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The Best Network Monitoring Tools & Software
UPDATED: September 11, 2023
The realm of Network Monitoring Tools, Software, and Vendors is Huge, to say the least. New software, tools, and utilities are being launched almost every year to compete in an ever-changing marketplace of IT monitoring, server monitoring, and system monitoring software.
We've gone through as many tools as we could find and rounded up the best ones in an easy-to-read format and highlighted their main strengths and why we think they are in the top class of tools to use in your IT infrastructure and business.
Some of the features we are looking for are device discovery, uptime/downtime indicators, along with robust and thorough alerting systems (via email/SMS), NetFlow and SNMP Integration as well as considerations that are important with any software purchase such as ease of use and value for money.
The features from above were all major points of interest when evaluating software suites for this article and we'll try to keep this article as updated as possible with new feature sets and improvements as they are released, as newer versions of the tools below will likely be released throughout the years.
Here is our list of the top network monitoring tools:
- Auvik – EDITOR'S CHOICE This cloud platform provides modules for LAN monitoring, Wi-Fi monitoring, and SaaS system monitoring. The network monitoring package discovers all devices, maps the network, and then implements automated performance tracking. Get a 14-day free trial.
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor – FREE TRIAL The leading network monitoring system that uses SNMP to check on network device statuses. This monitoring tool includes autodiscovery that compiles an asset inventory and automatically draws up a network topology map. Runs on Windows Server. Start 30-day free trial.
- Checkmk – FREE TRIAL This hybrid IT infrastructure monitoring package includes a comprehensive network monitor that provides device status tracking and traffic analysis functions via the integration with ntop. Available as a Linux install package, Docker package, appliance and cloud application available in cloud marketplaces. Get a 30-day free trial.
- Datadog Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL Provides good visibility over each of the components of your network and the connections between them – be it cloud, on-premises or hybrid environment. Troubleshoot infrastructure, apps and DNS issues effortlessly.
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor – FREE TRIAL A collection of monitoring tools and many of those are network monitors. Runs on Windows Server. Start a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine OpManager – FREE TRIAL An SNMP-based network monitor that has great network topology layout options, all based on an autodiscovery process. Installs on Windows Server and Linux.
- NinjaOne RMM – FREE TRIAL This cloud-based system provides remote monitoring and management for managed service providers covering the systems of their clients.
- Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL A cloud-based monitoring system for networks, servers, and applications. This tool monitors both physical and virtual resources.
- Atera – FREE TRIAL A cloud-based package of remote monitoring and management tools that include automated network monitoring and a network mapping utility.
- ManageEngine RMM Central – FREE TRIAL A powerful asset and network management that includes patching, remote access, and automated remediation.
- Domotz A cloud-based package of network monitoring and management tools that also offers a multi-tenant architecture that is suitable for use by managed service providers.
- Nagios XI An extensible infrastructure monitor, based on the free Nagios Core, that has thousands of free plugins available. Runs on Linux.
- Zabbix A free monitoring system that covers networks, servers, and applications. Available for Linux, macOS, and Unix.
- Incinga 2 Developed from a fork of Nagios Core, this free infrastructure monitor will also take plugins written for Nagios. Installs on Linux.
- Progress WhatsUp Gold An SNMP-based network monitor that can be expanded by buying add-ons to monitor other infrastructure. Installs on Windows Server.
- ConnectWise Automate A competent infrastructure monitoring system that includes many task automation tools. Installs on Windows Server.
- LogicMonitor A cloud-based infrastructure monitor that can supervise on-premises networks and cloud resources.
- Op5 Monitor Very scalable and free to use for up to 20 devices.
Related Post: Best Bandwidth Monitoring Software and Tools for Network Traffic Usage
The Top Network Monitoring Tools and Software
Below you'll find an updated list of the Latest Tools & Software to ensure your network is continuously tracked and monitored at all times of the day to ensure the highest up-times possible. Most of them have free Downloads or Trials to get you started for 15 to 30 days to ensure it meets your requirements.
What should you look for in network monitoring tools?
