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Module 1 Assignment - SLO 1

Network Performance Monitoring and Security - 82422 CET6882 202308

Sheik & Nguyen

UWF
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Table of Contents

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Network Monitoring Tools...........................................................................................................................4
Recommended Tools...................................................................................................................................5
Network Monitoring Challenges..................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................................................6
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Network Performance Monitoring

Network Performance Monitoring is the process of monitoring the quality of the network. It allows

network administrators to obtain data, perform appropriate tasks, and identify the problems in the

network. Network Performance Monitoring collects data by flow data, Simple Network Management,

and packet capture (Gillis, n.d.).

Flow data is generated from network devices and provides information about the network

traffic. It’s configured in routers and switches to collect IP traffic data. Its advantage is that it gives a

quick general overview which can save time in identifying the problem.

Packet capture gives detailed traffic on one end to another. It shows how much of the

information is being transferred over a certain amount of time and can be in the form of graphs. There

are two forms of packet capturing which are network tapping and port mirroring. Both involve using the

switches. Network tap monitors the destination and the switch while port mirroring sends copy of the

packet to another port (Network Performance Monitoring: How to Measure Network Performance,

2023).

Simple Network Management Protocol is a component of the Internet Protocol Suite used to

monitor devices with networks such as printers, routers, and so on. It collects information such as

operational status, bandwidth, and errors. This method is mainly used to observe problems regarding

network connection between devices (SNMP: Understanding Simple Network Management Protocol,

2020).

Reasons for Network Performance Monitoring

NPM gives IT professionals a tool to prevent bigger issues by giving troubleshoots and diagnostics of the

network. If neglect occurs while monitoring, then disrupted network will occur which can create issues

from frustrating customers to hurting businesses. It is also a form of cybersecurity protecting valuable

information and preventing threats from breaching the system. Any information leaked by a security
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breach or threats is very damaging to any company which means that this is a top priority in network

monitoring. Many businesses rely on the Internet for working and advertising and is important that the

network is maintained for optimal productivity (Network Performance Monitoring: How to Measure

Network Performance, 2023).

Network Monitoring Tools

When it comes to network monitoring, there are numerous tools that can be used for each of the

different types of monitoring (traffic flow, packet loss, latency, etc.). Due to the nature of network-related

data and the fact that malicious traffic can appear legitimate, it is important to track multiple data points

simultaneously to get an accurate picture of the health of the network.

While the quantity of traffic moving through a network doesn’t paint a complete picture of

network health by itself, it is still an important metric to track to get a general sense of the state of the

network. One option that is free is Argus. Argus collects various data points related to traffic flow and

stores them so that they can be translated into XML files (Keshav, 2006).

Analyzing data packets (also known as “packet sniffing”) at the micro and micro levels can

provide valuable insights into the data being transmitted across a network. One of the most well-known

tools used for packet sniffing is Wireshark. Wireshark understands both data encapsulation as well as the

abstraction of networks (Pandit, 2021). It can analyze packets in real-time, as well as analyze packets that

have already been captured/saved to a file. Data can be read from a variety of protocols, such as

Ethernet, Bluetooth, and USB (About Wireshark, n.d.).

Latency should be kept to a minimum to ensure that data is delivered between any given points

in a network in a timely manner. A free and widely available tool for monitoring latency is the ‘ping’

command. Ping uses ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) to measure latency. It is typically

accessed via the operating system’s command line console. Although manual, it is a good way to quickly

check for any latency between two devices (Abdullahi, 2022).

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Recommended Tools
Before diving into specific tool recommendations, it is important to establish a few key best

practices for network monitoring. Before any monitoring tools are implemented, it is important to

establish baselines, based on expected network behavior, for all key metrics. This will allow admins to set

thresholds that allow them to be proactive. For example, if a baseline for latency is properly established,

and a threshold is set at an ideal level above that baseline (at a level where the latency isn’t client-

impacting but is still out of the ordinary), then this will allow admins to be alerted when latency meets

that threshold. They will then be able to take corrective action before users/clients are impacted.

