Companies often have large numbers of different servers and networking components forming their IT infrastructures. System monitoring software helps these companies maintain their systems by providing a centralised way to monitor the various network components.
Monitor Your System – Common Network Monitoring Features
System monitoring software commonly provides extensive capabilities for checking network functionality. The software may, for example, send regular data packets (pings) to each of the server and network components to confirm they are responding.
Centralised management consoles can provide at-a-glance access to the status of the network, and these can be used alongside alerting systems so that relevant staff are informed when a networking component fails, or approaches capacity.
Remote access tools are often integrated with system monitoring solutions, allowing IT staff to make remote changes to individual servers and computers from a central location.
System Monitoring – Free Monitoring Software Options
IT professionals wishing to implement system monitoring products for their networks and servers have plenty of solutions to choose from.
Freeware monitoring suites, such as the popular Spiceworks package, are aimed at small and medium businesses and Spiceworks itself is reportedly used by in excess of one million IT professionals.
Some small business network solutions, such as Microsoft Small Business Server, provide basic monitoring features as standard. SBS, for example, is capable of sending a daily monitoring report to the network administrator, and providing alerts when server errors occur.
System Monitoring – Commercial Monitoring Software Options
Various well-known software companies produce their own monitoring software suites. Microsoft’s System Center suite has numerous modules and is a rather sophisticated product, illustrated by the fact that Microsoft offer various product training and certification tracks, specifically for the System Center product range.
System Center is a relatively high-cost product, often used within large companies, but Microsoft also offer a System Center Essentials product, aimed at smaller concerns with up to 50 servers, with this product offered at a lower price-point.
Third party software companies also offer a range of system monitoring products, including GFI with their “Network Server Monitor” package.
The popular “Servers Alive,” suite is also widely used in the industry, with modules offering compatibility with a wide range of operating system platforms.
Also deserving of a mention is the high-end HP OpenView suite, an advanced cross-platform network monitoring solution used by large enterprises.
Regardless of the size and complexity of your network, the huge range of system monitoring solutions mean there is sure to be a good product match for every network, and well-regarded freeware options mean it may cost nothing to effectively monitor your system.
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Ben Taylor - Ben is an aspiring travel writer, competent cook, Microsoft certified techno-geek, music obsessive, and recent migrant from rainy London ...
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