We reviewed the market for network monitoring software and analyzed the tools based on the following criteria:
- An automated service that can perform network monitoring unattended
- A device discovery routine that automatically creates an asset inventory
- A network mapping service that shows live statuses of all devices
- Alerts for when problems arise
- The ability to communicate with network devices through SNMP
- A free trial or a demo for a no-cost assessment
- Value for money in a package that provides monitoring for all network devices at a reasonable price
With these selection criteria in mind, we have defined a shortlist of suitable network monitoring tools for all operating systems.
1. Auvik – FREE TRIAL
Auvik is a SaaS platform that offers a network discovery and mapping system that automates enrolment and then continues to operate in order to spot changes in network infrastructure. This system is able to centralize and unify the monitoring of multiple sites.
Key Features:
- A SaaS package that includes processing power and storage space for system logs as well as the monitoring software
- Centralizes the monitoring of networks on multiple sites
- Watches over network device statuses
- Offers two plans: Essential and Performance
- Network traffic analysis included in the higher plan
- Monitors virtual LANs as well as physical networks
- Autodiscovery service
- Network mapping
- Alerts for automated monitoring
- Integrations with third-party complimentary systems
Why do we recommend it?
Auvik is a cloud-based network monitoring system. It reaches into your network, identifies all connected devices, and then creates a map. While SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor also performs those tasks, Auvik is a much lighter tool that you don’t have to host yourself and you don’t need deep technical knowledge to watch over a network with this automated system.
Auvik’s network monitoring system is automated, thanks to its system of thresholds. The service includes out-of-the-box thresholds that are placed on most of the metrics that the network monitor tracks. It is also possible to create custom thresholds.
Once the monitoring service is operating, if any of the thresholds are crossed, the system raises an alert. This mechanism allows technicians to get on with other tasks, knowing that the thresholds give them time to avert system performance problems that would be noticeable to users.
Network management tools that are included in the Auvik package include configuration management to standardize the settings of network devices and prevent unauthorized changes.
The processing power for Auvik is provided by the service’s cloud servers. However, the system requires collectors to be installed on each monitored site. This software runs on Windows Server and Ubuntu Linux. It is also possible to run the collector on a VM. Wherever the collector is located, the system manager still accesses the service’s console, which is based on the Auvik server, through any standard Web browser.
Who is it recommended for?
Smaller businesses that don’t have a team to support IT would benefit from Auvik. It needs no software maintenance and the system provides automated alerts when issues arise, so your few IT staff can get on with supporting other resources while Auvik looks after the network.
Pros:
- A specialized network monitoring tool
- Additional network management utilities
- Configuration management included
- A cloud-based service that is accessible from anywhere through any standard Web browser
- Data collectors for Windows Server and Ubuntu Linux
Cons:
- The system isn’t expandable with any other Auvik modules
Auvik doesn’t publish its prices by you can access a 14-day free trial.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Auvik is our top pick for a network monitoring tool because it is a hosted SaaS package that provides all of your network monitoring needs without you needing to maintain the software. The Auvik platform installs an agent on your site and then sets itself up by scanning the network and identifying all devices. The inventory that this system generates gives you details of all of your equipment and provides a basis for network topology maps. Repeated checks on the network gather performance statistics and if any metric crosses a threshold, the tool will generate an alert. You can centralize the monitoring of multiple sites with this service.
Download: Get a 14-day FREE Trial
Official Site: https://www.auvik.com/#trial
OS: Cloud-based
2. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor – FREE TRIAL
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is easy to setup and can be ready in no time. The tool automatically discovers network devices and deploys within an hour. Its simple approach to oversee an entire network makes it one of the easiest to use and most intuitive user interfaces.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is the leading network monitoring tool in the world and this is the system that the other monitor providers are chasing. Like many other network monitors, this system uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to gather reports on network devices. The strength of SolarWinds lies in the deep technical knowledge of its support advisors, which many other providers lack.
The product is highly customizable and the interface is easy to manage and change very quickly. You can customize the web-based performance dashboards, charts, and views. You can design a tailored topology for your entire network infrastructure. You can also create customized dependency-aware intelligent alerts and much more.
The software is sold by separate modules based on what you use. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor Price starts from $1,995 and is a one-time license including 1st-year maintenance.
