager: The network monitor solution you need

Network devices monitored:

Key network performance metrics monitored:

  • Disk utilization
  • Balloon memory
  • Memory overhead
  • CPU usage
  • CPU wait
  • CPU used
  • Memory swapOut and swapIn rate
  • Network transmission rate
  • Buffer failures
  • SSID client count
  • Active session count
  • Fan status
  • Power supply status
  • I/O latency and more

Key Features of OpManager's network monitoring

Simplified monitoring: Monitor network within minutes

OpManager's network software supports reliable industry-standard monitoring protocols such as SNMP, Telnet, SSH, and WMI and has a simple to use point-and-click install and setup function. This helps monitor the network within minutes. OpManager's server monitoring supports multiple operating systems and is an agentless network monitor solution  due to which you can skip the entire hassle of agent installation. Post-installation, the device template feature enables you to quickly apply pre-defined monitoring configurations and start monitoring your device right away.

Network Monitor Software - ManageEngine OpManager

Device and interface templates: Out-of-the-box multi-vendor support

OpManager offers multi-vendor support with over 9000 device templates out-of-the-box with the option to add your own templates in case you ever need it. There are interface templates that can be applied in bulk, templates for file/folder monitoring and, also for process monitoring. The Quick Configuration Wizard allows you to apply the configuration to multiple devices on the go quickly. In addition to OpManager's default network monitors, you can also create your own monitors for the SNMP-enabled devices in your network.

All-in-one monitoring: One tool to monitor network, server, and application performance!

OpManager, the advanced network performance monitoring software leverages the monitoring protocols like NetFlow, sFlow, IP SLA in addition to the ones mentioned above (SNMP, SSH, etc.) for monitoring network and server. With OpManager's network performance monitor, it is easy to decide upon the critical devices that need monitoring and quickly identify the parameter that consumes bandwidth or identify the device that needs troubleshooting. You can monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage on mission-critical servers and easily identify the application/processes that consume the most resources and perform effective capacity planning and hardware upgrades. Linux network monitor, windows network monitor, OpManager does the job and provides all the information in a common dashboard to simplify your time.

Advanced network troubleshooting: Get to the root of the issue

OpManager offers a plethora of features to help you get to the root of a network issue. With an advanced fault management system, OpManager consolidates alerts from Windows Event logs, SNMP Traps, and Syslog. It enables you to set custom performance thresholds for proactive monitoring and avert potential network downtime. These alerts can be configured to be sent as an email, SMS or can be accessed on your smartphone. Another highlight is the provision to execute self-healing scripts to suppress unnecessary alarms or perform level 1 troubleshooting.

Network Monitor Tool - ManageEngine OpManager

Network visualization: See the bigger picture of network architecture

Network monitor with advanced visualization techniques - network maps, Layer2 maps, category-wise device maps, and list views offer instant visibility into a network or device outage. OpManager also allows to you visualize WAN links across locations with Business Views with options to restrict user access to selected Business Views thereby taking care of your user management and security needs. To top all of this, OpManager also offers over 100 widgets that can be used in customizable Dashboards (with CCTV views) tailored to suit the admins' network monitoring needs.

Reports: Record, schedule, and publish data, on the go

OpManager provides over 100 reports on various network metrics with exclusive Top 'N' reports that show the top 10 resources (high/low) to quickly gain an understanding of the network. There are various network monitor reports for WAN health, ESX VMware servers, Active Directory, MSSQL servers, Exchange servers, and many more that can be scheduled on a daily, weekly, monthly basis or for a custom period with an option to email or publish the reports. Monitor network, server and other devices and generate custom reports based on your need with OpManager.

Network Monitor Solutions - ManageEngine OpManager

Looking for more? Discover what's new in OpManager here.

What sets OpManager apart?

