Top 10 Network Monitoring Platforms in 2022

To put it mildly, the world of Network Monitoring Platforms, Applications, and Vendors is Massive. Nearly every year, new applications, tools, and utilities are released to compete in the IT, server, and system monitoring software market.

 

As we enter the new decade, you must immediately find a solution that satisfies all of your requirements.

 

We searched through as many applications as we could discover, compiled the finest ones in an easy-to-read manner, and emphasized each one's key advantages and reasons for being among the most excellent tools for usage in your IT infrastructure and organization.

 

What is Network Monitoring?

 

A computer network will systematically try to discover sluggish or malfunctioning systems using network monitoring, a component of network management, earlier they cause issues. For instance, faulty routers, overcrowded, frozen, or crashed servers, as well as other problematic components, may all contribute to network disruptions or failures. 

 

The network monitoring system's job is to promptly notify the system administrator if a malfunction should develop and cause an outage.

 

Usually, network administrators use software programs and network monitoring devices to keep an eye on and administer a connection. 

 

Users may track performance and determine whether a web service is adequately linked to global networks and operating as intended with the use of these network monitoring services. In truth, a lot of network monitoring platforms also provide an end-to-end network visualization.

 

Also Read | Network Management: Features, Components & Benefits

 

How Do Tools For Monitoring Secure Networks Operate?

 

A simple network monitoring tool called Ping checks the reachability and availability of hosts in an IP address. Data from pings can be used to check whether such a networking host is up or to calculate the data loss and communication time experienced while contacting a host.

 

Various other technologies used to evaluate the performance of the network also keep an eye on business networks' functionality. Network monitoring systems use software for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and mail server (POP3 server) surveillance to track internet activity.

 

What Qualities Must Network Monitoring Platforms Have?

 

We looked at the network monitoring software industry and evaluated the products using the following standards:

 

1. An automated system that allows for unsupervised network monitoring.

2. A device discovery process that generates an asset inventory automatically.

3. Communication over a network service that provides real-time device status information.

4. Problems are warned about in advance.

5. The capability to use SNMP to connect with network devices.

6. A demo or free trial for a cost-free evaluation.

7. A bundle with good value that offers surveillance for all connected devices at a fair price.

 

We have created a shortlist of relevant network monitoring tools for any and all computer systems with all these evaluation requirements in mind.

 

What Makes Network Monitoring Important?

 

Network difficulties can affect the organization's operational IT productivity and affect organization dependability. By facilitating the early discovery of problems, network monitoring offers the business a number of significant advantages, including:

 

1. Cost savings are achieved by minimizing downtime and accelerating maintenance by aiding with root cause investigation or highlighting over- or under-utilized network components. Network resources can concentrate on useful activities rather than searching for issues all the time.

 

2. Performance issues can be discovered before they affect business operations or diminish consumer satisfaction.

 

3. By identifying unusual traffic or unfamiliar devices interacting with the networking, network security may be improved. These might be early warning signs of ransomware assaults or other intrusions.

 

4. Early detection of use spikes, such as login storms or seasonal network spikes, enables network managers to take corrective action to prevent users from being negatively affected.

 

5. The use of rogue applications can be detected. Network monitoring can determine which programs and individuals are performing what tasks on the networks. Each business entity might have a collection of applications they want to watch.

 

Also Read | Network Security: Advantages & Disadvantages

 

Top Network Monitoring Platforms & Tools

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Top 10 Network Monitoring Tools

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The most recent tools and software to make sure your networking is constantly watched and maintained throughout the day to assure the maximum uptimes are listed below. The majority of them provide digital versions or trials that you may use for 15 to 30 days to see if they satisfy your needs.

 

1. Datadog Network Monitoring

 

A cloud-based SaaS infrastructure management solution called Datadog Network Performance Monitoring looks at network bandwidth. A network device surveillance platform, which emphasizes the conditions of each wireless router, including switches, routers, and devices, is linked with it.

 

When using Datadog Network Device Monitoring, the alerting mechanism may be expanded to send out an alert if one or more of the metrics the system collects exceeds a given threshold. 

 

To get notifications for any circumstance, you may specify your own thresholds. The Network Performance Monitor also has a warning mechanism, so when bottlenecks begin to emerge, traffic restrictions will be noted.

 

2. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

 

PRTG Network Monitor by Paessler is a free network monitoring package that keeps an eye on your network using SNMP, packet sniffing, and WMI. Search for and add devices to be monitored by scanning network components.

 

To keep an eye on different parts of your network, you may pick from a variety of sensors. Each sensor tracks a different value within your networking; for example, there are monitors for broadband measurement, hardware variables, network data utilization, SNMP, VOIP, QoS, and more.

 

In the event that a sensor's state changes, a value shift, or a threshold is crossed, the target level alerts mechanism keeps the user informed. There are several formats for announcements, as well as for email, text messaging, SMS, Slack notifications, Syslog emails, SNMP traps, HTTP actions, and program execution.

 

3. Site24x7 Network Monitoring

 

The cloud-based network management program Site24x7 monitors user activity, apps, and IT infrastructural facilities. The tool's network monitoring feature has the ability to instantly find every connected device.

 

From the outcomes of the inquiry, Site24x7 creates an inventory of the equipment before automatically generating network topology diagrams. When machinery is added, relocated, or withdrawn, the inventory, maps, and other related documents are all updated automatically.

