Thursday, December 26, 2019

Network Analysis Tools in 2020



In our technological world, one of the most frustrating situations is undoubtedly when you open your laptop or turn on your computer to work on something important, and the network is slow. You are trying to open your email, but it does not connect. Web pages are not loaded. The company's messaging system does not respond. Is there anything worse?

What happens if I say that solving these slow network problems can be so frustrating, if not more? The work is tedious and generally lengthy since you must check every corner of your network for problems, including Wi-Fi signal strength, network speed, network connections, servers, routers, etc.. However, using Network Analysis Tools, you can continuously monitor what is happening on your network, including proactive monitoring of Wi-Fi signal speed and strength, bandwidth availability, bottlenecks and necks. of bottle in the net.

There are several network analysis tools on the market, but I recommend a specific pair: SolarWinds® Network Performance Monitor and NetFlow Traffic Analyzer. NPM is a comprehensive network analysis tool that can quickly determine Wi-Fi network outages and performance issues, as well as a wide variety of other Best Network Monitoring Tools



NTA can be added to NPM for additional bandwidth and Wi-Fi monitoring and troubleshooting. NTA also includes the ability to create baselines and application traffic alerts, as well as several security features to help you. Detect malicious traffic. I have found that using the two tools together gives you a complete picture of what is happening on your network in real-time.

What Is Network Analysis –

Network analysis is the process of carefully analyzing network traffic to obtain information about what is happening on the network and what type of data is in transit. If the web server and the cloud aspects of your system work slowly, one of the first things you should check is any problem with your Wi-Fi; This is where the network analysis comes in.

The network analysis decodes the data that passes through the network and displays them in a readable format. Networking ManagementTools can perform tasks such as:

Network Troubleshooting
Determination of Wi-Fi availability and speed
Find bottlenecks in bandwidth
Network intrusion or spyware detection
Determine which part of the network is directed by a DDoS attack (and where it comes from)
Discovering bad applications or hardware

Sometimes, a network analyzer is separate hardware with software installed, while sometimes it is installed on a computer as part of the network. The main differences between the network analysis tools are related to the parts of the system that the tool focuses on, the number of protocols that can be decoded (as well as the quality of this process), the appearance of the interface. The user and the graphs or data analysis it can produce.

Why Does Network Analysis Matter –

A network analyzer helps your company manage an efficient and optimized network by discovering all performance problems before they affect the entire system or reach the end-user.

In a business environment, many people use network analysis to do part of their work: system administrators, security experts, programmers, and network engineers. If your company relies heavily on the cloud or web-based systems or uses an extensive Wi-Fi network with many users, it is essential to make sure the network is working correctly. When the network encounters a problem, it can cause minor issues, resulting in loss of productivity or severe issues, resulting in loss of revenue or reputation due to poor performance.

As Wi-Fi networks become more common, especially in dense areas such as large cities, network analysis is also becoming increasingly important. Wi-Fi works in a specific frequency range and these frequencies are divided into a limited number of channels. Any Wi-Fi device can use these channels to communicate, but if many tools try to communicate with Wi-Fi, all channels will be busy. If there are too many devices that use a chain, they can interfere with each other and cannot communicate.

Many Wi-Fi devices automatically choose the channel to operate on. However, since there are more Wi-Fi networks, network congestion can occur when portions of the wireless spectrum on each channel are overloaded with connections. Wi-Fi network analysis can help you and your business optimize the coverage and strength of your Wi-Fi signal, so you can better balance the network load.

From a Wi-Fi optimization perspective, the use of network analysis and monitoring tools to establish baselines for network performance can help determine where and when a problem occurred. You can also set up alerts to notify you when your network is slower and highlight devices on your system that are using bandwidth. Many network analysis tools also allow you to create Wi-Fi availability maps, such as heat maps, to show where the Wi-Fi signal is weak. This can make your business run more efficiently because you spend less time figuring out why your network is down or why you can't connect to a particular location.



Wednesday, December 18, 2019

What is Network Operation Center (NOC) & Its Services



A Network Operations Center or NOC is a centralized location where IT support technicians can monitor, monitor and maintain customer networks.
Many managed IT service providers (MSPs) use these centers to ensure 24/7 availability for all their customers. An MSP manages and internal NOC, outsources an external provider or chooses a mixed solution; however, the services, duties and responsibilities of the NOC remain the same.

