With a topology map, you can trace paths end-to-end from one device to another. Our research indicates that the SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper is the best software to draw network diagrams because this creates the network topology diagrams automatically while letting you make manual adjustments. For most purposes, you will also be served well by using Microsoft Visio , Intermapper , Lucidchart , and ConceptDraw Pro along with most other tools mentioned in this post.
The best topology for networks is the star topology. All devices are linked to a switch with a cable plugging into a separate socket for each device. Switches themselves are then linked together in order to cover the entire enterprise. Wireless networks model the star topology.
A logical network diagram shows the links between all devices in a schematic style. A physical network diagram adjusts the links between devices to accurately depict distances. Some network topology mappers will show the real network with actual device locations plotted onto floor plans and real-world maps. The easiest way to get a full map of all devices on your network is to use a network topology mapper. Do you have a favorite network mapping tool?
Do you use any of the topology tools on our list? Leave a message in the comments section and share your experience with the community. Related: Guide to Network Topologies. Spiceworks Network Mapping Tool website is borked. And i found a post in their community forums from a potential user that suggests it relies on Flash for operation. I understand. Spiceworks seems to have given up the fight. It was really, really good a while back and I put it in my top 10 for a lot of articles but recently, I have been going back through my work and toning down my enthusiasm for Spiceworks.
Thanks, Stephen. Thanks for the tip. However, we periodically review each of our recommendations and when we cycle through this list, we will consider your suggestion. We appreciate your engagement. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Comparitech uses cookies.
More info. Menu Close. We are reader supported and may receive a commission when you make purchases using the links on our site. Getting a layout of your network really helps your planning and management processes. We show you the best network mapping software which was put together to benefit network administrators. Stephen Cooper. Auto-detects all updates and changes to your network in real-time. Available for Windows Server and Linux. Microsoft Visio A graphics package with a library of network symbols.
Intermapper Get network maps generated automatically through network discovery or draw your own from scratch. Lucidchart A chart editor with a library of network symbols. It can import maps from other utilities for editing. ConceptDraw Pro A graphics editor with a network symbol library.
Can import and export maps. LANFlow A chart creation and editing package with a network symbol library. NetProbe A full network monitoring system that includes a live map feature. Runs on Windows. Network Notepad A network map graphic editor that includes network discovery features. D3M A network map editor for sales agents that can generate quotes. Creately Available as downloadable software or as a cloud service, this is a network map creation editor. The best network mapping software What should you look for in network mapping and topology software?
We reviewed the network mapping and topology software market and analyzed the options based on the following criteria: Automated device discovery for topology mapping data sources A live redrawing of the map to account for recent layout changes A choice of views, such as all devices or just Layer 2 The ability to integrate with live device status data A system that can map wireless networks and WANs as well as LANs A free trial or money-back guarantee for no-risk assessment A price that offers a good deal for the amount of services provided.
Cons: Would like to see a longer trial period. Key Features: Network autodiscovery and vizualization Tagging and filters enhance search capabilities Live mapping and traffic patterns. Pros: Has one of the best interfaces for network mapping Uses live network mapping to pull in new devices, and reflects changes in the network right away Features data flow analysis to help administrators understand dependencies as well as performance metrics between devices Subscription model makes DataDog accessible to any size business.
Cons: Would like to see a longer 30 day trial period. Pros: Supports network and server monitoring capabilities built into the topology map Has an option to simulate and track physical connections, great for messy switches and larger complex networks Uses both Ping and SNMP to discover devices, making it more thorough than some smaller tools Maps are automatically redrawn when a device changes, keeping it up to date and accurate every time it is viewed Available on both Linux and Windows.
Cons: Is a feature-rich tool that requires time spent with the product to fully learn all of its features. Pros: Easy to use, part of the Microsoft Suite Good for network planning and theoretical designs Widely used file format. Cons: Only available in Windows Lacks live network auto-discovery builtin Fairly expensive when compared to its competitors. Key Features: Autodiscovery and automatic map drawing Topology map editor Free version.
