IT Employment

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Recommended Net tools

0 helpful
13 replies

by itveteran

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I am starting a new position and would like some input into what the best net admin tools and wht the best net processes are to use in the beginning. It has been a little while since I was doing serious net admin and I want to quickly be able to identity IT and Network inventory, build a topology map and be able to some monitoring of Windows NT or 2000 servers and all network devices (Cisco). Does anyone have good input as to what easy and cheap tools to use?

Plus any other recommedations?

13 replies

by rude2o2

The AdventNet suite of tools are fantastic and come with free trials for all add on's.

by jean_maurice

YOu can have a go at solawinds range of products,
though try the ToolSet Engineers Edition very good toolbox for any net admin

by feral

I agree OPmanager is good however its limited to 20 devices.
Check out The Dude http://www.mikrotik.com/thedude.php

This application is freeware and works really well for creating topology diagrams and monitoring in the one package.

My other recommendation is for SYDI which is an open source network documentation project.
I have nothing but praise for this tool and the effort that the programmers have put into it.
You can document not only standard servers but Exchange,SQL and LINUX servers!
This one tool is worth its weight in gold as you can run it against a remote system and pull all the info into a word document.
It will not work across a VLAN that is the only issue I have had with it for some reason.

http://sydi.sourceforge.net/

With these two tools you have no excuse for not having network and systems documentation.

For job ticketing and help desk I recommmend Liberum which is also open source and based on ASP, I use it on my network and it has never let me down.It is very customisable and the support forums users are very helpful.

Best thing about all these things is its all FREE.

Cheers

by breadtrk

Feral, I should send you a check. The Dude did in less than an hour what I have been trying to do for a year; that is mapping my entire network over a map of their physical locations.

by angralitux

DameWare Development has NTutilites, very handing to manage AD and remote control and support workstations. I have used it, and is very capable, but I don't think you can manage cisco devices with it, but it'll work wherever your AD reach.

http://www.dameware.com

by david.sayers

I am in the process of deploying this and it is excellent for monitoring the overall health of the network. I really helps us to be proactive in solving issues.

by dbernor

Just wanted to say Thanks for the Thread and the answers folks.
I love finding new IT goodies and there are some really good ones posted.

by jean_maurice

I have one NetMRI, very strong solution surely the best in its catefory , but very expensive. it depends on what u wnat to achieve really.

by duckdive1

Spiceworks.com - agentless discovery with configurable monitors. It is beta, but very stable. It is a FREE product that you run from your own PC/server. Yet, they make their money by displaying google ads on the right side. I've been very impressed with it thus far. I've even used it over a VPN (pptp and ipsec).

This discussion is closed to new replies.