Network monitoring involves the use of systems to monitor computer networks for failing or slow elements, which inform the network administrator in the event of outages or other related problems. It is a component of network management. A network is actually a group of devices, which are connected or linked and can pass information through a particular communication protocol.
In this case, communication refers to the movement of data between users and instructions between nodes within networks like mobile devices, management elements, switching devices, computers, output devices, routing, and servers. Networks can be classified depending on the area they cover: WAN, Internet, or LAN. Designs of a network may differ depending on the user as well as organization requirements like mesh, ring, bus, star, etc.
Several components make a computer network. They facilitate communication between different nodes like data transport and communication protocols, network address, and techniques used during the movement of packets between different nodes in the same or different networks.
Proper network monitoring can help you stay ahead of outages. It can help you prevent problems caused by human error, environmental factors, and configuration issues. With the help of a good network monitoring application, fixing issues become easier and faster. It can help you know the actual cause of a problem.
Switching and Routing
Switching is actually a simple procedure during which data is classified into minute packets before it is moved via a network. On the other hand, routing involves identifying the ways that can facilitate the movement of packets from a source in a given network to another node in another network.
IP Address & Subnetting
If you have been into computing, IP address may not be a new thing to you. It is a reference level given to every node within a network. Other different nodes basically use it for communication as well as location. IP addresses are actually binary numbers. However, they are kept in a format that is readable: IPv6 or IPv4. The components with IP address, which create a network, can be classified into various sub-networks depending on the access, device type, and location.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
This protocol helps the management server allocate an IP address to components within its network. If it were not for the DHCP, the network admins would have challenging moments when assigning IP addresses for every host within their network manually. This can make the entire process of managing IP addresses challenging.
Domain Name System
Besides having an IP address, every element within a network can have a specific reference name. A reference name helps a user to pass relevant information using an alphabetical name that is easier to remember than an IP address. The Domain Name System maps its resource name to its IP address or accurately translates an IP address to a given name.
Network monitoring helps detect failing or slow network structures like failed switches, failing routers, frozen servers, and other problematic components. It plays an important role when it comes to checking the monitoring tracks as well as logs network components. These can involve data transmission rate, downtime/uptime, error rates, use-time percentages and time of response to the users as well as automated requests and inputs.
