{"id":49869,"date":"2022-05-03T09:28:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T01:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/?p=49869"},"modified":"2022-05-30T10:42:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T02:42:11","slug":"what-is-remote-network-monitoring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/en\/2022\/05\/what-is-remote-network-monitoring\/","title":{"rendered":"What is remote network monitoring?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"<\/p>\n\n

Remote network monitoring is a technical specialty that was born almost at the same time as networks themselves. Since then, many strategies have emerged when it comes to monitoring network elements.<\/p>\n

In this article we will talk about the current techniques based on SNMP polling and network statistic collection through Netflow, and we will also mention outdated systems such as RMON.<\/p>\n

Most techniques are purpose-oriented, so they are especially useful. Some more modern ones use combined techniques to offer higher control and network knowledge.<\/p>\n

What advantages does each one of them offer?<\/p>\n

What is remote network monitoring?<\/h2>\n

Remote network monitoring consists of detecting and knowing the status of any<\/strong> device connected to the network.<\/p>\n

It can be network-specific hardware (such as a router, server, printer) or a specialized device (such as a probe or IoT element).<\/p>\n

Simple, right?<\/p>\n

Then let\u2019s talk about the different techniques you have to monitor a network remotely.<\/p>\n

Basic Remote Network Monitoring Techniques<\/h3>\n

Often this monitoring takes place through basic techniques.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With basic techniques we mean something as well known as pinging and checking whether the computer responds to the network.<\/p>\n

What is pinging<\/em>? It is a communication mechanism that allows you to find out whether a computer is connected and responds when you \u201cknock\u201d on its door.<\/p>\n

To use it you just have to know its IP address.<\/p>\n

Other basic techniques include measuring latency times (network lagging) or packet loss (network packet loss<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Advanced Remote Network Monitoring Tool \u2013 Netflow<\/h3>\n

The most common<\/strong> and already much more network specific techniques include the use of the SNMP protocol (Simple Network Monitoring Protocol)<\/a> that helps to obtain specific information from devices connected to the network: number of connections, incoming traffic through its network interface, firmware version, CPU temperature, etc.<\/p>\n

Something that, if we use technical terms, is known as SNMP polling.<\/p>\n

Other tools use protocols from the Netflow<\/strong> family (JFlow, SFlow, Netflow) to obtain statistical information<\/strong> about network usage.<\/p>\n

This statistical information is incredibly useful to be able to analyze the use of the network, detect bottlenecks and, above all, to have a clear vision of what the communication flows between the different elements of a network are.<\/p>\n

Advanced Network Remote Monitoring Techniques \u2013 RMON<\/h3>\n

There is an almost obsolete protocol called RMON. However, it is worth mentioning, because we can still find it in some installations.<\/p>\n

This protocol used a technology network monitoring technology that listened to the wire to obtain statistical information using a specific SNMP agent. Something like what Netflow does.<\/p>\n

Advanced Remote Network Monitoring Tools \u2013 SNMP Traps<\/h3>\n

On the other hand, most devices still use SNMP TRAPS to report incidents in asynchronous mode.<\/p>\n

Although it is a very old method, it is still used today as a monitoring method on almost all network devices.<\/p>\n

Not to be mistaken with the SNMP Polling that we discussed at the beginning!<\/p>\n

Benefits of Network Monitoring<\/h2>\n

The most important and simple benefit is to find out the status of the network:<\/p>\n