The Best Network Monitoring Tools & Software

Over the past decade or so, network monitoring tools have become one of the core resources of most IT administrators in large organizations. As network monitoring has become more popularized, the market has become oversaturated with new tools, making it difficult to separate the good from the bad. In this article we look at some of the best network monitoring tools on the market and provide you with the key differentiators to look out for.

Here is our list of the best network monitoring tools on the market:

1. Auvik EDITOR’S CHOICE This SaaS package offers a series of network monitoring and management modules. These include network discovery and device monitoring with SNMP and link-by-link traffic capacity monitoring with flow protocols. The platform also offers a network configuration manager. Access a 14-day free trial.
2. Paessler PRTG (FREE TRIAL) A collection of tools that monitoring networks, servers, and applications. The network monitor is based on SNMP. Tuns on Windows Server. Get the 30-day free trial.
3. ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL) A combined server and network monitoring service. The network performance functions use SNMP to gather device statuses. Available for Windows Server and Linux. Download a 30-day free trial.
4. Site24x7 Network Monitoring Tool (FREE TRIAL) This network monitoring is part of a cloud-based platform of system administration tools and it is available as an add-on to a server monitoring system. Access a 30-day free trial.
5. Zabbix A free open-source system monitoring tool that includes SNMP-based network device monitoring. This software installs on Linux, macOS, and Unix.
6. Icinga 2 Developed from a fork of Nagios Core, this infrastructure monitoring system includes network monitoring and accepts Nagios plug-ins. Runs on Linux.
7. Atera This cloud platform of tools for managed service providers includes an automated network monitoring service that operates remotely.
8. Nagios XI Based on the free Nagios Core, this infrastructure monitoring tool includes network monitoring and can be expanded by plug-ins that can be expanded by plug-ins. Installs on Linux.
9. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor An SNMP-based system that checks on the statuses of network devices. The console for the monitor interprets device agent reports into live performance metrics and allows the analysis of historical data. Installs on Windows Server.
10. Progress WhatsUp Gold A network performance monitor that uses SNMP procedures to gather device statuses. Installs on Windows Server.
11. Adrem NetCrunch A network performance monitor and traffic analyzer available in our levels. Runs on Windows Server.

The Best Network Monitoring Tools

These are some of the best network monitoring tools on the market.

1. Auvik (FREE TRIAL)

Auvik is a cloud-based SaaS platform that specializes in network monitoring and management. The package is able to monitor a network by installing a data collector on it – it can monitor multiple networks within one account.

The data collector acts as an SNMP Manager. It sends out a request as a broadcast, so it doesn’t need to know any of the IP addresses of the devices on the network – it gets that information from the responses. Thus, this polling cycle is a discovery routine. All of the information that it gleans from this process gets uploaded to the Auvik server.

Auvik assembles the incoming data into a network inventory and it also generates a network map. Each network device will send out a warning if it develops a problem. These notifications appear in the Auvik console. Auvik can be set up to forward alerts to Service Desk systems as tickets.

The network traffic analyzer in the package communicates with network devices to extract data throughput metrics. The system already knows the full capacity of each interface from the SNMP sweep, so this unit is able to identify whether a link has hit full capacity or is approaching that level. The system will generate an alert for such a situation.

The third important service provided by Auvik is its Network Configuration Manager. This copies the configuration of each device as an image and stores it. The service revisits all devices every 60 minutes and takes another snapshot. Comparing that with the stored images for that device will reveal whether a change has been made. The system alerts the administrator who then has the choice of removing those changes by restoring the stored configuration or making them permanent by replacing the stored image with the new one.

Auvik doesn’t publish a price for either of its two editions, so you should contact the company to request a quote.  You can try out the Auvik package with a 14-day free trial.

2. Paessler PRTG (FREE TRIAL)

Next up on our list we have Paessler PRTG. PRTG is one of the most well-known network monitoring tools on the market at the moment. One of the biggest selling points of PRTG thus far has been its versatility. It monitors everything from bandwidth to web pages, cloud services, servers, traffic, and databases, making it one of the most comprehensive network monitoring tools.

Key Features:

• Versatility: Monitors various network elements, including bandwidth, web pages, cloud services, servers, traffic, and databases, providing comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
• Dashboard Display: Hierarchical navigation tree on the dashboard offers clear visualization of network infrastructure status, distinguishing between operational and problematic elements.
• Monitoring Methods: Utilizes packet sniffing, SNMP, HTTP, WMI, and SQL for efficient and thorough network monitoring.
• Mobile App: Allows remote monitoring via a mobile app, offering convenience and accessibility for monitoring network devices on the go.
• Scalable Pricing: Offers flexible pricing options based on sensor requirements, accommodating the needs of organizations with varying network sizes and complexities.