WHAT ARE THE NOC SERVICES?                                     

NOC is a software distribution and upgrade center, performance monitoring, coordination with affiliate networks, network troubleshooting, and domain and router administration.

But that's not all you can do. There is a wide range of NOC services, including:

·         Performance reports and recommendations for improvement.
·         Firewall and intrusion prevention monitoring and administration system
·         Network discovery and assessments
·         Optimization and quality of service reports.
·         Patch and whitelist management
·         Backup and storage management.
·         Email management services
·         Voice and video traffic management.
·         Antivirus and patch analysis
·         Analysis of shared threats
·         Action policy
·         Installation, troubleshooting and upgrade of application software.


In terms of responsibilities, the NOC monitors each section, net flow, server, and a terminal connected to the client networks of an MSP. They also help control the capacity and condition of the infrastructure and make adjustments and decisions to ensure that systems are operating at optimal speed and that productivity has been organized.

If NOC reports something, depending on the relationship between them and the MSP, teams can work to resolve the problem and help identify the source of the problem to avoid future problems.

IS A NEW ONE EVEN LIKE A HELP TABLE?

No, an NOC and technical support are not interchangeable services. The big difference between the two is that technical support is the place where all interaction with the end customer occurs.

NOC provides maintenance, support, and troubleshooting for MSP to respond to customer issues that may arise. On the other hand, technical support is a call center designed to receive questions directly from end customers who encounter a problem.

In other words, if an end-user has a problem, contact technical support. If the MSP has a program, it will contact NOC.


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

How We Found the Best Internet Service Provider


The best Internet service provider for you depends on the companies available in your area and how you will use the Internet connection. The sad truth about ISPs is that regional monopolies and natural topography prevent ISPs from being available everywhere. We have conducted individual evaluations of different types of Internet. However, if you are still unsure of what is best for you, we have gathered our favorites in each of the categories below to help you find the best Internet service.

The 7 Best Wifi Companies Near Me
  • AT&T Internet — Best Customer Service
  • Verizon — Best for Fiber Internet
  • HughesNet — Best for Satellite Internet
  • Frontier Communications — Best for Cheap Internet
  • Charter Spectrum — Best for Bundling
  • CenturyLink — Best for Businesses
  • Comcast Xfinity — Fastest Top Speed

Why Trust this Review?

Reviews.com has been writing, researching, testing, and reviewing the Internet service for years. We spoke to several experts and developed over 60 guides, analyzes and comparisons on the Internet. All of our recommendations are based solely on independent research conducted by our research and writing team.

AT&T - The best customer service –

AT&T consistently leads the graphics in the way it interacts with its customers: the company won the Satisfaction Study Award from the US Domestic Internet Service Provider & WiFi Services. UU. From JD Power for the Central-North Region in 2016, 2017 and 2018. AT&T fiber-optic offers incredibly fast Internet speeds, which rise to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) in some cities. This type of connection is ideal for large families with more intense Internet activity, especially the transmission. If you are not in a region with fiber-optic Internet lines, AT&T DSL is also a reliable option for lighter use of the Internet and smaller homes, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, the fastest DSL option we have found. Its data limits are also generous, with up to 1 TB (1,000 GB) in all areas. AT&T  is the Best Wifi Company; you can be sure that you will receive quality service and reliable speeds.

Verizon - Best Fiber Internet –

Verizon's fiber-optic service offers speeds from 50 Mbps to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps). And the 2018 FCC report showed that Verizon's current rates are on average higher than those announced by the company: 108% of the speeds announced, to be exact. This is excellent news for those who use the Internet for data-intensive activities such as video streaming, videoconferencing and online gaming. Verizon Fios, in particular, excels in serving players: PCMag found that Verizon had faster and more consistent speeds than any of our list providers and therefore named the company as one of the best providers Industry internet. Games in 2019. Verizon outperforms all other providers since 2016 on the US Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), particularly with a 70/100 in 2019. Unfortunately, Verizon Yarns is currently only available in ten states, serving 34 million people. People in the northeast Ok, this is the broadest range of any fiber-optic Internet service providers, but it still excludes most of the country.