Additionally, network monitoring tools should provide a holistic view of the network/the flow of data

through the network, and they should have built-in reporting capabilities that show trends over-time,

which helps with capacity planning (Ninja, 2023).

One recommendation for a solid, comprehensive network monitoring tool is OpManager.

OpManager allows for detailed tracking of a multitude of metrics via an intuitive, clear user interface. It

has several built-in options for creating topology maps and dashboards for metric monitoring, and it

allows admins to run ad-hoc/scheduled reports. Additionally, it has a companion app that is available for

both Android and iOS, which allows admins to easily keep tabs on the health of their networks no matter

where they are (ManageEngine OpManager, n.d.).

Another recommendation for a comprehensive network monitoring solution is Paessler PRTG

Network Monitor. It allows for detailed monitoring of every device, application, and service on a given

network, and it has a highly customizable reporting suite. Also, it features automatic network discovery,

which allows for quick setup of any new devices added to the network. Like OpManager, PRTG Network

Monitor has an app available for Android/iOS (Paessler PRTG, n.d.).

When evaluating network monitoring tools, it’s important to consider the size/complexity of the

network, SLAs, size/location of the team members that oversee the network, as well as any networking
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issues the organization has dealt with in the past. This will allow the organization to select the most

appropriate tool from both a functionality and cost perspective.

Network Monitoring Challenges

While there are various advantages to network monitoring, there are some challenges to

consider. One of the main challenges is root cause identification. While network monitoring provides

large volumes of data in the way of logs/error messages/etc., being able to pinpoint the root cause of a

specific issue can still be challenging due to the amount of data that needs to be analyzed. Having a deep

understanding of the network and how all the components interact with each other can help with this.

Another challenge with network monitoring is the effective utilization of the data collected by the

monitoring tools. Having a good understanding of the types of network issues that are most detrimental

to the organization is key to getting the most out of all the data being collected (ManageEngine

OpManager, n.d.).

Conclusion
Network Performance Monitoring's main priority is to maintain and collect information regarding the

network performance. It is important because many customers and companies rely on quality networks

to efficiently get certain performances achieved. Latency, data packets, and traffic flows are important

features when looking for tools to monitor the network. Certain tools such as OpManager and Paessler

PRTG are used to monitor these features and have their own specialties. Challenges such as identifying

root cause and data collection must be considered before choosing the right tools for network

performance monitoring.
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References

Abdullahi, A. (2022). Best Network Latency Testing Tools. Retrieved from Enterprise Networking Planet:
https://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/guides/best-network-latency-testing-tools/

About Wireshark. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wireshark: https://www.wireshark.org/about.html

Gillis, A. S. (n.d.). Network Performance Monitoring (NPM). Retrieved from Tech Target:
https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/network-performance-monitoring

Keshav, T. (2006). A Survey of Network Performance Monitoring Tools. St. Louis: University of
Washington.

ManageEngine OpManager. (n.d.). Retrieved from Manage Engine:

https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/

Network Performance Monitoring: How to Measure Network Performance. (2023). Retrieved from
Kaseya: https://www.kaseya.com/blog/network-performance-monitoring/#:~:text=It%20helps
%20them%20detect%20issues,helps%20and%20prevents%20cybersecurity%20breaches.

Ninja, T. (2023). Network Monitoring & Management Best Practices for 2023. Retrieved from NinjaOne:
https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/network-monitoring-management-best-practices-for-
beginners/

Paessler PRTG. (n.d.). Retrieved from Paessler: https://www.paessler.com/prtg

Pandit, P. (2021). A Study of Packet Sniffer Tools. Mumbai: Mumbai University.

doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.31223.3472

SNMP: Understanding Simple Network Management Protocol. (2020). Retrieved from Kaseya:
https://www.kaseya.com/blog/snmp-simple-network-management-protocol/