Network tools

Advanced commercial tools like Obkio Network Performance Monitoring, which monitors network performance using Monitoring Agents which send synthetic UDP traffic every 500ms between each other in key network locations.3. SNMP-Based Network Monitoring Tools SNMP-based network monitoring tools use the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to monitor and manage network devices.SNMP is a protocol used to manage network devices and allows network administrators to monitor and control network devices such as routers, switches, servers, printers, and other network devices. SNMP-based network monitoring tools can collect information about the network devices such as CPU utilization, memory usage, traffic statistics, and other parameters.This information is then used by network administrators to optimize network performance, troubleshoot network problems, and plan network upgrades. SNMP-based monitoring tools can be either active or passive, and can be used to monitor both wired and wireless networks.Network Performance Monitoring tools like Obkio, also have SNMP Network Device Monitoring capabilities, which allow you to have a network, application, and network device monitoring solution in one.4. Application Performance Monitoring (APM) Tools Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools are software programs designed to monitor the performance and availability of applications in real-time. APM tools are used to identify, diagnose, and resolve performance issues that affect application performance and user experience.APM tools provide visibility into the entire application stack, including the application code, web servers, databases, and other infrastructure components by collecting various metrics related to application performance, such as response times, throughput, error rates, and resource utilization, to provide insights into application behavior and help optimize performance. They also have features such as application mapping, transaction tracing, and code-level diagnostics to help identify and diagnose performance issues.5. End-User Experience Monitoring Tools End-User Experience Monitoring (EUEM) tools are designed to track the experience of end-users while they are using an application or accessing a website. They provide visibility into how applications and services are performing for end-users, regardless of where they are accessing them from, and can help identify and troubleshoot issues related to network performance.EUEM tools collect data on a variety of user experience metrics, including page load times, response times, and error rates, among others. Some EUEM tools also offer the ability to simulate user interactions with applications, allowing IT teams to identify potential issues before they impact end-users.6. Synthetic Network Performance Monitoring Tools Synthetic Network Performance Monitoring tools are designed to simulate user behavior on a network to measure network performance. These tools generate synthetic traffic that is sent over the network and measure various performance metrics, such as latency, packet loss, and jitter.Synthetic monitoring tools are used to test the performance of new network infrastructure, as well as identifying and diagnosing problems in existing network infrastructure. They can also be used to simulate real-world scenarios, such as heavy user loads or specific types of network traffic, to test the network's performance under different conditions.Active Network Performance Monitoring tools are oftentimes also synthetic monitoring tools. A tool like Obkio generates synthetic UDP traffic to measure network performance every 500ms.Overall, synthetic network

Performance monitoring tools provide a way to proactively monitor and test network performance to ensure optimal network operation.7. Network Packet Analyzer Tools Network packet analyzers, also known as packet sniffers, protocol analyzers, or network analyzers, capture and analyze the data packets sent and received over a network. It allows network administrators and security professionals to examine the network traffic, identify the source and destination of the packets, and analyze the content of the packets to troubleshoot network issues, optimize network performance, and detect and prevent security threats.Packet analyzers can be used in wired and wireless networks, and they support a variety of network protocols and interfaces, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP, and HTTP.8. Flow-Based Network Monitoring Tools Flow-based network monitoring tools collect information about network traffic by analyzing flow data. Flow data is metadata that describes the characteristics of network traffic, such as the source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and the amount of data transmitted.Flow-based monitoring tools use this information to identify the types of traffic that are traversing the network, as well as the endpoints generating and receiving the traffic. This allows network administrators to identify which applications are consuming the most bandwidth, track usage patterns, and troubleshoot network issues.9. Cloud-Based Network Monitoring Tools Cloud-based network monitoring tools allow for network performance monitoring from a remote location. They are hosted in the cloud and use a network of servers to collect and analyze data on network traffic, application performance, and other relevant metrics.Cloud-based network monitoring tools can be accessed through a web interface, making it easy for IT professionals to monitor their network's performance from anywhere with an Internet connection. They are also often subscription-based, and they can offer features such as real-time monitoring, alerts, and reporting. They can also scale easily to accommodate growing networks and offer high availability and reliability and help organizations reduce their IT infrastructure costs by eliminating the need to purchase and maintain hardware and software on-premises.10. Wi-Fi Performance Monitoring Tools Wi-Fi Performance Monitoring Tools monitor and analyze the performance of Wi-Fi networks. They capture and analyze data from Wi-Fi devices and access points, providing insights into various Wi-Fi performance metrics such as signal strength, throughput, latency, and packet loss.Wi-Fi Performance Monitoring Tools help identify and troubleshoot Wi-Fi performance issues, optimize Wi-Fi network performance, and ensure high-quality Wi-Fi service delivery to end-users. Network Performance Monitoring Tools: Choose Your Fighter - Network EditionChoose your Ultimate Fighter: Network Performance Monitoring tool to ensure optimal network performance. Learn about the types of tools, features & uses. Learn more Which Network Performance Monitoring Tool Do You Need? As you can see, there are many types of tools you can use to monitor your network, device, and application performance. The one you use will depend on your network’s and business’ needs and resources.Keep in mind that many tools on the market can actually have features from many of the different tools listed above. For example, Obkio’s Network Performance Monitoring tool is an active monitoring tool that uses