Verizon Availability
Verizon FiOS is only available in nine states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Verizon FiOS service is mainly concentrated in densely populated urban areas and large cities. Even your DSL service is quite limited. If you live in a rural area on the east coast, Verizon probably won't be an option for your Internet service.

HughesNet - Best satellite provider –

Although the satellite is inherently slower than other types of Internet, HughesNet offers 25 Mbps with each plan. If that sounds weak, keep in mind that Hughesnet tends to deliver more, with a 2018 FCC report showing actual speeds close to double those announced by the company. However, you must choose your data limit. Most customers can choose between 10, 20, 30, or 50 GB of data per month. You should decide wisely: once your data allocation is complete, your speeds will decrease from 1 to 3 Mbps until the next billing cycle, too slow for anything other than basic web browsing. The advantage: there is a free data area between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., where Internet use is not charged to your monthly allowance. HughesNet also offers an application to help you keep track of the amount of data you are using so you never have to worry about how close your hat is.

Monday, December 16, 2019

What is a Network Monitoring Software –




There are several different aspects to consider in network management. Find a general description below. You can get more information about the benefits of network monitoring.
Large companies, as well as small and medium enterprises, need a computer network for their daily work to process and store a large amount of data. Therefore, servers, routers, and databases operate. Since this data is vital to everyday business processes, Network Management Software is required to protect the network from damage caused by system failures and errors and to ensure that users and customers can access information quickly and transparent problems.

An excellent comprehensive network monitoring system is the heart of any network management solution. Only if you have reliable data on the status, performance and use of your network can you manage your system effectively? The Paessler PRTG network monitor combines powerful monitoring tools with Network Management Tools functionality.



If one of your devices do not respond, an unusual event is logged, or a defined threshold is exceeded, the network management software sends an instant alert that helps you solve all network problems. You can also configure PRTG network management systems to perform a specific action in case of an alarm, such as restarting Windows services or running an external script. In this way, network administration can solve many common network problems without any intervention on your part.

The distinct functionalities of the PRTG network management software can be broken down into

Availability Monitoring
Activity Monitoring
And Usage Monitoring

NETWORK AVAILABILITY MONITORING –

The network management software detects failures, system deceleration, or router and automatically informs the administrator about the status of these devices. Another part of the network monitoring software is to verify the availability of the server and the site. These notifications for detected defective systems can be transmitted by email or by methods such as network transmission, text logging or SMS.

One of the essential functions of the network monitoring software is to alert the administrator when a system error occurs.

Network management software, such as PRTG Network Monitor, monitors the downtime and downtime of your systems, allowing you to detect system failures or slowdowns immediately. You can create availability reports and unavailability values, which helps control service level agreements (SLAs).

USE AND CONNECTIVITY MANAGEMENT –

To guarantee network and server performance, it is essential to know the overall bandwidth a usage, disk usage, processor load, etc. Once you have a performance problem caused by high usage levels, it is good to know which applications and which servers/users are using your bandwidth.
The use and monitoring of bandwidth according to various parameters such as IP addresses, port numbers, protocols, etc. can be done using SNMP, Packet Sniffing, or NetFlow (on some Cisco devices).




                                                                                                                                       

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Best 5 Free and Open Source Network Monitoring Tools



It is not easy to choose the right network monitoring solution for your business. IT professionals and decision-makers need to consider several factors when selecting solutions for their business, such as security, compatibility, ease of use, and (of course) budget. Technology solutions at the enterprise level are often considered expensive, but is this still the case? Not necessarily! There are several free and open-source network monitoring tools that your business should consider when choosing a network monitoring solution.
That's why in Solutions Review, we've compiled a list of the top 17 free and open-source network monitoring tools. These tools are free to install and use or are published under an open-source license. They should be taken into account if your company wants to reduce costs, but we must keep in mind that they may not be the best option for your business. Many free tools are small versions of a fully-equipped network monitoring program, and many open-source developments require technical knowledge or developer experience. As such, we have listed some key features of each free and open-source tool, so you know how each solution is specialized.
If you're looking for more resources on the best free and open source or premium network monitoring tools and providers, our 2019 Network Monitoring Buying The guide is covered! It contains profiles of the 28 leading network monitoring providers on the market today, including descriptions of the tools they offer and notable features of each. The guide also introduces ten questions for you and your potential suppliers before buying a network monitoring solution. You can consult this guide here!
Here are the Top Free Network Monitoring Software Tools –

AppNeta PathTest

Cacti

EventSentry Light

Famatech Advanced IP Scanner

Icinga


AppNeta PathTest


AppNeta PathTest is a free network capacity test tool designed to help companies understand the actual capacity of their network. PathTest seeks to improve the performance of layers 3 and 4 by displaying an accurate picture of the maximum resources of your system. Deliberately flood your network with data packets to fill the network to its maximum capacity. Users can set the duration of this test to a maximum of 10 seconds and run the tests at any time.