Pros: Offers a free and paid version Is capable of using auto-discovery to find new devices Features SLA compliance reporting, good for MSPs and larger networks Available on Window, Linux, and Mac, making it a flexible option across multiple operating systems.
Cons: Dated user interface is clunky Visual options are limited Maps are generally not visually appealing, not great if used in a presentation. Pros: Uses a simple color scheme and interface that makes maps look great Features a free and paid version Can import maps saved in Visio format, making this a good option if you plan to ditch Visio Team version allows for collaboration Is available multi-platform as well as on iOS and Android devices.
Ease of use: Interfaces vary wildly depending on the type and sophistication of the network monitoring system. While some offer only simple alerts and command-based interfaces, others may provide a graphical user interface to improve functionality.
Many modern network monitoring tools have web-based and mobile-based interfaces. Automation: Basic monitoring systems rely on an administrator to see results and act on them, but many companies are turning to automated systems that handle events themselves.
These systems are designed to trigger events when network data falls outside set parameters, functionally eliminating the middle man and improving response time for network errors. What Does Network Monitoring Watch? Devices or programs that hog your bandwidth may need to be replaced. Application performance: Applications running on your network need to function properly, and network monitoring systems can test to be sure that they do.
Network monitoring systems can test the response time and availability of network-based databases, virtual machines, cloud services and more to be certain that they are not slowing down your network. Network configuration: Network monitoring systems can supervise many kinds of devices, including cell phones, desktops and servers. Some systems include automatic discovery, which allows them to log and track devices continuously as they are added, changed or removed.
These tools can also segregate devices according to their type, service, IP address or physical location, which helps keep the network map updated and helps plan for future growth.
How Does Network Monitoring Work? Some of the more common general techniques used to collect data for monitoring software are listed below: Ping: A ping is one of the most basic techniques that monitoring software uses to test hosts within a network. The monitoring system sends out a signal and records data such as whether the signal was received, how long it took the host to receive the signal, whether any signal data was lost and more.
The data is then used to determine whether the host is active, how efficient the host is, the transmission time and packet loss experienced when communicating with the host and other information. The manager collects this information in a database and analyzes it for errors. This is the most widely used protocol for modern network management systems.
Syslog: Syslog is an automated messaging system that sends messages when an event affects a network device. Technicians can set up devices to send out messages when the device encounters an error, shuts down unexpectedly, encounters a configuration failure and more.
These messages often contain information that can be used for system management as well as security systems. Scripts: In networks with gaps in network monitoring software functionality, scripts may be used to fill small gaps.
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Learn how network monitoring software provides network insights and performance issue solutions Learn how network monitoring software provides network insights and performance issue solutions. What is network monitoring software? Download Free Trial Learn More. Why is network monitoring software important? Network monitoring software requirements Network monitoring software is only effective if all the right capabilities are in place.
How network monitoring tools work While network monitoring tools often have many features, they rely on a number of core functions to get the job done.
Official Site: solarwinds. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring is a cloud-based SaaS infrastructure monitoring service that examines network traffic flows. It is partnered by a Network Device Monitoring service, which focuses on the statuses of each device on the network, such as switches, routers, and appliances. The Network Performance Monitor is able to blend together the network monitoring effort for many sites and also include cloud resources.
As a SaaS package, the service includes the processor to run the monitoring software and storage space for gathered statistics. As well as displaying live statuses , this network monitoring service offers packet capture and analysis utilities. The Datadog Network Performance Monitoring service begins its work by exploring your network and identifying each device. This autodiscovery service means all of the setup of the monitoring system is performed for you.
The network discovery routine creates a device inventory , which forms an index for the entire monitoring service. Once all devices and links have been identified, you can get an overview of all network activity from the Datadog dashboard. The service also draws up a network topology map and that can be used to get quick insights into each node or link.
The map is clickable, creating a link through to device statistics and performance details. That information also extends to Internet connections out to other sites and cloud resources. The network exploration services of Datadog are recursive, so they automatically spot any changes you make to your network.