Why do we recommend it?

Paessler PRTG earns our recommendation as a top-tier network monitoring tool due to its exceptional versatility, comprehensive monitoring capabilities, and user-friendly deployment process. Our recommendation is based on thorough testing and evaluation, affirming PRTG’s ability to effectively monitor various aspects of network infrastructure with ease. With its intuitive dashboard display and hierarchical navigation tree, PRTG simplifies network monitoring by providing clear insights into system performance and identifying potential issues promptly. Additionally, the convenience of its mobile app further enhances accessibility, especially for remote monitoring scenarios, making it an invaluable asset for organizations of all sizes.

All data taken from your network infrastructure is displayed on the dashboard in a hierarchical navigation tree. Systems that are up and running are denoted with the color green, whereas problematic services are outlined in red. This makes it easy to distinguish between network elements that are performing from those experiencing difficulties. In order to monitor a network, PRTG uses a combination of packet sniffing, SNMP, HTTP, WMI and SQL.

PRTG is very easy to deploy. PRTG’s mobile app allows users to monitor devices on a remote basis. You simply attach a QR code to a network device and scan it on your mobile to view a breakdown of how the device is performing. This is useful in larger organizations because it provides more ease of access.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is recommended for businesses and IT professionals seeking a versatile and reliable solution for network monitoring across diverse environments. Paessler PRTG caters to organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, providing scalable pricing options based on sensor requirements. It is particularly well-suited for network administrators, system engineers, and IT managers tasked with maintaining network performance and reliability. Whether you require monitoring for bandwidth, web pages, cloud services, servers, traffic, or databases, PRTG offers comprehensive functionalities to meet your specific monitoring needs effectively. Additionally, organizations looking for flexible pricing options and ease of deployment will find PRTG to be a valuable addition to their network management toolkit.

A number of pricing options are available for PRTG Network Monitor. The price of your license depends on how many sensors you opt for. For example, PRTG 500 costs €1,440 and provides 500 sensors. If you want to buy more, then you can purchase a more expensive option like PRTG 5000 which offers 5000 sensors for €9,600. If you want an unlimited number of sensors, PRTG XL1/Unlimited costs €13,800.

On the whole, the user interface is very easy to use, though the visual displays can be quite consuming at times. A 30-day free trial of PRTG Network Monitor is available.

Paessler PRTG Download 30-day FREE Trial

3. ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine OpManager takes aim at those companies seeking a catch-all network monitoring solution. Like PRTG, this tool embodies all the key differentiators one would expect from a top-of-the-range product. Users can conduct real-time network monitoring and view their live network activity through a variety of dashboards and graphs. You can conduct physical and virtual server monitoring to monitor performance indicators like CPU, disk space and memory utilisation.

Key Features:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Conducts real-time network monitoring, providing instant visibility into network activity through intuitive dashboards and graphs.
• Server Monitoring: Monitors physical and virtual servers, tracking performance indicators such as CPU usage, disk space, and memory utilization.
• Automation: Streamlines setup and monitoring processes with automated network element discovery and threshold-based monitoring for alerts.
• Syslog and Trap Forwarding: Automates the forwarding of syslog and trap messages, facilitating proactive network monitoring and issue resolution.
• Customized Reporting: Generates customized reports to analyze network performance and trends, aiding in decision-making and optimization efforts.

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine OpManager earns our recommendation as an all-encompassing network monitoring solution designed to meet the diverse needs of modern enterprises. Our recommendation is founded on rigorous testing, affirming OpManager’s alignment with top-tier products in the market. With its real-time monitoring capabilities, intuitive dashboards, and extensive automation features, OpManager empowers users to efficiently manage and optimize their networks. Furthermore, its user-friendly setup process and minimalist interface enhance usability, ensuring seamless adoption and operation within organizations.

From the beginning, this program is extremely easy to set up. You can automate the discovery of your network elements by IP range, which helps reduce the amount of time spent setting things up. It doesn’t take much time to configure before you can start monitoring your network effectively. Once the program itself has been set up, it has one of the best user interfaces on this list. OpManager takes a minimalist approach that allows you to see just enough information to tell what’s going on, but not enough to confuse you (as can sometimes happen with PRTG!).