The X factor: Affordability

  • Cost-efficient: Transparent pricing options, multiple editions to choose from, including a free edition and free trial with the advantage to migrate seamlessly to the commercial versions.
  • User-friendly: A self-reliant network monitor solution that does not mandate consulting.
  • Future-ready: Constant upgrades and feature releases at no extra cost.
  • Easy integration: Options to integrate with software from the ManageEngine suite for monitoring each and every aspect of the network.
  • Support: 24x5 technical support.
  • Credibility: With recognition from leading review and research sites like Gartner, Network World, Infotech, etc., OpManager is the choice of over 1 million IT administrators over the world. Learn why OpManager is the best network monitor.

Well, what are you waiting for? Choose the best real-time network monitor in the market - ManageEngine OpManager 

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Customer reviews

OpManager
OpManager - 10 Steps Ahead Of The Competition, One Step Away From Being Unequalled.
- Network Services Manager, Government Organization
Review Role: Infrastructure and OperationsCompany Size: Gov't/PS/ED 5,000 - 50,000 Employees
"I have a long-standing relationship with ManageEngine. OpManager has always missed one or two features that would make it truly the best tool on the market, but over it is the most comprehensive and easy to use the product on the market."
OpManager
Easy Implementation, Excellent Support & Lower Cost Tool
- Team Lead, IT Service Industry
Review Role: Infrastructure and OperationsCompany Size: 500M - 1B USD
"We have been using OpManager since 2011 and our overall experience has been excellent. The tool plays a vital role in providing the value to our organisation and to the customers we are supporting. The support is excellent and staff takes full responsibilities in resolving the issues. Innovation is never stopping and clearly visible with newer versions"
OpManager
Easy Implementation With A Feature Rich Catalogue, Support Has Some Room For Improvement
- NOC Manager in IT Service Industry
Review Role: Program and Portfolio ManagementCompany Size: 500M - 1B USD
"The vendor has been supporting during the implementation & POC phases providing trial licenses. Feature requests and feedback is usually acted upon swiftly. There was sufficient vendor support during the implementation phase. After deployment, the support is more than adequate, where the vendor could make some improvements."
OpManager
Great Monitoring Tool
- CIO in Finance Industry
Review Role: CIOCompany Size: 1B - 3B USD
"Manage Engine provides a suite of tools that have made improvements to the availability of our internal applications. From monitoring, management and alerting, we have been able to peak performance within our data center."
OpManager
Simple Implementation, Easy To Use. Very Intuitive.
- Principal Engineer in IT Services
Review Role: Enterprise Architecture and Technology InnovationCompany Size: 250M - 500M USD
"Manage Engine support was helpful and responsive to all our queries"
 
 

Case Studies - OpManager

OpManager

Hinduja Global Solutions saves $3 million a year using OpManager

Industry: IT

Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) is an Indian business process management (BPM) organization headquartered in Bangalore and part of the Hinduja Group. HGS combines technology-powered automation, analytics, and digital services focusing on back office process

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USA-Based Healthcare Organization Monitor's Network Devices Using OpManager and Network Configuration Manager

Industry: Healthcare

One of the largest radiology groups in the nation, with a team of more than 200 board-certified radiologists, provides more than 50 hospital and specialty clinic partners with on-site radiology coverage and interpretations.

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OpManager

Netherlands-based real estate data company avoids system downtime using OpManager and Firewall Analyzer

Industry: Real Estate

Vabi is a Netherlands-based company that provides "real estate data in order, for everyone." Since 1972, the company has focused on making software that calculates the performance of buildings. It has since then widened its scope from making calculations

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OpManager

Global news and media company

Industry: Telecommunication and Media

Bonita uses OpManager to monitor their network infrastructure and clear bottlenecks

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OpManager

Bonita

Industry: Businesses and Services

Bonita uses OpManager to monitor their network infrastructure and clear bottlenecks

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OpManager

Thorp Reed & Armstrong

Industry : Government

Randy S. Hollaway from Thorp Reed & Armstrong relies on OpManager for prompt alerts and reports

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