SolarWinds NPM has an Extensive Feature list that make it One of the Best Choices for Network Monitoring Solutions
SolarWinds NPM is able to track the performance of networks autonomously through the use of SNMP procedures, producing alerts when problems arise. Alerts are generated if performance dips and also in response to emergency notifications sent out by device agents. This system means that technicians don’t have to watch the monitoring screen all the time because they know that they will be drawn back to fix problems by an email or SMS notification.
Who is it recommended for?
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is an extensive network monitoring system and it is probably over-engineered for use by a small business. Mid-sized and large companies would benefit from using this tool.
Pros:
Cons:
You can start with a 30-day free trial.
SolarWinds NPM Start a 30-day FREE Trial!
3. Checkmk – FREE TRIAL
Checkmk is an IT asset monitoring package that has the ability to watch over networks, servers, services, and applications. The network monitoring facilities in this package provide both network device status tracking and network traffic monitoring.
Features of this package include:
Why do we recommend it?
The Checkmk combination of network device monitoring and traffic monitoring in one tool is rare. Most network monitoring service creators split those two functions so that you have to buy two separate packages. The Checkmk system also gives you application and server monitoring along with the network monitoring service.
The Checkmk system is easy to set up, thanks to its autodiscovery mechanism. This is based on SNMP. The program will act as an SNMP Manager, send out a broadcast requesting reports from device agents, and then compile the results into an inventory. The agent is the Checkmk package itself if you choose to install the Linux version or it is embedded on a device if you go for the hardware option. If you choose the Checkmk Cloud SaaS option, that platform will install an agent on one of your computers.
The SNMP Manager constantly re-polls for device reports and the values in these appear in the Checkmk device monitoring screen. The platform also updates its network inventory according to the data sent back by device agents in each request/response round. The dashboard also generates a network topology map from information in the inventory. So, that map updates whenever the inventory changes.
While gathering information through SNMP, the tool also scans the headings of passing packets on the network to compile traffic statistics. Basically, the tool provides a packet count which enables it to quickly calculate a traffic throughput rate. Data can also be segmented per protocol, according to the TCP port number in each header.
Who is it recommended for?
Checkmk has a very wide appeal because of its three editions. Checkmk Raw is free and will appeal to small businesses. This is an adaptation of Nagios Core. The paid version of the system is called Checkmk Enterprise and that is designed for mid-sized and large businesses. Checkmk Cloud is a SaaS option.
Pros:
Cons:
Start a 30-day free trial:
https://checkmk.com/l/c/top-network-monitoring
Start 30-day FREE Trial!
4. Datadog Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL
Datadog Network Monitoring supervises the performance of network devices. The service is a cloud-based system that is able to explore a network and detect all connected devices. With the information from this research, the network monitor will create an asset inventory and draw up a network topology map. This procedure means that the system performs its own setup routines.
Features of this package include:
Why do we recommend it?
Datadog Network Monitoring services are split into two modules that are part of a cloud platform of many system monitoring and management tools. These two packages are called Network Performance Monitoring and Network Device Monitoring, which are both subscription services. While the device monitoring package works through SNMP, the performance monitor measures network traffic levels.
The autodiscovery process is ongoing, so it spots any changes you make to your network and instantly updates the inventory and the topology map. The service can also identify virtual systems and extend monitoring of links out to cloud resources.
Datadog Network Monitoring provides end-to-end visibility of all connections, which are also correlated with performance issues highlighted in log messages. The dashboard for the system is resident in the cloud and accessed through any standard browser. This centralizes network performance data from many sources and covers the entire network, link by link and end to end.
You can create custom graphs, metrics, and alerts in an instant, and the software can adjust them dynamically based on different conditions. Datadog prices start from free (up to five hosts), Pro $15/per host, per month and Enterprise $23 /per host, per month.
Who is it recommended for?
The two Datadog network monitoring packages are very easy to sign up for. They work well together to get a complete view of network activities. The pair will discover all of the devices on your network and map them, then startup automated monitoring. These are very easy-to-use systems that are suitable for use by any size of business.
