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  Asked: Sep 11 2006   0:51 AM GMT
  Asked by: maryam82

Monitoring the Network


Data analysis, Networking, Availability, Bandwidth, 3Com, Cisco, Foundry, Network management software, Benchmarking, Fault isolation, Network applications management, Network testing, Performance management, Protocol analysis, Remote management, Network monitoring, Security, Network security, Firewalls, VPN, Intrusion management, Incident response, Forensics, Wireless

Hi,
I have multiple remote sites. I would like to monitor the network and analyze the traffic and its performance in general. For example, how the bandwidth is consumed, if certain activities are unnecessary and how to improve the networks performance by blocking through the firewall like peer-to-peer applications, etc.
I am using check point as a firewall and Cisco as a router.
I came across an application called Websense that I can trial for free for a month. And I am searching how I can deploy my existing devices to help me with what I want, cause buying any addition is a challenge. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thank You

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Last Answered: Sep 11 2006  9:30 AM GMT  by stuberman




We found Websense is a terrific tool for this - we use a Windows server in 'standalone' mode with Network Agent and a 2nd NIC in promiscuous mode (connected to a Cisco switch port which spans the whole VLAN connected to our internal firewall interface). Since you are really just interested in the trial period I don't suggest you worry about firewall integration do it all on a stand alone Windows server since this is completely transparent to the users and easy to set up.
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RayG  |   Sep 11 2006  10:32AM GMT

There’s a product called PRTG that comes as either a low-cost version or as a freeware version that monitors your WAN traffic.

I also like a product called OmniQuad Instant Remote Control. It can get me to remote systems without anything pre-installed on them. It’s low-cost but also has a free thirty-day trial. I’ve used it during the trial period to configure Windows XP remote desktop or install a VNC, that will subsequently enable me to manage those remote systems, after the OmniQuad product trial period has expired.

Good luck with your project.

 

astronomer  |   Sep 11 2006  11:37AM GMT

If you do linux you should try out ntop. It should give you the information you need. It comes free with most distributions.
rt

 

astronomer  |   Sep 11 2006  11:37AM GMT

If you do linux you should try out ntop. It should give you the information you need. It comes free with most distributions.
rt

 

miah4life  |   Sep 11 2006  1:20PM GMT

JFFNMS is a Network Management and Monitoring System

I use this terrific tool and runs on both linux /windows platforms its a freeware under GPL licence.

Jere

 

larrythethird  |   Sep 11 2006  1:25PM GMT

For basic information I use nagios and MRTG. Both are open source and only the initial configuration takes up any time. Nagios can give you up/down, service check, and a multitude of other types of checks. MRTG is a traffic monitoring application. Anything that can be found through snmp can be graphed using MRTG. Seeing as Cisco is basically the standard for snmp MIBs, you should be able to use MIB walker and find which MIB to querry. I have also install an add-on to MRTG called routers2. It give a nice gui that you would have to yourself with MRTG.

And if you don’t mind spending money, look at Groundwork. They have implemented all of Nagios and much more into one package.