When it comes to monitoring servers, OpManager offers a large amount of automation. Threshold-based monitoring helps configure parameters to receive alerts. Adding on to this feature is reactive network monitoring, which automates the forwarding of syslog and trap messages. If you want to deliberate on your network performance a little more, you can generate customized reports.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is recommended for companies seeking a comprehensive network monitoring solution that offers extensive automation and user-friendly features. ManageEngine OpManager caters to organizations of all sizes, providing scalable monitoring capabilities for both physical and virtual servers. It is particularly suitable for network administrators, IT managers, and system engineers tasked with overseeing network performance and reliability. Whether you require real-time monitoring, server performance analysis, or customized reporting, OpManager offers the functionalities needed to meet diverse network monitoring requirements effectively. Additionally, organizations prioritizing ease of setup, intuitive user interfaces, and proactive monitoring will find OpManager to be a valuable asset in their network management toolkit.

OpManager comes in one free version and two paid versions. The free version monitors up to 10 devices. The Essential version monitors up to 25 devices for $715 (£532). If that’s not enough, you can purchase the Enterprise version for $19,795 (£14,737), which monitors up to 500 devices. You can download a 30-day free trial.

ManageEngine OpManager Download 30-day FREE Trial

4. Site24x7 Network Monitoring Tool (FREE TRIAL)

Site24x7 Network Monitoring Tool is a cloud-based system monitoring platform that offers a network monitoring module. The network monitor is not available as a standalone tool. It is an element of the Infrastructure package, which primarily monitors servers, and it also part of the All-in-one plan, which includes network, server, and application monitoring.

Key Features:

• Cloud-Based Monitoring: Offers cloud-based system monitoring platform, simplifying deployment and management for organizations.
• Comprehensive Monitoring: Integrates network monitoring within the Infrastructure package and All-in-One plan, providing holistic monitoring capabilities.
• Centralized Console: Hosts centralized console on cloud server, facilitating seamless access to monitoring data from anywhere.
• Network Performance Monitoring: Utilizes SNMP-based strategies for network performance monitoring, ensuring real-time visibility into network health.
• Traffic Analysis: Conducts bandwidth analysis using proprietary protocols like NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, Cflow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow for comprehensive traffic monitoring.

Why do we recommend it?

Site24x7 Network Monitoring Tool earns our recommendation as a comprehensive cloud-based system monitoring platform designed to meet the evolving needs of modern organizations. Our recommendation is based on its integration within the Infrastructure package and All-in-One plan, offering robust network monitoring functionalities alongside server and application monitoring. As a cloud-based service, Site24x7 simplifies deployment and management, while its centralized console provides seamless access to monitoring data. With its ability to merge network performance monitoring and traffic analysis, Site24x7 offers a holistic approach to network monitoring, ensuring comprehensive visibility and effective management.

As a cloud-based service, all of the processing for the network monitor is performed on the servers of Site24x7. The cloud server also hosts the console for the monitor. Although just about all of this monitoring system is hosted in the cloud, you do need one small program installed on a server connected to the network that is being monitored. This is a data collector and it uploads all of the statistics it collects to the Site24x7 server over an encrypted connection.

This network monitoring service merges the two types of monitors that usually supervise networks. This is the network performance category of monitor, which uses the strategies provided by the Simple Network Monitoring Protocol (SNMP). The other type of network monitoring that Site24x7 conducts is traffic analysis. This is a bandwidth monitor, which records data flow volumes through network devices, such as switches and routers.

The bandwidth analyzer can communicate following the different proprietary protocols used by each network device vendor. These are NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, Cflow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is recommended for organizations seeking a cloud-based solution for comprehensive system monitoring, including network, server, and application monitoring. Site24x7 caters to businesses of all sizes, offering scalable plans to meet diverse monitoring requirements. It is particularly suitable for IT professionals, network administrators, and system engineers tasked with maintaining network performance and reliability. Whether you require SNMP-based network performance monitoring or bandwidth analysis, Site24x7 provides the necessary functionalities to monitor and optimize network infrastructure effectively. Additionally, organizations prioritizing cloud-based solutions and centralized monitoring consoles will find Site24x7 to be a valuable asset in their toolkit.

Site24x7 is a subscription service and you can get network monitoring in with the Infrastructure plan or with five editions of the All-in-One plan. Get started with a 30-day free trial .