Pros:
Cons:
Start 14-day FREE Trial
https://www.datadoghq.com
Register for the Trial
5. PRTG Network Monitor from Paessler – FREE TRIAL
PRTG Network Monitor software is commonly known for its advanced infrastructure management capabilities. All devices, systems, traffic, and applications in your network can be easily displayed in a hierarchical view that summarizes performance and alerts. PRTG monitors the entire IT infrastructure using technology such as SNMP, WMI, SSH, Flows/Packet Sniffing, HTTP requests, REST APIs, Pings, SQL, and a lot more.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is a very flexible package. Not only does it monitor networks, but it can also monitor endpoints and applications. The PRTG system will discover and map your network, creating a network inventory, which is the basis for automated monitoring. You put together your ideal monitoring system by choosing which sensors to turn on. You pay for an allowance of sensors.
It is one of the best choices for organizations with low experience in network monitoring software. The user interface is really powerful and very easy to use.
A very particular feature of PRTG is its ability to monitor devices in the data center with a mobile app. A QR code that corresponds to the sensor is printed out and attached to the physical hardware. The mobile app is used to scan the code and a summary of the device is displayed on the mobile screen.
In summary, Paessler PRTG is a flexible package of sensors that you can tailor to your own needs by deciding which monitors to activate. The SNMP-based network performance monitoring routines include an autodiscovery system that generates a network asset inventory and topology maps. You can also activate traffic monitoring features that can communicate with switches through NetFlow, sFlow, J-Flow, and IPFIX. QoS and NBAR features enable you to keep your time-sensitive applications working properly.
Who is it recommended for?
PRTG is available in a Free edition, which is limited to 100 sensors. This is probably enough to support a small network. Mid-sized and large organizations should be interested in paying for larger allowances of sensors. The tool can even monitor multiple sites from one location.
Pros:
Cons:
Pricing: PRTG has a very flexible pricing plan, to get an idea visit their official pricing webpage below. It is free to use for up to 50 sensors. Beyond that you get a 30-day free trial to figure out your network requirements.
Download a 30-day FREE Trial!
6. ManageEngine OpManager – FREE TRIAL
At its core, ManageEngine OpManager is infrastructure management, network monitoring, and application performance management “APM” (with APM plug-in) software.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine OpManager is probably the biggest threat to SolarWind’s leading position. This package monitors servers as well as networks. This makes it a great system for monitoring virtualizations.
When it comes to network management tools, this product is well balanced when it comes to monitoring and analysis features.
The solution can manage your network, servers, network configuration, and fault & performance; It can also analyze your network traffic. To run Manage Engine OpManager, it must be installed on-premises.
A highlight of this product is that it comes with pre-configured network monitor device templates. These contain pre-defined monitoring parameters and intervals for specific device types.
The essential edition product can be purchased for $595 which allows up to 25 devices.
Who is it recommended for?
A nice feature of OpManager is that it is available for Linux as well as Windows Server for on-premises installation and it can also be used as a service on AWS or Azure for businesses that don’t want to run their own servers. The pricing for this package is very accessible for mid-sized and large businesses. Small enterprises with simple networks should use the Free edition, which is limited to covering a network with three connected devices.
Pros:
Cons:
Start 30-day free trial – Download Link:
https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/
Download Now
7. NinjaOne RMM – FREE TRIAL
NinjaOne is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) package for managed service providers (MSPs). The system reaches out to each remote network through the installation of an agent on one of its endpoints. The agent acts as an SNMP Manager.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
NinjaOne RMM enables each technician to support multiple networks simultaneously. The alerting mechanism in the network monitoring service means that you can assume that everything is working fine on a client’s system unless you receive a notification otherwise. The network tracking service sets itself up automatically with a discovery routine.
The full NinjaOne RMM package provides a full suite of tools for administering a client’s system. The network monitoring service is part of that bundle along with endpoint monitoring and patch management.
The Ninja One system onboards a new client site automatically through a discovery service that creates both hardware and software inventories. The data for each client is kept separate in a subaccount. Technicians that need access to that client’s system for investigation need to be set up with credentials.
The network monitoring system provides both device status tracking and network traffic analysis. The service provides notifications if a dive goes offline or throughput drops.
Who is it recommended for?
This service is built with a multi-tenant architecture for use by managed service providers. However, IT departments can also use the system to manage their own networks and endpoints. The service is particularly suitable for simultaneously monitoring multiple sites. The console for the RMM is based in the cloud and accessed through any standard Web browser.
