Network management and monitoring
Network management and monitoring are vital components of modern IT operations that help businesses run effectively and efficiently. Network observability also provides added visibility into the end-user experience. Find out how innovations such as AI, machine learning, network analytics and network automation are shaping the future of network management and monitoring.
Top Stories
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Feature
12 Dec 2024
Free network disaster recovery plan template and guide
Proper network disaster recovery planning can mean the difference between a brief disruption and extensive downtime. Download our free template to get started building a plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Dec 2024
The business case for AI-driven network orchestration
Organizations that are considering AI-driven network orchestration will find it has many business cases -- chief among them are reduced Opex and efficient resource use. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jun 2017
Chef gets compliments for network automation tool features
Networking industry pros discuss the Chef automation tool and how it can be used as a network automation tool. They also examine the evolution of AI and talk about a controller upgrade gone bad. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 May 2017
Why SDN, DevOps don't share automated network missions
SDN and DevOps may both have a role in automated network device management, but compared to SDN, DevOps has a completely different mission, our expert explains. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2017
Nyansa premieres new Voyance network analytics tools
This week, Nyansa premieres new Voyance network analytics tools, espionage takes off as a security threat and the midmarket struggles with cybersecurity. Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Apr 2017
Managing wireless networks: How to address the key challenges
One challenge in managing wireless networks is that the tools and tech are changing rapidly. Here’s what network pros need to know now. Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Apr 2017
Cloud visibility goal of Ixia CloudLens software update
Ixia takes aim at cloud visibility with its new CloudLens Public for tracking cloud performance. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Mar 2017
Customer-focused strategy more key than digital transformation hype
The tech industry's chatter about digital transformation and disruption are scare tactics that shouldn't distract companies from making purchases based on a customer-focused strategy. Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2017
Will automation define the future of network technology?
This week, bloggers look at automation as the future of network technology, weigh in on Cumulus' EVPN features and examine ExtraHop's Addy machine learning analytics. Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2017
SN blogs: Are dropped packets better than delayed packets?
This week, bloggers look into whether dropped packets are better than delayed packets, discuss cloud-based shadow IT and clarify the meaning of microservices. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2017
Trigger gets props among hot next-gen network automation tools
This week, bloggers look into network automation tools, incident response, and the new reality of MPLS and SD-WAN. Continue Reading
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News
03 Jan 2017
Nyansa user experience tools platform garners Network Innovation Award
Nyansa uses a blend of cloud-based analytics, real-time DPI and an easy-to-understand console for its user experience tools platform. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2016
Why 2017 promises to bring more network automation systems
Arista, Cisco and Juniper took steps this year toward providing better network automation systems. Next year, companies can expect to see technology from other vendors. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Nov 2016
Identifying the IT operations analytics product your enterprise needs
This guide to IT operations analytics tools explains how ITOA works so networking pros can determine the most important features and assess vendor offerings. Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2016
Startups launch verification technology to help manage networks
Forward Networks and Veriflow Systems have introduced verification technology to help engineers manage corporate networks. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2016
Nyansa adds app monitoring to network traffic analytics
Nyansa has widened the capabilities of its network traffic analytics system with the addition of application monitoring. The latest capabilities are packaged as Voyance+. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2016
Cisco pledges a quicker rollout of network automation tools
Cisco tells Partner Summit attendees it will move faster to deliver the network automation tools the vendor has been slow to provide. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2016
Is API adoption necessary for successful network automation?
