In today`s competitive economy, the concept of proactive network and systems management has become something of a clich'e. However, with enterprise networks supporting an intricate web of proprietary applications and solutions, translating the concept into a reliable, robust reality can be a complex undertaking.
So says Yossi Hasson, MD of Synaq, a Johannesburg-based provider of managed Linux services, who points out that the time it takes to become aware of any network problem is often critical to the success of a business.
"Identification of network problems, therefore, can`t be left to chance. That`s why proactive management, which enables the rapid identification of problem areas, is so important," he explains.
However, Hasson continues, the network management tools that are put in place need to be able to do more than identify problems so an engineer can fix them. That alone won`t prevent faults from reoccurring.
What`s really required is an ability to identify the cause of a fault so the underlying problem can be addressed. Without that ability, the battle to increase network uptime can never be won.
According to Hasson, every enterprise ideally needs a single tool that can watch over every part of the network, identify potential problem areas and alert network managers to looming problems before they happen.
"While there are numerous excellent network management tools available, most have a major flaw: they were developed to monitor and manage a `typical` network or one aspect of a `typical` network. However, there is no such thing as a `typical` network running typical applications," he says.
"Few, if any, management tools have plug-ins available for every piece of proprietary software or customised application on the network. Rather, plug-ins have to be developed. And every time a new application is introduced, or an existing application is upgraded, so a new or upgraded plug-in has to be developed too."
For that reason, Synaq has chosen to leverage the customisable power of open source for its network monitoring solution.
Based on the best-of-breed GroundWork Monitor software - the most widely deployed commercial open source-based IT management and network monitoring solution in the world - the scalable monitoring solution is flexible enough to meet customers` unique requirements while offering a holistic overview of the status of their entire network.
"And with a single monitoring server licensing model, it takes network management to the next level quickly and affordably," he concludes.
Share