Pros:
Cons:
NinjaOne doesn’t publish a price list so you start your buyer’s journey by accessing a 14-day free trial.
More information and Official Website:
https://www.ninjaone.com/endpoint-management/network-management/
Start 14-day FREE TRIAL!
8. Site24x7 Network Monitoring – FREE TRIAL
Site24x7 is a monitoring service that covers networks, servers, and applications. The network monitoring service in this package starts off by exploring the network for connected devices. IT logs its findings in a network inventory and draws up a network topology map.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
Site24x7 Network Monitoring is part of a platform that is very similar to Datadog. A difference lies in the number of modules that Site24x7 offers – it has far fewer than Datadog. Site24x7 bundles its modules into packages with almost all plans providing monitoring for networks, servers, services, applications, and websites. Site24x7 was originally developed to be a SaaS plan for ManageEngine but then was split out into a separate brand, so there is very solid expertise behind this platform.
The Network Monitor uses procedures from the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to poll devices every minute for status reports. Any changes in the network infrastructure that are revealed by these responses update the inventory and topology map.
The results of the device responses are interpreted into live data in the dashboard of the monitor. The dashboard is accessed through any standard browser and its screens can be customized by the user.
The SNMP system empowers device agents to send out a warning without waiting for a request if it detects a problem with the device that it is monitoring. Site24x7 Infrastructure catches these messages, which are called Traps, and generates an alert. This alert can be forwarded to technicians by SMS, email, voice call, or instant messaging post.
The Network Monitor also has a traffic analysis function. This extracts throughput figures from switches and routers and displays data flow information in the system dashboard. This data can also be used for capacity planning.
Who is it recommended for?
The plans for Site24x7 are very reasonably priced, which makes them accessible to businesses of all sizes. Setup for the system is automated and much of the ongoing monitoring processes are carried out without any manual intervention.
Pros:
Cons:
Site24x7 costs $9 per month when paid annually. It is available for a free trial.
More Information and Official Website:
https://www.site24x7.com/network-monitoring.html
Free Trial Download Link:
https://www.site24x7.com/signup.html
Start Free Trial
9. Atera – FREE TRIAL
Atera is a package software that was built for managed service providers. It is a SaaS platform and it includes professional service automation (PSA) and remote monitoring and management (RMM) systems.
Why do we recommend it?
Atera is a package of tools for managed service providers (MSPs). Alongside remote network monitoring capabilities, this package provides automated monitoring services for all IT operations. The package also includes some system management tools, such as a patch manager. Finally, the Atera platform offers Professional Services Automation (PSA) tools to help the managers of MSPs to run their businesses.
The network monitoring system operates remotely through an agent that installs on Windows Server. The agent enables the service to scour the network and identify all of the network devices that run it. This is performed using SNMP, with the agent acting as the SNMP Manager.
The SNMP system enables the agent to spot Traps, which warn of device problems. These are sent to the Atera network monitoring dashboard, where they appear as alerts. Atera offers an automated topology mapping service, but this is an add-on to the main subscription packages.
Who is it recommended for?
Atera charges for its platform per technician, so it is very affordable for MSPs of all sizes. This extends to sole technicians operating on a contract basis and possibly fielding many small business clients.
Pros:
Cons:
Download link:
https://www.atera.com/signup/
Start 30-day Free Trial
10. ManageEngine RMM Central – FREE TRIAL
ManageEngine RMM Central provides sysadmins with everything they need to support their network. Automated asset discovery makes deployment simple, allowing you to collect all devices on your network by the end of the day.
Key Features
With network and asset metrics collected, administrators can quickly see critical insights automatically generated by the platform. With over 100 automated reports it's easy to see exactly where your bottlenecks are and what endpoints are having trouble.
Administrators can configure their own SLAs with various automated alert options and even pair those alerts with other automation that integrate into their helpdesk workflow.
Pros:
Cons:
Start 30-day free trial – Download Link:
https://www.manageengine.com/remote-monitoring-management/download.html
Download Now
11. Domotz
Domotz is a SaaS platform that implements network monitoring services and also offers system management and workload automation utilities.