Site24x7 Start 30-day FREE Trial

5. Zabbix

Organizations looking for an open source application would do well to considering deploying Zabbix. Zabbix is a network monitoring solution that combines infrastructure, cloud services, and KPI/SLA monitoring to provide a complete perspective of your network connectivity. Most consider this tool a network performance monitor, but it can serve a number of administrative functions as well.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers infrastructure, cloud services, and KPI/SLA monitoring for a complete perspective of network connectivity.
• Network Performance Monitoring: Monitors crucial metrics like network bandwidth usage, CPU, and memory utilization to optimize network performance.
• Server Monitoring: Checks server availability and provides predefined warnings for critical issues, ensuring proactive issue resolution.
• Modern User Interface: Features a modern user interface for intuitive navigation and efficient monitoring operations.
• Open Source: Available as open-source software, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness for organizations.
• Compatibility: Compatible with CentOS, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Debian, ensuring compatibility with various Linux distributions.

Why do we recommend it?

Zabbix is a highly recommended open-source network monitoring solution that offers comprehensive infrastructure, cloud services, and KPI/SLA monitoring capabilities. Our recommendation for Zabbix is based on its ability to provide a complete perspective of network connectivity, coupled with its robust administrative functions. With features for network performance monitoring, server monitoring, and essential infrastructure checks, Zabbix ensures optimal network optimization and reliability. Despite being open source, Zabbix offers a modern user interface and reliable performance, making it an excellent choice for organizations prioritizing flexibility and cost-effectiveness in their network monitoring solutions.

Zabbix can view crucial information like network bandwidth usage, CPU, and memory utilization. These are essential to ensure the network is correctly optimized. You can view network health to see if any key services are experiencing difficulties and to help you to act quickly when a device fails.

With regards to server monitoring, you can check server availability and receive a number of predefined warnings. For example, if a device gets dangerously hot, then the system will flag the problem. This cuts down on the number of things you need to worry about.

Who is it recommended for?

Zabbix is recommended for organizations seeking an open-source network monitoring solution with extensive monitoring capabilities. It caters to a wide range of businesses and industries, offering flexibility and scalability to meet diverse monitoring needs. Zabbix is particularly suitable for network administrators, IT managers, and system engineers looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution for network monitoring. Whether you require network performance monitoring, server availability checks, or proactive issue detection, Zabbix provides the necessary functionalities to ensure network reliability and performance optimization. Additionally, organizations preferring open-source software and compatibility with various Linux distributions will find Zabbix to be a valuable addition to their network management toolkit.

Even though Zabbix is an open-source platform, its user interface looks very up-to-date. While it is a little more clunky than SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, it still functions as a reliable network monitoring tool. Zabbix is available for CentOS, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Debian. As an open source tool, Zabbix is available for free and can be downloaded from this link here.

6. Icinga

Next up on our list we have the exceedingly lightweight, open-source application Icinga 2. Icinga has become quite a popular network monitoring tool on account of its speed. The multithreaded design allows it to run thousands of checks each second without adversely affecting the performance of your computer.

Key Features:

• Remarkable Speed: Conducts thousands of checks per second without compromising system performance, thanks to its multithreaded design.
• REST API Integration: Interacts with users primarily through the REST API, allowing for manual configuration and viewing of monitoring information securely via SSL.
• Extensive Plugin Support: Supports third-party plugins like Graphite and InfluxDB for enhanced data gathering and visualization capabilities.
• Robust Alerting: Offers comprehensive alerting capabilities, notifying users via email or SMS about network issues promptly.
• Open Source: Available as open-source software, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness for organizations.

Why do we recommend it?

Icinga 2 is highly recommended as an exceedingly lightweight and efficient open-source network monitoring tool. Our recommendation for Icinga 2 is based on its remarkable speed and multithreaded design, allowing it to conduct thousands of checks per second without compromising system performance. Despite its lightweight nature, Icinga 2 offers robust monitoring capabilities, making it an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing speed and efficiency in their network monitoring solutions.

Most of the user’s interaction with Icinga 2 is conducted with the REST API. The REST API is where you manually enter configurations and view information about issues raised by existing dashboards. The Rest API is secured via SSL so it cannot be viewed by unauthorized users. The only drawback to the REST API is that it’s not particularly friendly to users not experienced with command line interfaces.

When gathering information on your network, third-party plugins are necessary to get the clearest perspective of what’s going on. Plugins like Graphite and InfluxDB are supported by default on Icinga 2, but you might need to use additional services as well. While this isn’t as convenient as having everything one place, you can still view your data with complete clarity.