This week, bloggers explore API adoption for network automation, Igneous Systems' hyperconverged cloud management and NetBeez's troubleshooting. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2016
Riverbed software update boosts performance monitoring
A Riverbed software update blends SteelCentral; Gigamon intros a security appliance; Check Point warns of 2017 ransomware threats. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2016
Intent-driven networking reshaping network service delivery
When configuring a network, engineers often focus on individual tasks to enable network service delivery. Intent-driven networking transfers the focus to the overall network. Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2016
Mist introduces new analytics capabilities for wireless
ICYMI: Mist premieres new analytics capabilities on its Wi-Fi platform, while Broadcom targets large data centers with its new switches and IDC sees more security spending. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Oct 2016
Amidst complex infrastructures, network visualization is needed
Today's networks are increasingly complex. An overhaul in network visualization is needed to help parse and diagnose modern networks. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2016
ExtraHop 6.0 adds new packet search to IT analytics platform
ExtraHop introduces a new IT analytics appliance that lets IT search and download packets associated with a particular transaction. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Sep 2016
Automation key element in network monitoring best practices
The fundamentals underpinning network monitoring might be simple, but it doesn't mean keeping tabs on your network is easy. What can you do to improve your monitoring tool framework? Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Aug 2016
Infinite options tempt, but cutting proprietary management even better
Are the bad old days of control interface proliferation back again? Patrick Hubbard says it's time for network administrators to put their foot down. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Aug 2016
ScienceLogic EM7: Network performance monitor overview
ScienceLogic EM7 is still a newcomer to the network performance monitoring market, but it offers flexible deployment options, including VMs and software-as-a-service installations. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2016
IT professionals consider network uptime
This week, bloggers weigh network uptime, workloads in the public cloud and Dell OS10. Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 May 2016
Wireless management in the cloud heralds transformation
Placing wireless management in the cloud is gaining traction among enterprises as companies examine more efficient ways to oversee their networks. It's part of a shift that's affecting network infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2016
Nyansa rethinks network performance monitor space
Cloud-based analytics, real-time DPI and an easy-to-digest console anchor Nyansa's network performance monitor for wired and wireless networks. Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2016
Cancer Center gets help from AT&T Network on Demand
Austin, Texas, Cancer Center uses AT&T's Network on Demand to get tumor diagnoses to patients faster. Continue Reading
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Podcast
06 Apr 2016
Managing apps requires holistic, reactive approach
Managing apps' performance must be planned holistically with an eye to reactive management and proactive management. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Apr 2016
Network automation scripts: Separating myth from reality
Network automation can make work easier, but be careful which processes you automate. Done wrong, automation can break more things than it fixes. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2016
ONUG hosts SDN hackathon to jump-start network automation
The Open Networking User Group is hosting the first ONUG Grand Challenge Hackathon, with the goal of encouraging the development of new automation applications. Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2016
Ansible update gets net automation for Cisco, Arista, HPE
The latest Ansible release brings net automation to infrastructure devices from Cisco, Arista Networks, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2016
Cisco targets shadow IT with online cloud security broker
Cisco has launched a cloud security broker that finds, monitors and analyzes employee use of online services. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2015
Taking a look at network automation tools to ease oversight
This week, bloggers explore network automation tools, how vendors must promote disaggregated switching and if it's time for a networking version of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2015
System management vendors target full-stack oversight
This week, bloggers explore a new breed of system management vendors, networking takeaways from the VTech breach, and endpoint detection and response. Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2015
Cisco seeks to please customers in SDN framework update
Cisco has launched an update of its SDN framework. The latest features stem from customer demands for broader support for non-Cisco technologies. Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2015
Making packet editing effective
In this week's blog roundup, networking analysts explore effective packet editing, cite some significant trends in networking and discuss the evolution of BYOD policies. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2015
When to use a packet capture appliance
This week, analysts explore best cases for packet capture appliance use, network automation and "worst practices" in network security. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2015
ExtraHop 5.0 bolsters IT operations analytics
The latest iteration of ExtraHop's IT operations analytics platform makes search easier and adds historical data. Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2015
Intel NFV: Company eyes virtualized networking market
In our latest roundup of SDN blogs, analysts explore Intel's expansion into networking, visibility in virtualized environments and the cost benefits of deploying SD-WAN. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Sep 2015
Time to erase IT friction between InfoSec, NetOps
IT friction between your security and network operations personnel sap productivity. Maybe it's time for everyone to work together. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2015
SDN blogs: How white box networking saves money
In this week's blogs, experts explain why white box networking costs less, and the differences between SD-WAN and WAN optimization. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2015
VMware NSX sales a positive sign for SDN market
VMware has reported growing NSX sales, the latest indicator that the SDN market has momentum. Rival Cisco has also reported rising SDN platform sales. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2015
SDN blogs: SD-WAN may be the answer to your problems
This week, experts discuss software-defined WANs as an alternative to traditional wide area networks. And one startup is looking to make data centers more efficient. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2015
ICYMI: International carriers deploying SDN technologies
In this week's SDN news, international telecom and Internet providers are deploying SDN technologies, while AT&T is testing a new software-defined storage platform. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
29 Jan 2015
Can a piece of software really determine if you’re ready to quit your job?