The Domotz monitoring system is based on the Simple Network Management Protocol and other network protocols. This convention enables the service to scan a network and identify the characteristics of all connected devices, creating an IT asset inventory. The Domotz system draws up a network map from the data it stores in its inventory. Both the inventory and map get updated every time an SNMP report comes in. That SNMP response also provides information on network problems, which get interpreted into status alerts.
Why do we recommend it?
Domotz is very similar to the Datadog Network Device Monitoring service. It is a cloud-based service that implements automatic discovery of your network, creates an inventory, and then draws up a network map. The system then begins monitoring network device activity and statuses through SNMP. Like all of the other tools on this list, a degree of monitoring automation is introduced by performance thresholds that raise alerts when crossed.
The data that Domotz collects is stored as well as displayed. This creates a record of historical performance that can be used for demand analysis and capacity planning. Users of the system get individual accounts, each is protected by access credentials. This enables each action that is implemented on the system to be attributed to a specific user. The accountability that this control provides creates accountability and reduces carelessness and fraud.
Who is it recommended for?
Domotz covers the same territory as Datadog, so it competes for customers with that rival. If you want a SaaS package that maps and monitors a network through SNMP, this tool should be on your candidate list.
Pros:
Cons:
There are two plans for Domotz: Pro and Enterprise. The Pro plan is priced month-to-month at $21 per site per month with no commitment or prepayment and no lock-in period. This price is universal and allows unlimited endpoints and users on each monitored network. The tool also offers 500 integrations to third-party systems free of charge. A higher plan, called Enterprise offers higher capacity and top-grade support for a custom price. You can test the system on a 14-day free trial.
Download Link:
https://portal.domotz.com/signup
12. Nagios XI
Nagios XI is aimed at a wide audience, from freelancers, SMBs (Small-to-Medium-Business), to large corporations. This makes Nagios’s XI pricing mo14-day free trial one of the most flexible. They have a free version, open-source, one-time license and subscription. It is one of the few tools that allows an extreme flexibility (because of its adaptability to plug-ins) on what’s being monitored and alerted for a low cost.
Why do we recommend it?
Nagios XI is a well-established monitoring package. It is built on top of a backend that is free to use and that version is called Nagios Core. The big problems with the free version of Nagios are that it has no console to speak of and it doesn’t come with a professional support package. Nagios XI offers network device monitoring. There is a traffic monitoring package, but that costs extra.
Nagios XI focuses on monitoring. The key IT components that Nagios XI monitors are Network, Infrastructure, and Database. Although the software is easy to install, it will initially take some time to adjust to your requirements. This is because Nagios XI does not auto-discover devices. You have to configure each device that needs to be monitored with a configuration file.
Who is it recommended for?
Any business would benefit from the network device monitoring service of Nagios XI. However, since its developers split out the traffic monitoring features without lowering the price, the paid version of Nagios isn’t quite as good a deal as PRTG or ManageEngine OpManager. Nagios is written for Linux but it can also operate over Docker and you can run it on Windows through the mediation of VMware.
Pros:
Cons:
Standard paid edition starts from $1,995 for 100 nodes. Nagios XI is supported only by Linux (or UNIX variants) OS.
Download Link:
https://www.nagios.com/products/nagios-xi/
13. Zabbix
Zabbix is an open source monitoring tool. It is popular for its easy-to-use and pleasing Web GUI that is fully configurable. Zabbix focuses on monitoring and trending functionality. This software is frequently used for monitoring servers and network hardware. One of the highlights of Zabbix is that it can predict trends in your traffic. Zabbix can forecast future behavior based on historical data.
Why do we recommend it?
Zabbix is completely free to use with no hidden extras or short-term trial editions. The system will monitor networks, servers, cloud platforms, and applications. The network monitoring module in the bundle includes network discovery, topology mapping, bandwidth analysis, and device status monitoring. The tool includes an alerting system that will let you know if problems arise.
Since it is open source, it has an active user community spread around the world and good documentation. Zabbix gives the freedom to use the open-source solution without vendor lock-ins (including all components).
Zabbix is powerful for SMB networks below 1,000 nodes. Over that, the software can get slower and its performance decreased. Another disadvantage is that it doesn’t include real-time tests and reports.