In terms of alerts, Icinga has plenty to offer. If any issues are spotted on your network, will be sent a notification via email or SMS. You can designate additional users to receive certain alerts if you need to come up with a segmented network event response.

Who is it recommended for?

Icinga 2 is recommended for organizations seeking a lightweight and efficient open-source network monitoring solution. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering scalability and flexibility to meet diverse monitoring needs. Icinga 2 is particularly suitable for network administrators, system engineers, and IT professionals looking for a fast and reliable monitoring tool capable of handling high check loads. Whether you require real-time monitoring, REST API-based configuration, or extensive alerting capabilities, Icinga 2 provides the necessary functionalities to ensure optimal network performance and reliability. Additionally, organizations preferring open-source software and prioritizing speed and efficiency in their network monitoring solutions will find Icinga 2 to be a valuable asset in their toolkit.

Overall Icinga 2 offers a competitive platform despite its open source status. That being said, the REST API makes it unsuitable for users in need of a low-maintenance monitoring solution. Icinga 2 is available for free and can be downloaded here.

7. Atera

Atera is a SaaS platform that offers all of the software systems that a managed service provider (MSP) needs in order to operate. Among the technician’s tools in the remote monitoring and management (RMM) services of Atera is a remote network monitoring system.

Key Features:

• Automated Network Scanning: Conducts automated network scanning via SNMP, gathering device agent reports (MIBs) for interpretation.
• Live Activity Statistics: Provides real-time activity statistics on the network monitoring dashboard, ensuring visibility into network performance.
• Alerting Mechanism: Notifies technicians of issues requiring attention via alerts, enabling proactive issue resolution without constant monitoring.
• Remote Accessibility: Accesses the dashboard through any standard web browser, facilitating remote management for home-based technicians.
• Subscription Model: Offers flexible subscription plans charged per technician, with options for monthly or annual payment cycles.

Why do we recommend it?

Atera stands out as a comprehensive SaaS platform tailored for managed service providers (MSPs), offering essential software systems necessary for seamless operation. Our recommendation for Atera stems from its integrated remote monitoring and management (RMM) services, providing technicians with robust tools for network monitoring and maintenance. Through automated network scanning via SNMP, Atera simplifies network monitoring processes, ensuring timely detection and resolution of issues. Additionally, its intuitive dashboard and alerting mechanisms enhance operational efficiency, allowing technicians to focus on critical tasks without unnecessary interruptions.

The network monitoring system in the Atera package provides automated network scanning through the SNMP system. A sensor installed on the client’s network acts as the SNMP Manager. It gathers device agent reports (MIBs) and uploads them to the Atera cloud server for interpretation.

The network monitoring dashboard shows live activity statistics. However, busy technicians don’t need to waste time watching t because they will be notified by alerts if any problems need their attention. The alerting mechanism is a great cost saver because it means that multiple networks can be monitored simultaneously without any human involvement.  The dashboard is accessed through any standard Web browser, so it is possible to manage a team of home-based technicians using this system.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is recommended for managed service providers (MSPs) seeking an all-in-one solution for remote monitoring and management (RMM) services. Atera caters to the needs of MSPs of all sizes, offering scalable subscription plans based on the number of technicians. It is particularly suitable for IT professionals, network administrators, and MSP owners looking to streamline network monitoring processes and enhance service delivery. Whether you operate as a solo technician or manage a team of technicians, Atera provides the necessary functionalities to effectively monitor and manage client networks. Additionally, organizations prioritizing cost-effective subscription models and remote management capabilities will find Atera to be a valuable asset in their toolkit.

The Atera package is charged for by subscription with a rate per technician. Customers can choose to pay on a monthly or an annual cycle, with the yearly payment plan working out cheaper per month. The yearly prices for the three plans of Atera, when calculated monthly are:

• Pro – $129
• Growth – $179
• Power – $209

You can assess the Atera platform with a 30-day free trial.

8. Nagios XI

Nagios XI is another very well-known network monitoring tool built with ease of use in mind. It can monitor network infrastructure and conduct long-term capacity planning. The GUI can be customized to accommodate a range of different views, making it relatively simple to use.

