Network performance monitoring includes processes that help boost the quality of the network, right from monitoring, visualizing, and optimizing to managing the network as a whole. Monitoring performance metrics periodically helps a network to function at equilibrium and keep its health in check. Any organization with simple to complex network architecture that wants productivity, customer satisfaction, and security will benefit from a powerful network monitoring tool.
Depending on the size and complexity of a network, managing network performance can be a challenging task. Below are the top 5 challenges in monitoring the network performance.
Network performance monitoring and management involves handling huge sets of data. Data grows with time and consequently overloads the CPU. An overloaded CPU keeps your application, the associated processes, and servers from operating smoothly. Understanding performance usage and planning your network capacity is crucial to avoid this. Moreover, being able to analyze the data and troubleshoot problems helps keep the network immune to any threats. Hence a robust network performance monitor is pivotal.
Setting performance baselines
Typically, a standard performance measure is set for each metric to analyze the network performance. As every organization has a different expectation of monitoring, this baseline must be adapted accordingly, through testing and reporting, over a period.
Locating faults
One of the most underrated challenges of network performance monitoring is identifying faults proactively. Though every new network monitoring software comes with thresholds and dynamic alert systems, it's important to choose the right tool to avoid faults. For every network error, from protocol mismatch to DNS errors to TCP time out, identifying the root cause is critical to make sure the same issue doesn't happen twice. However, correlating huge stacks of data is a major challenge. A profound understanding of the network and its metrics helps unify the database so you can quickly figure out the issue before it affects the end user.
Understanding data utility
There are various network performance metrics like packet loss, packet duplication, latency, throughput, and jitter. The utility of particular data is hidden in the problems the organization has faced in the past. Every enterprise is different, and monitoring needs can also vary accordingly. Utilizing metrics is not about gathering all the data your network monitoring software can generate; it's about choosing the right data to resolve an issue. Organizing the relevant data along with proper data correlation becomes a powerful insight to help you scale your business.
Gaining fuller visibility
Becoming aware of the components present in the network is crucial. Having visibility sheds light on the in and out traffic of the network. A surge in this traffic quickly points towards suspicious activity. However, traffic monitoring is increasingly complicated as new devices with improved technology continue to evolve. Even now, live network traffic tracking is done manually. Network path analysis is crucial but difficult. Visualizing parts of the network that have access to external sources is even more difficult. In such cases, the access decline has to be manually updated. Network visualization transforms complex statistics into intuitive, easy-to-understand data. Unfortunately, most of the monitoring solutions do not have a clear visual presentation. You need to choose a tool that gives at least three to four ways to visualize the network.
There are many more network performance monitoring challenges faced, including:
High bandwidth usage lowering internet speeds.
Inappropriate capacity planning quickly exhausting your resources.
Improper network visibility costing your business success.
Sometimes errors are simply due to poor physical connectivity or malfunctioning devices, so keeping all the performance metrics in check is essential for proper network functioning.
How OpManager helps overcome the challenges in network performance monitoring
OpManager is a highly integrated, one-stop solution for all your network monitoring needs.OpManager's robust network monitoring solution will help you overcome these challenges.
OpManager's predefined performance monitors empower you to monitor devices and interfaces quickly and help you perform specific monitoring.
OpManager's proactive network performance monitoring ensures continuous tracking of all performance metrics.
Configuring a multi-level threshold helps you take compelling actions before a fault arises. With instant alerts, you can either set up multiple thresholds for a single device or set different thresholds for different devices. This quickly helps you figure out the performance baselines to locate, understand, and resolve faults.
OpManager's dedicated network performance monitor dashboard helps you organize your data to see what is crucial at a glance. You can also keep any unwanted data or metrics from being considered.
The various visualization methods like maps, 3D floor views, business views, rack views, and layer2 maps help you better understand and visualize the network.
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