Network Monitoring Tool

Can anyone recommend a decent Windows Network monitoring tool that is very
simple and easy to use, that can basically tell me which computers are
taking up most of the bandwidth or are causing problems within our network.
Being able to monitor Internet, SQL server, VPN and email traffic would be
useful.

It'd be handy to have it running in the background and for something to
popup on my desktop whenever a machine was taking up too much bandwidth or
causing a problem for the rest of us.

I know there's probably no magic tool that can do this, but the ones i've
looked at so far are too complicated and would take a lot of time to
understand. Any step by step guides would also be very beneficial.

Many thanks

Dan.

Henry
Thu Dec 11 07:53:21 CST 2003

LOL !
I can see it now, a little 2 inch tall IT expert with about 5 years
Enterprise Network Optimisation experience sweating over a monitor in a
little Glass Cube. ....runs on the smell of a candy bar wrapper too....

:-)

--
Henry Craven.

========= Post It Appropriately: ============
SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
=====================================

"Dan Williams" <dan_williams@newcross-nursing.com> wrote in message
news:br9h8r$49q$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Can anyone recommend a decent Windows Network monitoring tool that is
very
> simple and easy to use, that can basically tell me which computers are
> taking up most of the bandwidth or are causing problems within our
network.
> Being able to monitor Internet, SQL server, VPN and email traffic would
be
> useful.
>
> It'd be handy to have it running in the background and for something to
> popup on my desktop whenever a machine was taking up too much bandwidth
or
> causing a problem for the rest of us.
>
> I know there's probably no magic tool that can do this, but the ones
i've
> looked at so far are too complicated and would take a lot of time to
> understand. Any step by step guides would also be very beneficial.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Dan.
>
>

Dan
Thu Dec 11 15:38:09 CST 2003

HUH?

So is that a no then???

"Henry Craven" <IUnknown@d.com> wrote in message
news:OTJSb3%23vDHA.3220@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> LOL !
> I can see it now, a little 2 inch tall IT expert with about 5 years
> Enterprise Network Optimisation experience sweating over a monitor in a
> little Glass Cube. ....runs on the smell of a candy bar wrapper too....
>
> :-)
>
> --
> Henry Craven.
>
> ========= Post It Appropriately: ============
> SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
> SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
> SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
> =====================================
>
> "Dan Williams" <dan_williams@newcross-nursing.com> wrote in message
> news:br9h8r$49q$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > Can anyone recommend a decent Windows Network monitoring tool that is
> very
> > simple and easy to use, that can basically tell me which computers are
> > taking up most of the bandwidth or are causing problems within our
> network.
> > Being able to monitor Internet, SQL server, VPN and email traffic would
> be
> > useful.
> >
> > It'd be handy to have it running in the background and for something to
> > popup on my desktop whenever a machine was taking up too much bandwidth
> or
> > causing a problem for the rest of us.
> >
> > I know there's probably no magic tool that can do this, but the ones
> i've
> > looked at so far are too complicated and would take a lot of time to
> > understand. Any step by step guides would also be very beneficial.
> >
> > Many thanks
> >
> > Dan.
> >
> >
>
>

anonymous
Thu Dec 11 19:21:07 CST 2003

Hi Dan
Not sure what "Henry Craven" is all about but yes there is. All versions of server software from Microsoft have a network monitoring tool that you can install on the system from the add\remove snap in. Windows Xp Pro has it ass well. It will show all ip addresses and the consumtion of those ip and or mac addresses. Give it a try.

Henry
Thu Dec 11 19:19:56 CST 2003

Let's just say I think you're expecting a bit much.

SBS is about as close as it gets to an automated Network, but they still
haven't supplied managed to train Monkeys to run it, and that goes for
the enterprise network monitoring and tweaking tools too.

Oh, there are tools out there as you say, like the SolarWinds Tools or
Monitor Magic and the others that you've found, but they are still
individual tools that you'll need to learn to use and interpret, not an
all encompassing integrated and Hand Holding Wizard driven app. - and
they will cost you.

If you ever come across that tool you're looking for let me know. I can
set it up in umpteen sites and retire.
:-)

Like Software Development and Database Management, Network Optimisation
is a Black Art.
There is -no- "one Formula Fits all."

Windows itself, and the associated SBS Servers come with enough
monitoring and reporting tools to do all you want, plus some, but it's
not Automatic. You need to learn how, and what to do, what the results
mean and how and what to tweak.
...but that, as you say, is what you want to avoid having to do.

--
Henry Craven.

========= Post It Appropriately: ============
SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
=====================================


"Dan Williams" <dtwilliams@btconnect.com> wrote in message
news:brao41$etk$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> HUH?
>
> So is that a no then???

Dan
Fri Dec 12 04:27:30 CST 2003

Thanks for the response.