Key Features:

• Ease of Use: Built with ease of use in mind, Nagios XI offers a user-friendly interface and customizable GUI for efficient network monitoring.
• Customizable Views: Provides customizable views across the dashboard, enabling users to tailor monitoring displays to their specific requirements.
• Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities for network infrastructure, event logs, notifications, bandwidth usage, and network queries.
• Multi-Tenant Access: Supports multi-tenant access, allowing administrators to control user access to specific IT elements, enhancing privacy and security.
• Advanced Reporting: Includes advanced reporting features such as scheduled reports, capacity planning reports, and audit logging for comprehensive network analysis.
• Scalable Pricing: Offers scalable pricing options with Standard and Enterprise editions, providing flexibility to choose features based on organizational needs.

Why do we recommend it?

Nagios XI comes highly recommended as a well-known and user-friendly network monitoring tool designed to simplify network infrastructure monitoring and long-term capacity planning. Our recommendation for Nagios XI is based on its ease of use, customizable GUI, and minimalist dashboard design, making it accessible to users of all levels of expertise. With comprehensive monitoring capabilities and customizable views, Nagios XI ensures efficient network monitoring and management, empowering organizations to proactively address network issues and optimize performance.

As you can see from the image above, Nagios XI takes a minimalistic approach across the dashboard. The navigation tree on the left-hand side provides you with everything you need to monitor your network. For example, if you click on Reports on the menu at the top left of the screen, you will be able to click through to event logs, notifications, bandwidth usage, and network queries immediately. This is important because you don’t have to sift through a lot of information to find what you want.

One unique feature offered by Nagios XI is multi-tenant access. Multi-tenant access allows an administrator to control what IT elements certain users see. This is particularly useful for organizations looking to show clients specific internal systems without compromising the privacy of their entire network.

Who is it recommended for?

Nagios XI is recommended for organizations seeking a user-friendly and customizable network monitoring solution with comprehensive monitoring capabilities. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering scalability and flexibility to meet diverse monitoring needs. Nagios XI is particularly suitable for network administrators, IT managers, and system engineers looking for an intuitive and feature-rich monitoring tool capable of accommodating long-term capacity planning requirements. Whether you require advanced reporting, custom dashboards, or multi-tenant access, Nagios XI provides the necessary functionalities to ensure optimal network performance and reliability. Additionally, organizations prioritizing ease of use, customizable views, and multi-tenant access will find Nagios XI to be a valuable asset in their network management toolkit.

Price-wise, a couple of options are available. The first is the Standard Edition, which can be purchased for $1,995 (£1,486) and offers a GUI, advanced reporting, custom dashboards, visualisations, and notifications. The second is the Enterprise Edition, available from $3,495 (£2,603), which includes a number of features such as scheduled reports, capacity planning reports, and audit logging. Nagios XI can be downloaded from here.

9. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

When searching for the ultimate network monitoring tool, you need look no further than SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. This platform has been designed from the ground up to make the process of monitoring your network as painless as possible. Enterprises seeking a performance monitor with extensive automation are supported by a number of features.

Key Features:

• Auto-Discovery: Quickly and accurately discovers devices on the network, simplifying the setup process and eliminating manual intervention.
• Customizable Dashboards: Tailor the dashboard to display relevant network information, such as application health and connectivity status, providing a comprehensive overview of network performance.
• Automated Alerts: Set customizable alert parameters to receive timely notifications via email or SMS, ensuring proactive identification and resolution of network issues.
• Heatmaps: Visualize network connectivity and topology through heatmaps, offering insights into areas of strong and weak connectivity for effective diagnostics.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive interface design facilitates easy navigation and configuration, enhancing user experience and productivity.

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor earns our recommendation as a network monitoring tool due to its seamless automation, comprehensive feature set, and user-friendly interface. Having extensively tested the product ourselves, we found its ability to streamline network monitoring processes to be unparalleled. With its robust auto-discovery function, customizable dashboards, and automated alerts, this platform significantly enhances network management efficiency. Moreover, its intuitive design fosters a user-centric experience, empowering organizations to monitor and optimize their networks with ease.

Chief among these features is Network Performance Monitor’s auto-discovery function. SolarWinds automatically discovers devices on your network and adds them to the platform. This process can be completed in less than an hour and means you don’t have to spend time manually locating devices throughout the network. The simplicity of this feature is something that is carried over into the user interface as a whole.

You can customize the dashboard and choose what information you’d like to see about your network. For example, you may wish to view a pie chart that outlines application health or a map of your connectivity. You can also choose to look at activity for a particular IP address. There are many different dashboards and views to choose from show how your network runs. The inherent flexibility of the dashboard makes this a solution that can be tailored to meet an individual organization’s needs.