This adjusts the network inventory and the network topology map without any human intervention. Traffic flow analysis features in the Datadog tool enable you to examine each device and link to discover total capacity and utilization. You can check on traffic volumes from one point on the network to another and also identify the activity on each link. Traffic statistics can be filtered by protocol, endpoint, or conversation because the Datadog system examines the headers of each packet, enabling even live data to be analyzed as at passes through your routers and switches.
You can opt to store traffic for historical analysis, examining the volumes of traffic caused by specific conversations. The analysis features let you see which applications or endpoints generate the most traffic on your network.
Specialist network service monitoring in the package adds supervision of DNS server activities. As well as providing one centralized view of all of your networks, the Datadog Network Performance Monitoring service will integrate with other Datadog monitoring services, such as the Network Device Monitoring system or the Datadog APM.
Combining monitoring packages adds functionality to the network monitoring service. You can get a day free trial of the network monitoring system. ManageEngine OpManager is a network monitoring solution that can monitor the performance of network devices, servers, routers, switches, and virtual machines in real-time. Customizable dashboards provide over widgets for you to create a unique monitoring experience.
SNMP monitoring keeps you updated on the performance of devices within your network. For increased visibility, you can use the network mapping feature to automatically discover and map new devices. The alerts system helps you to respond to performance changes quickly.
ManageEngine OpManager correlates network events and only presents relevant alerts to the user while minimizing false positives. The program sends alerts by email and SMS to keep you updated on any emerging problems. ManageEngine OpManager is an all-in-one network monitor that is recommended for users that want a simple infrastructure monitoring tool. The Site24x7 cloud-based network monitoring tool that covers IT infrastructure, applications, and user behavior. The network monitoring section of the tool is able to automatically discover all devices attached to the network.
Site24x7 compiles an equipment inventory from the results of that search and then draws up network topology maps automatically. The inventory and maps all get updated automatically whenever equipment gets added, moved, or removed. This system is built into all network devices. It just needs an SNMP manager to request status information from the agent software that is loaded onto every switch and router by their manufacturers.
Site24x7 fulfills that SNMP manager. SNMP includes a procedure that allows device agents to send a notification to the manager when it discovers a critical condition on the device that it is monitoring. This message gets converted into a warning or an alert by the Site24x7 dashboard, depending on the severity rating marked on the message from the agent.
Site24x7 monitors switches, routers, firewall appliances, power supplies, load balancers, wireless networks, cloud services, and WAN connections. The monitor focuses on connected hardware. A wider view of the Site24x7 package shows that the system also monitors other hardware, such as endpoints and servers. It also tracks the performance of applications.
A user behavior module in the package is of particular use to businesses that run websites. It includes real user monitoring to analyze typical buyer journeys and also synthetic web transaction monitoring , which simulates access to a website. Site24x7 offers a free network monitoring service. However, this is just a straightforward Ping-based uptime monitor for up to 50 URLs or servers.
The cloud platform offers a range of system monitoring and management tools and these are packaged in editions. There are five editions in total:. All of these packages include the network monitoring service. Each of the Site24x7 plans is available on a day free trial. Checkmk is a system monitoring package that is able to track the performance of networks, servers, and applications. The network monitor can be used for LANs and wireless networks , so it can also be useful for following activity on networks that use both wired and wireless technology.
This network monitoring system starts its service by searching the network and identifying all connected devices. The package also creates a live network map. The base package of Checkmk is completely free to use. There is also a paid version of the system, called Checkmk Enterprise , which has an edition that caters to managed service providers. As a free tool, the basic service is very attractive to small businesses and companies on a tight budget. The monitor queries switches, routers, and firewalls through the SNMP system.
All of your network devices will already have SNMP agents installed on them but that function might need to be enabled. The Checkmk software polls agents for status reports. The responses get compiled into live reports on network readiness and capacity performance. The dashboard allows network managers to get an overview of all activity and then has a number of options to drill down through to reports on individual devices both live and over time.
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