Cacti


Cacti is an open-source network monitoring tool based on the graphical record and RRDTool data system. The tool uses the data collection and network search feature to collect information about devices on networks of any size. This includes the ability to design custom scripts for data collection, as well as support for SNMP lookup. Then display this information in easy-to-understand charts that can be organized in the hierarchy with which your business is most comfortable.

EventSentry Light


EventSentry Light is a free version of SIEM, Event Monitoring, and Network Monitoring Suite of EventSentry. The Light version even offers the same event logging capabilities as the full version, so your organization can collect and interpret data from your Network Security. EventSentry Light also manages system status monitoring, including monitoring services, monitoring performance problems, and monitoring hardware failures.

Famatech Advanced IP Scanner

Famatech Advanced IP Scanner is a free network monitoring analysis tool that provides analysis of LAN networks and devices. Advanced IP Scanner allows you to search for devices on your system and remotely control connected computers and nodes. You can shut down the tool computers if you know that the method is not in use, and you are using valuable resources. The tool connects to the Famatech Radmin solution for remote IT management so that you can manage IP from anywhere.

Icinga


Icinga is an open-source network monitoring tool that measures network availability and performance. With a web-based interface, your organization can view hosts and applications throughout your network infrastructure. The machine is natively scalable and can be configured to work with any device. There are also tools for specific monitoring functions, such as VMware vSphere cloud environment monitoring and business process modeling.
















Monday, December 9, 2019

Key Points To Consider For Wifi Installation


Congratulations. If you are reading this, you have probably bought a new wireless system or think about it and are looking for some of the best practices for installing the wireless access point. Before you start, it's essential to know that Wi-Fi is more than it seems, and things you can not consider, such as where and how your access point is mounted, are much more important than you think.

Installing the wireless access point is not difficult. If you make a mistake, you will feel the bread. We saw excellent facilities and heard horror stories from customers about the so-called "tips" they received from the self-proclaimed experts in wireless services. Our clients have told us that they are moving to the next generation. Knowing that people have paid for these horrible services is merely horrific and we are here to say the truth — part 1 of our tips for installing wireless access points, your existing network environment, and physical installation. Part 2 will focus on advanced network configuration and how to improve your wireless access points for optimal performance.

·         Are Places with Free WiFi Near Me Safe

·         How Many Access Point do you Need

·         WiFi Installation & Setup In Your Area

·         What Are the Best Apps for Finding WiFi Near Me
 

 

 

1. Are Places with Free WiFi Near Me Safe -


IF Your Question is “Are Places with Free WiFi Near Me Safe”? Then You probably noticed that the number of public Wi-Fi networks is continuously increasing. Statista predicts that the number of public Wi-Fi hotspots in the world will reach 542 million by 2021, compared to 279 million by 2018. This startling growth is mainly due to our insatiable desire to stay in touch about our love of internet technology.

But in our quest for Wi-Fi internet access, we sometimes forget to pause for a moment and think about our security. After all, most people today don't hesitate to connect to a public network they have never met and use it to transmit sensitive information, such as login names, passwords, social security numbers, credit cards, etc. at the.

 

 

2. How Many Access Point do you Need -

When planning a WiFi project, one of the first questions people often ask themselves is how many access points they will need. To provide the best answer possible, the following information is required.