Who is it recommended for?
Zabbix is a very good choice for small and medium-sized enterprises. Many very large corporations rely on Zabbix, including Dell, Orange, Salesforce, and ICANN. There is also a multi-tenanted version available for managed service providers. The Zabbix software runs on Linux, AWS, Azure, GCP, and Docker.
Pros:
Cons:
Download Link:
https://www.zabbix.com/download
14. Icinga
It is another open source infrastructure and service monitoring tool. Icinga was developed in 2009 by the same team of developers that brought you Nagios.
It is a very easy to use and flexible tool for SMB and enterprise networks. The software focuses strongly on monitoring infrastructure and services. The tool also includes great threshold analysis and report/alert functionalities.
Why do we recommend it?
Icinga 2 is a clone of Nagios Core. The benefit of choosing this system over Nagios is that it has its own front end and it is completely free to use. One big advantage of Nagios is that there are thousands of free plug-ins for the system to extend its capabilities and Icinga is also able to receive Nagiso plug-ins.
Icinga is popular at providing superior altars and reports of the general health of your IT infrastructure. All alert dependencies can be displayed in the dashboard and sent via email, SMS or mobile message applications.
Since Icinga is open source it is completely free. With its strong community forum, you can get all the support you need.
Who is it recommended for?
The free Icinga 2 is a much more attractive prospect than Nagios Core. This system performs both network device monitoring and traffic monitoring with alerts for free. This software package also includes endpoint, cloud, and application monitoring modulus – all free to use. Small and mid-sized businesses will definitely want to try out Icinga 2. The software runs on Windows, Linux, and AWS.
Pros:
Cons:
Download Link:
https://www.icinga.com/products/demo/
Related Post: Best Open Source Network Monitoring Software
15. Progress WhatsUp Gold
WhatsUp Gold from Progress Software Corporation uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to track the performance of networks. SNMP agents on each switch and router prepare a status report and update it constantly, waiting for a request from an SNMP manager. The only problem is that regular operating systems don’t include an SNMP manager. WhatsUp Gold provides that function.
Key Features:
Why do we recommend it?
Progress WhatsUp Gold is very closely modeled on SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. As with the SolarWinds package, you can extend the capabilities of this tool to monitor traffic, virtualizations, servers, and applications.
This monitoring tool sends out regular broadcasts, asking for status reports, which are called MIBs. Each device agent responds to the request and then WhatsUp Gold compiles the results it receives. This mechanism tells the monitoring system exactly what devices are out there and which other devices each is connected to. This information is constantly refreshed, so WhatsUp Gold is able to maintain an up-to-date network inventory. The service also automatically draws up a network topology map based on the live updates to the network inventory.
A device agent will send a Trap message if it identifies a problem with the piece of equipment that it is monitoring. WhatsUp Gold interprets this into an alert. Network administrators can ignore the monitoring console and let WhatsUp Gold watch over everything. This is because they will be notified if anything goes wrong.
WhatsUp Gold installs on Windows Server. This software comes with different pricing plans to adjust to your network and wallet.
Who is it recommended for?
Like the Network Performance Monitor, WhatsUp Gold is only available for Windows Server. Any network manager running Windows should access the free trials that SolarWinds, ManageEngine, Paessler, and PRTG offer to decide which of these tools is a good fit.
Pros:
Cons:
More information and a 14-day free trial link on the official website:
More Information and Official Website:
https://www.whatsupgold.com/
16. ConnectWise Automate
Formerly known as Labtech, ConnectWise Automate is a new cloud-based manager and monitoring solution that can keep track of your IT infrastructure devices from a single location.
Why do we recommend it?
Connectwise Automate is a remote monitoring and management (RMM) package that is designed for use by MSPs. The network monitoring tools within the RMM provide network discovery, camping, and automated monitoring. Alerts let you get on with other tasks and assume that the network is OK unless you are notified otherwise.
ConnectWise Automate discovers all devices in your network so they can be monitored proactively. The network visibility is improved because the tool interprets problems and initiates an automatic pre-defined action to mitigate the issue.
A cool feature of this software is the “Patch Management”, as it allows you to protect all your systems with simultaneous patching from a centralized manager. Use Windows Patch management or third-party software.