 

When a critical situation is found on a device that is being monitored, SNMP contains a mechanism that enables device agents to notify the management. Dependent on the severity rating indicated on the communication from the agent, the Site24x7 dashboard converts this communication into caution or an alert.

 

4. Progress WhatsUp Gold

 

Network device health is checked via the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) by Progressive Software Corporation's WhatsUp Gold system performance analyzer.

 

You may add on additional services, such as continuous integration, log management, access management, and traffic intelligent algorithms, thanks to the software's flexible price structure.

 

The autodiscovery component is a part of the WhatsUp Gold system. This initializes the inventories of the monitoring equipment and then keeps checking for alterations to the network's capabilities. The network inventory will be updated by the software automatically if any gadgets are added, relocated, or deleted.

 

WhatsUp Gold also comes with a routing protocol mapper that leverages information from your equipment inventories to produce network maps dynamically.

 

5. Domotz

 

A cloud-based platform called Domotz provides network monitoring. Additionally, it features a multi-tenant setup for usage by managed services companies and can unify the management of several networks.

 

Any typical Web browser can log in to the system through an appealing cloud-based dashboard.

 

Installing an agent on a host linked to the network that will be watched is required to set up an account. Additionally, the package comes with tools for managing endpoints, networks, and workloads.

 

Also Read | What is Open Cloud Computing interface?

 

6. Zabbix

 

It is simple to configure the application for monitoring thanks to Zabbix network monitoring patterns.

 

There are predefined layouts, as an illustration, for manufacturers like Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, Intel, Netgear, and others. You may acquire even more community themes from the Zabbix community website if you need more diversity.

 

Zabbix includes an alerting mechanism that makes sure customers can respond to alarms in a timely manner. To keep you informed about changing network system vulnerabilities, alerts are provided by email, SMS, messenger, jabber, or custom scripts.

 

To ensure that the receiver's point of contact has had everything necessary to reopen wisely, the warning description may be tailored depending on the receiver.

 

7. Auvik

 

A variety of system management tools are included in the cloud-based network monitoring solution known as Auvik.

 

Once you open a bank account and retrieve the packages using a Web browser, the installation procedure for collectors on your computer. The Auvik program can oversee and centralize the monitoring of several locations. The suite is therefore perfect for WAN monitoring.

 

A network discovery procedure is the first step in the services provided by Auvik. This dynamically fills in all of the fundamental data required for the monitor to function. The ongoing identification service will detect when electronic features are attached to the network.

 

8. ManageEngine OpManager

 

ManageEngine OpManager is a network monitoring utility that really can track the functioning of virtualization, servers, gateways, and exchanges in real-time. Over 200 widgets are available on the configurable dashboards so you may design a special monitoring interface.

 

You are kept informed about the functionality of the connections in your network thanks to SNMP monitoring.

 

The communication over a network tool lets you instantly find and map devices for better visibility. Once new devices have connected to your network, network discovery may be scheduled to find them.

 

9. HelpSystems InterMapper

 

On its home screen, HelpSystems Intermapper provides a network map. Nevertheless, this tool provides more than simply a picture of your network. That network map, to begin with, is a result of an autodiscovery mechanism.

 

The network probe rotates continuously, and if the network's configuration changes, the networking map is immediately updated. The system is always in operation.

 

Each statistic that the monitor measures, such as CPU capability or interface throughput, may have its effectiveness attribute specified. This makes it easier for you to keep an eye on SLA-related factors like availability because the system will warn you whenever one of those thresholds is crossed.

 

10. Nagios Core

 

An open-source network monitor termed Nagios Core offers a graphical interface for observing system performance.

 

Your Hosting Status Totals and Managed Service Condition Totals are split down the middle of the screen, allowing you to keep track of your Current Network Status through into the client network connection. 

 

You can quickly identify parts that are inaccessible or compromised thanks to the GUI's color-coding. Utilize the alerting feature, which delivers email and SMS messages, to keep track of performance occurrences. 

 

To discover when and what warnings were produced, check out the Alert History section. Additionally, the list of notifications is color-coded, allowing you to rank the importance of each alarm.

 

Also Read | 10 Types of Software Testing

 

 

Network Monitoring Vs Application Performance Monitoring

 

The effectiveness of the networking equipment that runs the networking is an issue of network monitoring. Monitoring network performance is the term used for this task. Network traffic evaluation is another primary function of network monitoring, which involves analyzing road traffic.

 

Monitoring the programs that produce or receive traffic is a part of certain internet traffic monitoring jobs, but the viability of the apps is not a concern of those surveillance duties.

 

Application performance monitoring keeps an eye on whether apps can access all the assets they require to run efficiently. The network's accessibility is one of such capabilities.

 

Choosing a Network Monitoring Tool

 

Due to their interdependence in assuring effective delivery of services to target consumers, server, software, archive, and network administration tasks are frequently combined in many IT organizations.

 

All of these organizational infrastructure components can be covered by bundled software applications that incorporate monitoring tools. A simple command-line application may be used as a network monitoring tool.

 

Networking technology requires a wide range of specialized tasks. At the most basic level, you need to be aware of the network's physical components, such as the cable or optical fiber used to carry LAN data or the emitters used to generate radio waves for wireless connections.

 

Additionally, you must make sure that now the network is safeguarded and that the structure's environment is acceptable for your technology.

 

Conclusion

 

All of the tools included in this study have the potential to remotely monitor networks, i.e., access to another location over the network and keep track of every element of network operation.

 

Software installed on a cloud server may do remote monitoring just as readily as software installed on a server located in the exact same location as the systems administrator.