  • Coverage area/floor plan
  • The shape of the area/floor plan
  • Building/wall material
  • Number of users
  • Capacity/Throughput requirements per user/application

 

Coverage Area -

Knowing square footage is a good start. As mentioned earlier, a very rough estimate is one access point per 1,600 square feet / 150 square meters. The assumptions for this number are below

ü    Typical office or residential space
ü  The golden rectangle-shaped square area
ü  Soil surface
ü  Gold Drywall Partitions
ü  Basic Internet and transmission requirements


The shape of Area –

A better estimate requires knowing the way of the area. If the area is a plane in the form of "L," "H" or "T," the inner space may be the same as the point n. ° 1, but, likely, access points can not be located in the same place. It is essential for all users without the signal crossing multiple external or internal walls. For these scenarios, the following various factors may be used per installation type.

ü  L Shape - multiple square footage estimate by 2
ü  T Shape - multiple square foot estimate by 3
ü  H Shape - multiply square footage estimate by 4

Building Material –


An even better view requires knowing the type of material for each wall. If the substance of the interior wall is brick, cement, or block, the number of access points should increase. If you must make a quote every day at 800 square feet or 75 square meters. In most cases, the biggest problem is the access point signal that reaches customers, but the low power client signal that returns to the access point.

Number of Wireless Users/Devices –


An improvement in previous coverage estimates can be obtained by knowing the number of users. It is best to estimate the number of access points using the number of users or devices when the zones are reserved for a large number of users, such as conference rooms, auditoriums, and stadiums.

For example, a large sports stadium with a capacity of 80,000 spectators with a rectangular bowl has dimensions of 650 feet x 750 feet. Based on the expansion of the external Wi-Fi signal, an access point can easily cover 10,000 square feet, but we will use our default 1600 square feet per access point above. Using only the cover, calculate 487,500 square feet / 1600 = 305 hot spots.
A better estimate is the number of users. Assuming that only 50% of viewers use/connect to Wi-Fi, that means 40,000 Wi-Fi users. Of these 40,000 Wi-Fi users, we can estimate that about 25% are actively using Wi-Fi over at a given moment. The use of 30 users per access point rated above results in the creation of approximately 334 access points for an 80,000-seat stadium.

Applications/WiFi Usage/Capacity –


Estimates are based primarily on a strong signal for all users (-67 dBm or better / 4 or more bars). It does not take into account many factors that tend to make WiFi inefficient in large/dense user environments.

Another method is to estimate the number of access points based on capacity requirements. For the example of stage 4, the results would look like below.

üSelect a per-user throughput number: 1 Mbps / 1000 kbp
üEstimate per cent of users that will connect to WiFi: 50% adoption rate/take rate
üEstimate per cent of users active on a network as same time: 25%
üTarget throughput per AP/RF efficiency: 20 Mbps per AP (5 GHz)

3. WiFi Installation & Setup In Your Area –

While installing Wi-Fi can be a DIY job for a simple home configurations, it becomes more complicated when you realize that today's homes have more appliances than ever, including smart devices and voice assistants. Many owners also cut the cable and watch television. All this, plus a potentially more significant multi-level house can turn a simple WiFi configuration into a more complicated job.
Companies also have hundreds of devices that need a constant network connection. But if you overload your network, the service will be slow and sporadic. Find a WiFi installation company that can optimize your network with the right WiFi system.
Professionals can update their router. They can also add the infrastructure to transmit a robust WiFi signal in your home or building. They begin by anticipating the full range of devices such as phones and laptops, smart accessories, and all their screens. A local company can be on-site and immediately start installing its Wi-Fi network. Local services can also respond faster if you need repairs and maintenance.

 

4. What Are the Best Apps for Finding WiFi Near Me –

 

With the right apps, public Wi-Fi networks seem to be everywhere. Compared to the Wi-Fi selection tool on your smartphone or computer, dedicated Wi-Fi applications offer more options on how to find Wi-Fi networks, including hidden systems, and can point to Wi-Fi networks nearby. . .


Thursday, December 5, 2019

Best Network Monitoring Tools & Techniques


NOC Overview -

A network operations center, or "NOC," is a centralized location where IT technicians directly support remote management and monitoring software efforts. NOC equipment is widely used in managed IT services and is a formidable service delivery controller for many MSPs.

These technical teams closely monitor the terminals they control and manage, solve problems independently, and take preventive measures to prevent many issues from occurring. NOC teams are also heavily involved in high-level security actions and disaster recovery and backup (BDR) efforts, ensuring 24x7x365 availability to MSP customers.