By extending the ConnectWise suite, the software can also allow a premier remote control. You can resolve issues quickly by allowing remote support, remote access and even remote meetings.
ConnectWise Automate is aimed at SMBs. The price of the software is based on quotes. You can get a price on their official site tailored accordingly to the size of your network.
Who is it recommended for?
Connectwise Automate is a cloud platform and is designed for use by managed service providers, although IT operations teams of large multi-site businesses would also find the RMM package useful. A related PSA package, called Connectwise Control is also available.
Pros:
Cons:
Download Link:
https://www.connectwise.com/resources/trial/connectwise-automate-trial
17. Logic Monitor
LogicMonitor is an automated SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) IT performance monitoring tool. With LogicMonitor you can get full visibility of the performance and health of your network.
Why do we recommend it?
LogicMonitor is a SaaS package that provides full-stack monitoring with a network monitoring module. This service can monitor multiple sites, internet links, LANs, and wireless networks. This package is similar to Site24x7 with network, server, and application monitoring provided from the cloud.
This software will automatically discover IT infrastructure devices and monitor them proactively. Besides from extraordinary monitoring capabilities, the software also improves the performance and health of your network. LogicMonitor can help identify incoming issues by providing predictive alters and trend analysis.
Logic Monitor is popular because it comes with a highly customizable dashboard, alerts, and reports. The software supports over 1000 different technologies, including hybrid cloud monitoring and networking devices, in order to provide granular performance metrics.
Who is it recommended for?
The LogicMonitor system is priced per server and has a base package with paid add-ons, such as AIOps alerts, container monitoring, and website monitoring. Even without the extras, this package is very big and would provide more functionality than small networks need. This is a good solution for mid-sized and large businesses.
Pros:
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To get a price you can request a quote from LogicMonitor’s official pricing site.
Download Link:
https://www.logicmonitor.com/signup/
18. OP5 Monitor
OP5 Monitor is OP5’s Enterprise level monitoring solution. With OP5 Monitor you can monitor applications, networks, servers and storage, regardless of location, whether that’s on-premise, hybrid or in a private/public cloud.
Key features include:
Why do we recommend it?
ITRS OP5 Monitor is a similar package to LogicMonitor except that it is an on-premises package for installation on Linux. The network feature in this system includes a device discovery routine and some nice network mapping options that include placement of locations on real-world maps and an office floor plan.
OP5 Monitor is also Nagios compatible, meaning that it’s easy to migrate from Nagios and re-use existing agents and plugins.
Who is it recommended for?
If you don’t have machines that run Linux or if you prefer using SaaS packages, you won’t want the OP5 Monitor. However, mid-sized and large businesses that want on-premises network monitoring software for Linux will like this package. Small businesses would enjoy the Free edition that is limited to monitoring 20 devices.
OP5 Monitor is free for up to 20 devices, and has a pricing plan based on your specific requirements.
Download Link:
https://www.op5.com/download/
Network Monitoring FAQ
How do I choose network monitoring tools?
Look for a network performance monitor that uses SNMP to gather device statuses. Also, use a bandwidth analyzer that can communicate with the brand of switches that you have on your network.
How do I monitor everything on my network?
It is impossible to manually watch the statuses of every device on your network around the clock so you have to get an automated network monitoring tool. Get a system that uses performance thresholds and raises alerts if these are crossed. Systems that forward alerts to you by email or SMS let you assume everything is OK with network performance unless you are notified otherwise. These monitoring features will take care of the network and allow you to safely pay attention to other tasks.
How can network monitoring software help me to optimize my network infrastructure?
Network monitoring software will help you to optimize network infrastructure because it records activity around the clock, identifying overloaded devices without the need for you to sit and watch live events. Records of device performance let you plan better usage of your network and either remap devices or implement traffic shaping measures so that you can get the best value out of your existing infrastructure without having to buy extra equipment.
What are the best programming languages for network monitoring?
A busy stems administrator doesn’t have time to write programs for network monitoring. So, the best tools for network monitoring are systems that include a utility for ad-hoc queries rather than full, standalone programs. If you want to run off quick system queries, try PowerShell on Windows or Bash on Linux.