As you can imagine, being the only IT guy for about 10 offices now, i don't
get much time to sit down and attempt to learn these things! I sort of knew
there wouldn't be an easy solution, but hey, if you don't ask you don't get.

I'll have to speak to the boss and either get a third-party involved or
schedule some time to do it, depending on my other priorities!! So that'll
be never then!!

Cheers

Dan

"Henry Craven" <IUnknown@d.com> wrote in message
news:eryvBFFwDHA.2148@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Let's just say I think you're expecting a bit much.
>
> SBS is about as close as it gets to an automated Network, but they still
> haven't supplied managed to train Monkeys to run it, and that goes for
> the enterprise network monitoring and tweaking tools too.
>
> Oh, there are tools out there as you say, like the SolarWinds Tools or
> Monitor Magic and the others that you've found, but they are still
> individual tools that you'll need to learn to use and interpret, not an
> all encompassing integrated and Hand Holding Wizard driven app. - and
> they will cost you.
>
> If you ever come across that tool you're looking for let me know. I can
> set it up in umpteen sites and retire.
> :-)
>
> Like Software Development and Database Management, Network Optimisation
> is a Black Art.
> There is -no- "one Formula Fits all."
>
> Windows itself, and the associated SBS Servers come with enough
> monitoring and reporting tools to do all you want, plus some, but it's
> not Automatic. You need to learn how, and what to do, what the results
> mean and how and what to tweak.
> ...but that, as you say, is what you want to avoid having to do.
>
> --
> Henry Craven.
>
> ========= Post It Appropriately: ============
> SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
> SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
> SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
> =====================================
>
>
> "Dan Williams" <dtwilliams@btconnect.com> wrote in message
> news:brao41$etk$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > HUH?
> >
> > So is that a no then???
>
>

Henry
Fri Dec 12 05:07:51 CST 2003

Believe me, I sympathise with your plight.
... and it is always worth an ask as you say.

Who knows, maybe someone will yet pop up with that App,and we'll both be
wiser and richer for it.

--
Henry Craven.

========= Post It Appropriately: ============
SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
=====================================

"Dan Williams" <dan_williams@newcross-nursing.com> wrote in message
news:brc56h$5mi$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Thanks for the response.
>
> As you can imagine, being the only IT guy for about 10 offices now, i
don't
> get much time to sit down and attempt to learn these things! I sort of
knew
> there wouldn't be an easy solution, but hey, if you don't ask you don't
get.
>
> I'll have to speak to the boss and either get a third-party involved or
> schedule some time to do it, depending on my other priorities!! So
that'll
> be never then!!
>
> Cheers
>
> Dan

olof
Sat Dec 13 08:15:55 CST 2003

We us a tool called INM 2.0 to monitor our servers, we primarly
monitor the event log, disk space, network interface usage and some
other performance counters and SNMP values. There is a 30 day trial at
www.intellipool.com.

/Olof


"Henry Craven" <IUnknown@d.com> wrote in message news:<ujES##JwDHA.536@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>...
> Believe me, I sympathise with your plight.
> ... and it is always worth an ask as you say.
>
> Who knows, maybe someone will yet pop up with that App,and we'll both be
> wiser and richer for it.
>
> --
> Henry Craven.
>
> ========= Post It Appropriately: ============
> SBS 4/4.5 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
> SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
> SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
> =====================================
>
> "Dan Williams" <dan_williams@newcross-nursing.com> wrote in message
> news:brc56h$5mi$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> > Thanks for the response.
> >
> > As you can imagine, being the only IT guy for about 10 offices now, i
> don't
> > get much time to sit down and attempt to learn these things! I sort of
> knew
> > there wouldn't be an easy solution, but hey, if you don't ask you don't
> get.
> >
> > I'll have to speak to the boss and either get a third-party involved or
> > schedule some time to do it, depending on my other priorities!! So
> that'll
> > be never then!!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Dan

Dave
Fri Feb 06 09:25:47 CST 2004

"Dan Williams" <dan_williams@newcross-nursing.com> wrote in message
news:br9h8r$49q$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Can anyone recommend a decent Windows Network monitoring tool that is very
> simple and easy to use, that can basically tell me which computers are
> taking up most of the bandwidth or are causing problems within our
network.
> Being able to monitor Internet, SQL server, VPN and email traffic would be
> useful.
> It'd be handy to have it running in the background and for something to
> popup on my desktop whenever a machine was taking up too much bandwidth or
> causing a problem for the rest of us.
> I know there's probably no magic tool that can do this, but the ones i've
> looked at so far are too complicated and would take a lot of time to
> understand. Any step by step guides would also be very beneficial.

I've seen recently a presentation of a product called NetCrunch
(http://www.adremsoft.com/netcrunch/index.php). It looks to be a quite
simple in use, but powerful tool. So if you haven't find nothing yet, check
it..

--
Regards
Dave