For my last blog posting, I have compiled a list of network monitoring tools that are either free or affordable for the average user. Network system monitoring is necessary for every small business or large enterprise. Knowing what sort of threats your company is at risk for will help understand why your data needs monitoring and protecting. Every system should have some sort of performance monitoring system in place. One of the top tools available (which also comes with a free 30 day trial) is from SolarWinds. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is a comprehensive network performance monitoring tool that can monitor the status of devices with SNMP. It can automatically discover network devices connected to your network. Use the dashboard to monitor the availability and performance of connected network devices from a holistic perspective. It also includes a network topology map and you can set alerts to see when issues are impacting your network. This tool costs about $2995 (below).
Some other recommended network monitors include:
- ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL) Network monitor that can monitor SNMP devices, switches, servers, and virtualized network services.
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor Free network monitoring software that uses SNMP, packet sniffing and WMI to monitor your network.
- Atera Cloud-based RMM system includes a large range of monitors – server, network device, and application – suitable for all sized businesses.
- Site24x7 Network management platform tools that can monitor network devices, websites, servers, applications, and more.
- Nagios Core – One of the top open-source network monitoring tools. Includes a dashboard view, alerts system, community plugins, and more.
- Zabbix – Open source network monitoring software with SNMP and IPMP monitoring. Includes an alerts system and community plugins.
- Icinga – Open source network monitoring system with a DSL. Includes extensions.
- Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard – Free network monitoring software with a high-quality dashboard and simple alert system.
For more information on these tools, please visit: https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/network-monitoring-tools/
Part II: Blog Lessons Learned
Writing once a week in a blog format for 10 weeks wasn't as challenging as I thought it would be. It was fairly easy to pick a topic and do some research on said topic to make a post about it. I have blogged in previous classes before so this experience isn't entirely new. It makes it easier to have a theme for the week from material covered in our chapters in class.
I think blogging during a college class helps retain the information that you are learning every week. Usually a discussion post or paper topic will align similarly to the blog posting, so I can further elaborate on the subject and understand it better. I think that blogs are useful and can provide the reader with new information and first-hand experiences/scenarios that normal news articles or websites cannot provide. Blogging is a more intimate setting and I appreciate the impact this experience has given me. As for blogging on my own, I'm not sure if it is something I would continue in my personal time, but the idea of keeping some sort of log or journal is definitely beneficial to the individual writing it and potentially other viewers.
Until next time, this is Holly G. signing out! 😏
