Remote Network Monitoring

Remote network monitoring is also known as RMON. Most of the remote network monitoring systems might cost a business over $2000. Of course, it depends on the company that you purchase the system from, how much you need, and other relative factors.

You can purchase many different programs that offer remote network monitoring support. RMON was developed to help network administrators monitor and analyze data that is collected from local area networks. It provides the information that is needed from LANS, T-1/E-1 lines, and even T-2/E3 lines. This information can be used to troubleshoot any upcoming problems.

Remote network monitoring is a part of a MIB or management information base. It is an added feature to the SNMP. SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol. This type of system can be supported by nearly any type of hardware monitoring device. In addition, it can be supported through different types of software.

There are nine kinds of information that remote network monitoring programs can collect. These types of information include:

• Packets sent
• Bytes sent
• Statistics of the host
• Packets that have been dropped
• Conversations that have been held between two different addresses
• Different events

A network administrator has the power to find out how much bandwidth is being used by certain users of the network. In addition, the administrator can find out what websites are being visited by the users.

The Remote Network Monitoring MIB Groups

• Real time local area network statistics
• History of those statistics
• Alarm that sets off when statistics exceed predefined limitations
• Host statistics
• Record of active connections
• Traffic matrix
• Filter
• The capture group collects the packets that match the filter
• The event group sends the alerts for the alarm group
• Token ring
• Protocol directory
• Protocol distribution controls the traffic statistics
• Address map
• The network layer host group offers traffic statistics
• The network layer matrix offers traffic statistics per source
• The application layer host offers network statistics by application per host
• The application layer host offers traffic stats by application per source
• User history
• Probe configuration
• Remote network monitoring conformance

The Benefits of Remote Network Monitoring

Remote network monitoring can allow you to remain at your current workstation while simultaneously performing the necessary troubleshooting requirements. You can collect information from certain LAN sites without having to reach the site, set up your equipment, and get your information. This can save you a lot of time and money.

You can manage your network easily and efficiently. This is mainly because you get all of the information that you need before the problem actually takes place. Since you are constantly receiving information, you can become notified in time to fix things before it gets out of hand.

Remote network monitoring reduces the workload of your network management systems. Consequently, your productivity will significantly increase. You no longer have to spend hours poring over information. This program allows you to diagnose problems faster than ever before. In addition, the continuous monitoring gives you time to work on other problems and still maintain your coverage.

Disadvantages of Remote Network Monitoring

The amount of information given to you will not be enough for you to fix every problem.

The system that you use to retrieve the data may be extremely slow. This means that the system will not be kind to your allotted bandwidth. The remote network monitoring system registers may be stored in 32-bit registers. This may not be enough for you.

Complete remote network monitoring support in your hardware is only available for dedicated RISC processors.

Goals for the Remote Network Monitoring

• Offline operation means that remote network monitoring can be designed to collect information constantly. This means that even if your communication with the RMON network is offline, the system will not stop monitoring your network for you. It does not matter if communication is currently impossible.
• Proactive monitoring means that monitoring will always be available for you. It will even be available when there are currently failures in communications. Once you are back online you can play back all of the information that has been collected.
• Problem detection and reporting means that remote network monitoring programs have the ability to recognize certain problems and constantly check for them. You can define these programs. In addition, when these problems are found, you will be alerted.
• Value added data means that remote network monitoring programs will always add value to the data that has previously been collected.

If you have different functions, you can have multiple managers for different organizations. This allows you to cover more area.