Network Performance Monitor also has an inbuilt alerts system. The user can set parameters for alerts, and the program will send notifications via email or SMS once the alert criteria has been met. You don’t need to manually monitor your network 24/7 in order to stay up to date with new events. The notifications feature automates this process and flags up events where there is an issue.

If you want a clearer perspective of your network connectivity and topology, Network Performance Monitor can produce heatmaps as well. A heatmap of IT infrastructure shows where connectivity is good and where it is poor, an invaluable diagnostics tool. The NPM focuses on the statuses of network devices. If you want a deeper perspective on network traffic, you will also need the SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is recommended for a wide range of enterprises seeking a comprehensive solution for network monitoring and management. From small businesses to large corporations, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor caters to organizations of varying sizes and complexities. Specifically, it is ideal for IT professionals, network administrators, and system engineers tasked with overseeing network infrastructures. Whether you’re aiming to streamline operations, improve network performance, or enhance overall reliability, this tool provides the necessary functionalities to meet diverse organizational needs. Additionally, businesses looking to minimize downtime, proactively identify network issues, and optimize resource allocation will find immense value in adopting this solution.

Overall this is a great product for SMEs and larger enterprises alike. SolarWinds Performance Monitor comes with a price tag of $2,895 (£2,156). You can also download the free trial.

10. Progress WhatsUp Gold

Progress WhatsUp Gold has developed a name for itself as a powerful and polished network monitoring tool for mid to large-size organizations. Without a doubt, its biggest appeal has to be its robust application performance monitoring. This allows the user to monitor their network right down to a device level. Whether your assessing the performance of Apache web servers, SQL servers, SharePoint, Exchange, or a Linux based system, WhatsUp Gold can monitor almost anything.

Key Features:

• Application Performance Monitoring: Offers robust application performance monitoring for various systems, including Apache web servers, SQL servers, SharePoint, Exchange, and Linux-based systems.
• Auto-Discovery Feature: Utilizes auto-discovery feature with IP range scan or SNMP scan to map devices on the network and produce a complete inventory of network elements.
• Cloud Services Monitoring: Monitors cloud-based systems and tracks cloud services expenditure on a monthly basis, providing comprehensive visibility into IT infrastructure.
• Network Traffic Analysis: Allows examination of network traffic flows with optional Network Traffic Analysis module for enhanced network performance monitoring.
• Scalable Pricing Options: Offers three versions: Premium (Annual Subscription), Premium (License), and Total Plus, with scalable pricing options to meet organizational needs.

Why do we recommend it?

Progress WhatsUp Gold stands out as a powerful and polished network monitoring tool. Our recommendation for WhatsUp Gold is based on its robust application performance monitoring capabilities, allowing users to monitor network performance down to a device level. With comprehensive monitoring support for various systems including Apache web servers, SQL servers, SharePoint, Exchange, and Linux-based systems, WhatsUp Gold offers unparalleled visibility into network infrastructure, making it an ideal choice for organizations prioritizing performance and reliability.

It also has its own auto-discovery feature, one of the key differentiators we outlined above. WhatsUp Gold uses either an IP range scan or an SNMP scan to map devices on your network and produce a complete inventory of network elements. You can view network topology in a diagram that shows where each device is situated on your network.

One of the main reasons why WhatsUp Gold has become popular is its ability to monitor cloud-based systems. The user can view the status of their cloud services straight from the dashboard and track cloud services expenditure on a monthly basis. This helps develop a more complete perspective of your IT infrastructure that doesn’t neglect cloud services in favour of the in-house network. WhatsUp Gold examines the health of network devices. You can examine network traffic flows by adding on a Network Traffic Analysis module.

Who is it recommended for?

WhatsUp Gold is recommended for mid to large-size organizations seeking a powerful and comprehensive network monitoring tool with advanced application performance monitoring capabilities. It caters to businesses across various industries, offering scalability and flexibility to meet diverse monitoring needs. WhatsUp Gold is particularly suitable for IT professionals, network administrators, and system engineers looking for a robust monitoring solution capable of monitoring both on-premises and cloud-based systems. Whether you require real-time monitoring, auto-discovery features, or cloud services monitoring, WhatsUp Gold provides the necessary functionalities to ensure optimal network performance and reliability. Additionally, organizations prioritizing comprehensive monitoring and cloud services integration will find WhatsUp Gold to be a valuable asset in their network management toolkit.