The evolution of predictive analytics technology continues to be something to keep an eye on in 2015. Although the technique is nothing new to the average consumer – we see it every time Netflix ... Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Sep 2014
Network timing: Everything you need to know about NTP
As more applications use IP networks, reliable distribution of authoritative timing information is becoming critical. Continue Reading
- Quiz 13 Jun 2014
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Opinion
04 Mar 2014
Boost your network productivity for free with 'lost things'
Like Tinker Bell, network engineers can work magic by sprinkling fairy dust on formerly dormant equipment. And it doesn't cost a cent. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Mar 2013
software-defined networking monitoring application (SDN monitoring application)
An SDN monitoring application is a software program that oversees the traffic in a software-defined network (SDN) as a component of network management. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Apr 2012
How do I disable VPN passthrough? What are the pros and cons to disabling it?
In this Ask the Expert response, Rainer Enders explains how to disable VPN passthrough and what the benefits and drawbacks are. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
04 Jan 2012
Mobile network management applications offer monitoring on the go
As smartphone and tablet devices in the enterprise grow, vendors are developing mobile network management apps for iOS and Android, offering accessible views into the network. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Feb 2009
VLANs versus IP subnets: Why use a VLAN over IP subnetting?
A virtual local area network (VLAN) is better than IP subnetting because its advantage is security. Learn what a VLAN is and how it differs from creating IP subnets, in this expert response from our networking fundamentals expert. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2008
Troubleshooting remote scripting using Network Monitor 3.0 -- Managing Windows networks using script
Learn how to use Network Monitor 3.0 for troubleshooting a remote scripting error in this tip originally published on WindowsNetworking.com. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Nov 2006
Reducing costs and generating revenue with network monitoring
Like most IT managers, you have a lot on your plate, and improving network monitoring is only one of the tasks you need to address. This article will discuss business-focused ROI around a network monitoring system (NMS) and enable you to demonstrate to enterprise business and IT leaders why implementing a monitoring solution should rise to the top of your priority list. It will focus on two key ROI factors -- reducing costs and increasing revenue -- as well as some of the metrics in these areas that allow you to better track your return. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2006
OpenNMS, an introduction: Affordable network management
Open source expert Maria Winslow brings network managers up to speed about the free open source enterprise-grade network-management system OpenNMS. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Apr 2006
Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) - Open Source Network Administration, Chapter 3
The Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is an open source tool used to monitor the traffic load on network links. In this chapter James Kretchmar tells us how MRTG produces Web pages containing PNG images, which provide a live visual representation of this traffic. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2006
Understanding network traffic flow analysis
Network traffic flow is often compared to highway traffic flow. In this tip, Lindi Horton shows parallels between those two worlds and explains why traffic flow analysis is such an essential piece of knowledge for engineering a network. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Mar 2006
Best practices for network management in the non-profit world
Discover how the Washington, D.C.-based National Parks Conservation Association developed their network management solution to ensure network uptime and availability. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Jan 2006
The importance of IP address management
IP addresses are an integral part of any corporate network, and companies large and small are consuming them faster with more applications and devices than ever before. Overlooking the importance of getting a handle on IP addresses can prove disastrous. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
26 Aug 2005
Guide to network performance management
This guide introduces you to network management best practices and pitfalls to avoid, and provides troubleshooting help and advice for monitoring and maintaining your network for best performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Aug 2005
Troubleshooting Windows VPN servers
There are several aspects of the Windows remote access server that can create issues when a VPN client connects. This article focuses on some common trouble spots on the server side and offers steps to help pinpoint the problem. Continue Reading
- Answer 08 Aug 2005
- Answer 24 Feb 2005
- Answer 10 Feb 2005
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Tip
27 Jan 2005
Network administrator security policies
Some security policy elements that are specific to network administrators. Continue Reading
- Answer 22 Sep 2004
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Answer
10 Aug 2004
What are the main challenges facing DNS management today?
What are the main challenges facing DNS management today? Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jun 2004
Monitor your traffic with MRTG
The Multi Router Traffic Grapher is a free tool that can help you monitor the traffic on your network. Learn more here. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jun 2004
The Network Life Cycle
Each phase of the NLC has its own requirements that can typically be met with a judicious selection of tools and assessment solutions. Continue Reading
- Answer 23 Apr 2004
- Answer 23 Apr 2004