Monitoring Network Trends

Monitoring Network Trends

Monitoring the network is an ongoing task that requires data from several different areas. Some of the monitoring tools that keep watch on the network are discussed in other chapters. The purpose of this chapter is to bring these tools together so that you can view them in the context of an overall network monitoring strategy. The following list details some tools you can use to document network activities:

Pencil and paper (very important in keeping records)
A performance-monitoring tool, such as Windows NT’s Performance Monitor
A network-monitoring and protocol-analysis program—such as Windows NT’s Network Monitor or the more powerful Network Monitor tool included with Microsoft’s BackOffice System Management Server (SMS) package—or a hardware-based protocol analyzer
A system event log, such as the Windows NT event log, which you can access through Windows NT’s Event Viewer application.