Monitor application performance. Identifying bandwidth-intensive applications, analyzing traffic patterns, and identifying network congestion points or overall network overload.Passive Network Performance Monitoring tools do have several drawbacks, which is why they are being increasingly replaced by Active Performance Monitoring solutions.Some drawbacks include:Inability to generate traffic: Which means that they may not be able to identify issues that are only present during periods of heavy traffic.Limited scope of analysis: As they can only analyze traffic that is captured, which may not provide a complete picture of network performance.Resource intensive: They require significant resources to capture and store network traffic, which can result in performance issues on the monitored network.Potential privacy concerns: Since they capture all network traffic, including sensitive information such as passwords and confidential data. This can raise privacy concerns if the captured data is not properly secured.Complexity: They are complex to configure and use, requiring a high level of technical expertise to interpret the data collected. Active vs. Passive Network Monitoring: Which Method is Right for YouDiscover the differences, benefits, and implementation strategies of active network monitoring vs passive network monitoring. Learn more 2. Active Network Performance Monitoring Tools Active network performance monitoring tools monitor network performance by sending data packets across the network to simulate user traffic and test network performance. These tools are used to actively monitor and measure network performance, identify issues in real-time, and generate alerts when network performance falls below acceptable levels.Active network performance monitoring tools typically involve:Deploying monitoring agents or probes in key network locations for end-to-end monitoring. The agents or probes continuously send synthetic data packets across the network to measure network latency, throughput, and packet loss. These tools also allow network administrators to simulate user behavior and test how the network responds under different loads and conditions. Active network performance monitoring tools are also increasingly replacing older Passive monitoring solutions for a variety of reasons, such as:Proactive monitoring: They simulate user traffic and continuously monitor the network for potential issues, allowing IT teams to detect and address problems before they impact end-users. No packet capture: Active monitoring tools don’t capture real user traffic, which means that there are no privacy concerns related to real-user data. This also means that they can monitor performance even during low-traffic periods. Accurate measurements: Active tools can provide accurate measurements of network performance metrics such as latency, bandwidth utilization, and packet loss, as they generate their own traffic and measure the response.Complete visibility: Active tools can monitor all components of the network, including servers, switches, routers, and applications, giving IT teams complete visibility into the performance of the entire network.Flexibility: Active tools can be customized to meet specific monitoring needs and can be deployed in various locations, including the cloud, on-premises, and remote locations.Scalability: Active tools can scale to monitor large and complex networks with multiple locations, making them ideal for enterprise-level organizations.Some common examples of active network performance monitoring tools include Ping, Traceroute, which are built-in tools available in most operating systems. As well as more

As changes in traffic patterns, peak usage periods, and recurring or intermittent issues. It also allows IT teams to troubleshoot issues that happened in the past, as well as anticipate future network performance issues and plan for capacity upgrades or other network improvements.4. Network Topology Mapping:Network topology mapping involves the creation and maintenance of a map or diagram that represents the physical and logical layout of a network. Network topology mapping enables IT teams to visualize and understand the relationships between network devices, applications, and users, which can help IT teams identify potential network performance issues, security threats, and compliance risks.Once a network topology map has been created, IT pros can use it to identify potential performance bottlenecks, such as overloaded switches or routers, and to optimize network performance.5. Application Performance Monitoring:Application Performance Monitoring (APM) focuses on monitoring and analyzing the performance of specific applications running on a network. It involves the monitoring and analysis of application performance metrics, such as response time, latency, throughput, and error rates, to identify issues related to application performance, availability, and user experience.APM involves collecting data from various sources, including application logs, server logs, network traffic, and user interactions, to provide a holistic view of application performance.6. SNMP Network Device Monitoring:Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables IT teams to monitor the performance and status of network devices/ equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls and access points. SNMP Enable devices can be configured to communicate with an SNMP server that will be responsible to collect valuable data about network device ressource health and usage.Types of Network Performance Monitoring Tools Network performance monitoring is an essential task for any businesses that relies on computer networks for their daily operations. To achieve optimal network performance, businesses use a variety of Network Performance Monitoring tools and techniques to monitor and analyze network traffic, identify bottlenecks, and troubleshoot issues.One of the most important aspects of network performance monitoring is the use of specialized tools designed to collect and analyze network data in real-time - because you can’t keep an eye on everything by yourself. These tools come in many forms and are used by network administrators, engineers, and IT professionals to monitor network health, troubleshoot issues, and optimize performance.Here are some of the different types of network performance monitoring tools that are commonly used in modern networks: 1. Passive Network Performance Monitoring Tools Passive network performance monitoring tools collect and analyze data on network traffic as it flows through the network. Unlike active monitoring tools that generate synthetic traffic, passive monitoring tools capture and analyze the traffic that is already flowing through the network.Passive network performance monitoring tools are typically used to capture network traffic, measure network performance metrics, and provide visibility into network usage patterns.Passive network performance monitoring tools typically involve:Capturing and analyzing real user traffic.Analyzing packet headers and payloads to measure network performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and throughput. Providing detailed visibility into network traffic patterns, which can be used to identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and