Three versions of WhatsUp Gold are available: Premium (Annual Subscription), Premium (License), and Total Plus. You will need to request a quote in order to see the official prices. However, if you’d like to view a detailed comparison of WhatsUp Gold’s features, you can do so on the company website here. You can also download a free trial here.

11. NetCrunch

Finally we have NetCrunch, a lesser known network monitoring tool that offers a very competitive package. Through NetCrunch, users can monitor their network infrastructure, servers, and applications from one user interface. One of the first things you notice about NetCrunch is how complex the dashboard is. The comprehensive design helps you to drill right down to the specifics.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Monitoring: Monitors network infrastructure, servers, and applications from a single user interface, enhancing network visibility and management.
• Performance Monitoring: Offers excellent performance monitoring capabilities, allowing users to view network performance metrics in graph or dial format in real time.
• Visualization Options: Provides a wealth of visualization options, including GrafCrunch live dashboards and widget formats, for intuitive data visualization.
• Customizable Alerts: Allows users to configure their own alerts and filter results based on alert type and date, ensuring prompt identification of pressing issues.
• Scalable Versions: Offers two versions: NetCrunch NMS for organizations with up to 250 nodes and NetCrunch Suite for larger enterprises with 250-plus nodes, providing scalability and flexibility.

Why do we recommend it?

NetCrunch emerges as a lesser-known yet highly competitive network monitoring tool offering a comprehensive package. Our recommendation for NetCrunch is based on its ability to monitor network infrastructure, servers, and applications seamlessly from a single user interface. With a complex yet intuitive dashboard design, NetCrunch enables users to drill down to specific details efficiently, enhancing network visibility and management.

As a performance monitoring solution, NetCrunch is excellent. You can view the performance of your network and processing time in graph or dial format. These track your performance metrics in real time. The GrafCrunch feature creates live dashboards of your data. If that’s not enough, you can display network information in widget format as well.

NetCrunch allows the user to configure their own alerts. These are shown on the alerts page where you can select the type of alert and date, allowing you to filter results right down to the most pressing issues. Each alert provides a useful description such as “processor queue is too long,” or “Disk C: Free disk space is running low”.

Who is it recommended for?

NetCrunch is recommended for organizations seeking a competitive and comprehensive network monitoring solution with advanced performance monitoring capabilities. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering scalability and flexibility to meet diverse monitoring needs. NetCrunch is particularly suitable for network administrators, IT managers, and system engineers looking for a powerful monitoring tool capable of visualizing network performance metrics in real-time. Whether you require customizable alerts, comprehensive performance monitoring, or intuitive visualization options, NetCrunch provides the necessary functionalities to ensure optimal network performance and reliability. Additionally, organizations prioritizing visualization and advanced performance monitoring will find NetCrunch to be a valuable asset in their network management toolkit.

NetCrunch really knocks the ball out of the park in terms of visualization; users can choose from a wealth of visual formats. Two different versions of NetCrunch are available; Netcrunch NMS and NetCrunch Suite. NMS is designed for organizations with up to 250 nodes, and NetCrunch Suite is designed for larger enterprises with 250-plus nodes. Prices are available upon request and a 14-day free trial can be downloaded here.

Network performance monitoring considerations

As you can see from our list, there are a lot of very good network performance monitoring tools on the market today. It is very difficult to choose between them. You first selection criteria should be the operating systems that each of these tools will run on. For example, if all of your servers have Linux operating systems, you just won’t be able to install those tools on our list that only operate on Windows.

Another major consideration that you will face is your budget. Some of these tools are very expensive. Although they are worth the money, if you just can’t get the funds allocated to your department for monitoring tools, you won’t be able to include them as candidates.

Take advantage of the free trials that the tools in our list offer to put your favorite three through their paces and check out which works best for your network.

The Ultimate Network Monitors

All of the tools mentioned in this list can function as complete network monitoring tools. If you’re running an enterprise-grade network, then network monitoring is essential to ensure your key services stay up in the long term. Without a network monitoring tool to guide your hand, running any form of troubleshooting or network optimization is extremely difficult.

Products like Auvik and Paessler PRTG are our top picks for network monitoring. Both of these programs allow you to hit the ground running thanks to auto-discovery and monitor your network through a clean and customizable user interface.

In an active business environment that’s centred on online activity, network monitoring has become ever more important in keeping enterprises operational year-round. A network monitoring platform should be one of the first purchases you consider to keep your downtime to a minimum and improve core services.