The Best Network Monitoring Tools for Better Results
Network inventory is a process of creating the list of devices, such as computers, servers, routers, and printers, connected to the inventoried network. The amount of information one can obtain depends on whether the person who performs the inventory has the administrator privileges.
The most basic network inventory is a list of devices. However, the deeper it gets the more data it contains: details about software installed, hotfixes applied, serial numbers, management change, and more.
How inventory software helps you manage network assets
If you’re administering a network or multiple networks, it is rather important to have an up-to-date and detailed network inventory at hand. For example, staying in the know of what software is running on your network can save time, troubleshooting costs, and spare you from expensive IT audits.
A high-quality software inventory tool helps you keep track of software licenses, so you don't have to worry about not complying. Central management of software licenses can help prevent the loss of data.
Here are the best network discovery tools
Network Inventory Advisor
Network Inventory Advisor from ClearApps can be used on Mac or Windows machines and offers a quick and reliable audit results for all software and hardware on the network. Network Inventory Advisor discovers all network assets automatically, thoroughly scans them and builds comprehensive ready-to-use reports. It can even discover and build reports for standalone assets, such as printers, keyboards, sound devices, and your office furniture as manually added nodes.
Ideal for small to large businesses
Strong fault management tools
Multiple reports generation
Highly customizable admin dashboard
Simultaneous support for multiple networks
Works on Mac and Windows OS
Hardware monitoring and reports
Integration with your remote desktop app
Lansweeper is a network inventory tool for Windows networks. This network discovery and asset management tool is automatic and has a web interface.
For small to large business
Basic free version with several paid plans
Automatic network mapping
Device shutdown and startup according to schedule
Doesn't require administrator approval for changes
Total Network Inventory software from Softinventive is a PC audit and network inventory software for small office use and large-scale enterprise networks. TNI software scans computers remotely and generates reports with information about operating system, service packs, hotfixes, software, hardware, processes running, etc.
Good for small to large businesses
A poor set of fault management features
Admin dashboard is not customizable
Network mapping is not automated
Doesn't require administrator approval for changes
ManageEngine OpManager is a network management solution for large businesses, service providers and SMEs. With OpManager monitoring tool one gets clear management and monitoring of a network and configuration, firewall log, quality bandwidth analysis, management of IP address and switchport, as well as fault management.
Monitors devices using SNMP, WMI, SSH/Telnet
Supports mobile devices (Android/iOS)
Scheduled Device Startup/Shutdown
Scheduled Changes of Configuration
Unconventional and complex interface is tricky to use
Needs a lot of manual configuration
Doesn't allow to customize admin dashboard
Spiceworks inventory is an IT network management software created for networks with up to 1,000 devices. This solution offers automated scans, generates reports, tracks IT services. It is a help desk software, asset management solution, network inventory app, and much more.
Supports multiple devices
Notifies of changes in real time
Not suitable for large businesses
No security management options
Doesn't generate performance report
Doesn't offer accounting management
Very few fault management features
Web interface is slow and becomes bulky as your network grows
Solarwinds Network topology mapper
Solarwinds offers Network Topology Mapper — a tool that will automatically map your network. It creates hardware inventory and switch port usage reports. This solution automatically generates network maps upon scanning your network. The maps can be exported to MS Visio, SolarWinds Network Atlas, and PDF format. Scans can be scheduled up to your convenience and you get detailed inventory reports.
For small to large businesses
Requires admin approval for changes
Notifies of changes in real time
Automatic network mapping
Few possibilities for performance management
No security management options
No accounting management options
Very few configuration management features
Doesn't offer remote administration
Doesn't offer network discovery
This is how a network inventory report is collected
Network inventory collectors are divided into two main groups: first group scans devices with the help of agents that they install on devices on the network, second group scans everything remotely without any agent software.
For the first group you'll need to deploy scanning agents on every computer on your network. Once installed these agents scan the computer and report to the main module.
Good thing about agents is they don't need to remotely connect to a scanned device, so there are no issues with firewalls and antivirus apps. You just need to make sure it is set at the correct administrator level and can call home to the central module. What's not so nice about having to deal with agents is the installation process on every computer on the network and then updating every module once new version is released.
Agentless inventory scanners usually don't need anything additional to be installed - all computers and devices over network are scanned directly from central location. If your network is set up properly, you'll find using agentless solutions to be way more convenient.
Free network monitoring software vs. paid solutions
Some network monitoring tools are offered for free, some are paid, however even with paid apps most of the time you have the possibility to test the trial version in full before buying a licensed version.
Keeping the whole network safe is a serious matter, so searching the web for cracks and key generators is ridiculously unprofessional and puts your network under a great danger of letting the viruses and spy software in. There is no point of such a risk when talking about protecting and keeping track of everything going on in the network. Also no reliable vendor will provide technical help to someone trying to obtain software illegally. This can even attract claims against you.
If you are interested in a tool like Network Inventory Advisor, but right now you are looking for a lower price, feel free to email at [email protected] to see what current promos you can get into.
Source:Â https://www.network-inventory-advisor.com/best-network-monitoring-tools.html