Monitoring Network Devices

Network device monitoring software can use different protocols and techniques to determine network availability, functionality, and performance. Some of the most used network device monitoring protocols and techniques include SNMP and syslog.

SNMP, or Simple Network Management Protocol, is perhaps the most common network management protocol. SNMP allows administrators to collect performance data from multiple network devices simultaneously, before storing and analyzing the data in a centralized location. Monitoring software installed on each host device collects performance metrics and relays them back to the central manager, which organizes the information into database tables where it can be monitored for signs of errors and latent performance issues.

Syslog, on the other hand, is an automatic messaging system that allows admins to receive notifications from network devices in response to specified events and contingencies. Once configured, the networked device can generate syslog data about errors, unexpected shutdowns, misconfigurations, and other events, which in turn provides admins with information for security and system management purposes.

After the network monitoring software has gathered information from one of these sources, it typically compares the performance metrics of the networked devices against predetermined thresholds and can send notifications if the tool detects issues like high error rates, overly long response times, or slow network throughput.

Network device monitoring provides critical visibility into the performance of the endpoints and nodes within your environment. If your system is experiencing unexpected slowdowns, it will likely affect your end users or customers. However, without the proper tools to track down the root source of the problem, troubleshooting issues can be challenging.

Network device monitoring software should not only offer visibility into vital performance metrics but also include capabilities to streamline your responsibilities as an administrator. Tools with automation incorporated can significantly improve the efficiency of your device monitoring and troubleshooting tasks by supporting your ability to:

• Automatically detecting network nodes and apply appropriate predefined configuration templates to devices.


• Mapping and visualizing your network infrastructure in detail, with the ability to organize or filter your IT systems by device type or by other logical groups.


• Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of device monitoring and troubleshooting.


• Providing analytical tools to allow you to uncover the root cause of performance problems.


• Offering robust reporting and graphing features that can be scheduled to run at regular intervals and automatically delivered to key stakeholders.

If your networked devices aren’t functioning properly, the potential effects can be wide reaching.

Network device monitoring provides the ability to detect potential performance issues while they’re still latent and can allow you to address the cause before a full-blown problem develops. Continuously monitoring network devices is essential for critical infrastructure like servers, switches, and routers, but devices like end-user workstations and printers can also be monitored at longer intervals for greater efficiency. Software with pre-built or customizable monitoring templates can even allow you to gather information about the most important performance metrics and parameters for each device type.

If most of your network issues are being reported by end users, it can be a sign of insufficient proactive monitoring. Network downtime can be incredibly costly in terms of operating expenses and company reputation, so it’s critical for administrators to have solutions in place for monitoring devices and endpoints.

By collecting performance metric data in real time, network device monitoring software helps create a more detailed picture of overall network health—and can be the tool that allows you proactively detect and resolve performance bottlenecks. Integrated alerting systems can also notify you the moment vital metrics are nearing or reach critical performance thresholds, when a device goes offline, and in response to various other contingencies, helping you stay up to date and keeping resolution times low.

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) offers features and tools for monitoring your infrastructure and devices for signs of active or developing issues and to support you more easily analyzing performance patterns and troubleshooting outages.

This software is also designed to provide deeper visibility into the most critical metrics and parameters, allowing you to quickly know how your network infrastructure is performing, with the ability to drill down to specific alert messages and  associated troubleshooting suggestions provided by NPM in just a few clicks.

Additionally, the NetPath^™ feature can provide hop-by-hop analysis for traffic paths, whether your systems are hosted on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid setup. You can also use the PerfStack dashboard to easily drag and drop cross-stack network and performance data onto the same timeline for faster correlation of events, analysis, and resolution time.

SolarWinds NPM also includes customizable alerting and reporting tools to help you stay informed of developing issues and performance patterns over time. Ultimately, by deepening your understanding of what optimal health and performance mean for your network, NPM is designed to help you improve the efficiency of your operations. 

NPM includes additional capabilities designed to help administrators troubleshoot and resolve network issues fast. The packet capture and analysis feature, for instance, can help provide insight into whether a fault or error with the network or application is causing end-user performance issues. In addition to monitoring network device performance, NPM can also collect data about critical hardware health parameters like temperature and fan speeds.

NPM is a highly customizable tool. Out of the box, the software offers preset monitoring templates for different device types and vendors, allowing you to start taking steps toward optimizing the efficiency and maximizing the uptime of your network as soon as it’s up and running. These monitoring templates are designed to include the most important metrics for your applications, firewalls, routers, servers, switches, and other cross-stack infrastructure components. In addition to these preset templates, NPM also includes the ability to create custom dashboards based on the specific monitoring needs of your network.