Noc Tools –

Open-source options are good, but you should know that the use of open-source monitoring requires a high level of participation in the tool. Open source requires a significant investment of time and resources to learn, install, configure and use. Funds can be created using community support or an internal IT team. The second consideration is security, which becomes a problem if your company applies strict safety rules. Immediate custom corrections may not be available unless it takes a long time to develop. Or, critical security issues may not be discovered in the audit process.

Here are the top five NOC Tools that you need to know about -

·         ICINGA2
·         NAGIOS CORE
·         CACTI
·         ZABBIX
·         NTOP


ICINGA2 -

Icinga 2 is an open-source monitoring system that checks the availability of your network resources, informs users of faults and generates performance data for reporting.

Scalable and extensible, Icinga 2 can monitor large and complex environments across multiple sites.

If you already have NAGIOS clients in your systems, the migration is effortless. You can continue using the same NAGIOS clients as Nagios NRPE, NSClient, etc.

Many companies have been using NAGIOS for years and have now migrated to Icinga2.


NAGIOS CORE –

Nagios® is one of the most popular and widely used free network monitoring tools. Network administrators love Nagios because it does it all. What you do not have can be built or built by the Nagios community.

There are two versions of Nagios. Nagios Core is free and open-source, and Nagios XI is a trading tool based on Nagios Core, but with additional features. Nagios is popular because of its active development community and its support for external plugins. You can create and use external add-ons as executable or Perl® files and shell scripts to monitor and collect metrics for each hardware and software used on a network.

There are add-ons that provide a more straightforward and more efficient graphical user interface, address many Core® limitations, and support features such as automatic discovery, extended graphics, notification scaling, and more. Etc. Nagios may be impressive for startups and companies that do not have enough IT support staff, but it offers good monitoring powers. For support, users can always get help from the Nagios community or opt for a Nagios Enterprise support package. Quality NOC can provide support for the installation, configuration, and development of new features to verify software and hardware.

If you have time to invest in learning and mastering this tool, Nagios Core offers excellent network monitoring capabilities.


CACTI –

Cacti® is a network monitoring tool that allows you to collect data from virtually any network element, including routing and switching systems, firewalls, load balancers, and servers, and put them in the form of robust graphics. If you have a device, it is possible that the active community of Cacti developers has created a monitoring model for it.

Cacti support SNMP search, which covers a wide range of network devices. You can also extend the features of Cacti to use scripts, queries or commands for data collection and save it as a template for other devices for similar data sets. Cacti harness the power of RRDTool, an open-source graphics and data logging system that stores consulted data in the database and created graphs from stored data sets. RRDTool data consolidation allows you to store your data forever and is limited only by the size of your storage. Cacti rely on RRDTool to generate any chart for any data set. Cacti is the standard used by many commercial and open-source tools. Plants also allow you to add multiple users and grant access to a NOC device.

Many add-ons, scripts, and templates can be used in this community. We especially liked the device support and graphic features.


ZABBIX -

Zabbix is ​​probably the most used open-source network monitoring tool after Nagios.
Complex to configure, Zabbix® comes with a clean and straightforward graphical user interface that makes it easy to manage when you get used to it.

Zabbix supports agent-free monitoring using technologies such as SNMP, ICMP, Telnet, SSH, etc., as well as agent-based control for all distributions of the Linux®, Windows®, and Solaris® operating system. It is compatible with several databases, including MySQL®, PostgreSQL ™, SQLite, Oracle® and IBM® DB2®. Zabbix VMware® features, which are considered the best function.


NTOP –

Ntop, which is now ntopng (ng for the next generation), is a traffic probe that uses libpcap (for packet capture) to signal network traffic.

You can install ntopng on a server with multiple interfaces and use port doubling or a network tap to enable ntopng with network data packets for analysis. ntopng can analyze traffic even at 10G speeds; report on IP addresses, volume, and bytes for each transaction; classify traffic based on IP address, port, and protocol; Generate reports to use see the best speakers, and even report AS information. This level of traffic analysis helps you make informed decisions about capacity planning and QoS design, as well as finding users and applications that are hogging bandwidth on your network. ntopng has a commercial version called ntopng pro, which comes with some extra features, but the open-source version is good enough to quickly get information about traffic behavior. Ntop can also be integrated with external monitoring applications such as Nagios to alert and provide data for monitoring.