NetProbe is capable of monitoring any device connected to the network in real-time, by using graphs, an alarm system, and GPS tracking. NetProbe comes with a visual web interface and a dedicated application. The interface integrates the alarms, graphs, and GPS trackers into a single platform so that you can troubleshoot and monitor your network faster.
NetProbe allows Network Layout Detection. The tool scans your network and creates a graphical representation that shows all devices and their connections.
It can also add alarms and graphs automatically. The NetProbe agent uses plugins to collect local device data and send it to the Netprobe gateway. The plugins determine the type of information that the agents need to collect. Aside from gathering data, the NetProbe agents can also execute commands and scripts, received from the gateway. Price: The Standard Version is free and allows monitoring for up to 8 Devices. Download: the standard version of NetProbe for free of charge for unlimited time.
Zenmap is the graphical user interface scanner of Nmap , which is a network discovery and security auditing tool. Nmap and Zenmap are both free and open source tools.
Zenmap was initially designed to be the easy-to-use version of Nmap while providing the advanced features from Nmap. Although Znmap does not offer auto-discovery, it is a fantastic network discovery tool. Its back-end version, Nmap, has countless scanning options. Some of the scanning profiles that come with Zenmap make it easier to scan a network. Spiceworks is more than a monitoring tool — it is an online platform built for and by IT professionals.
In this platform, users help each other in almost any IT related issue and also compare IT products and services. Spiceworks also develops a free and ad-supported suite of network monitoring tools for small to medium-sized businesses.
The software can scan and monitor networks, take inventories, and create reports. This tool scans your network and creates an inventory of all the connected devices, including software, user information, and even cloud services. Spiceworks scans the network through either a ping sweep or a Nmap command. You can configure the software with different scanning time intervals so that it can find new devices connected in the network, schedule scans, customize scan speeds, and Wake-On-LAN scans.
While Spiceworks Inventory provides comprehensive lists of devices, you can use Spiceworks Network Mapper to create graphical representations of the network. The Mapper will take the information from the Inventory and create complete and customizable maps of the network. The maps are highly interactive. You can click on a device on the diagram, and it will give you all the information obtained in the Inventory, such as IP, hardware, bandwidth usage, etc.
Price: Spiceworks is a free software supported by ads. It comes with four different plans Individual, Team, Enterprise, and Custom, all for free. Download: Spiceworks Inventory from free. Some of the tools we included above for Network Discovery are appropriate for Small-to-Medium businesses, and some others are powerful enough to discover and monitor enterprise-level organizations. At the most basic level, a Network Discovery Tool and software should be able to scan and create inventories.
A basic ping sweeper with an organized list of results could be considered a network discovery tool. But features such as auto-discovery, dynamic mapping, and the availability of multiple scanning methods, make a Network Discovery Tool more powerful. The basis for making a decision should always be related to your resources. What is your budget? Your existing infrastructure? The size of your network? Answering questions like these will help you decide where to start.
Is that all the tools mentioned above have Free Downloadable trials or at least product demos. Testing a product gives you confidence that the product will match your needs. Have you already tested any of the tools mentioned above? If not, is there another tool that you would recommend? Please, comment below. Both the device inventory and network topology map are automatically updated. Installs on Windows Server. Start day free trial. This is a cloud-based service. InterMapper A device discovery tool that is very strong on topology mapping and can even overlay a network topology over a real-world map.
NetBrain A network automation platform for large businesses that includes autodiscovery of devices connected to a network. ManageEngine OpManager This network monitor offers a range of topology maps that are based on a constantly updated device inventory. Installs on Windows Server and Linux. WhatsUp Gold A network monitor with autodiscovery and network topology mapping features. Nagios XI A Linux-based resource monitoring suite that can be extended by a large library of plugins and includes network discovery and topology mapping features.
Installs on Linux. Cacti A free network data interpreter that includes a library of templates for network topology mapping. Installs on Windows and Linux.
OpsView Monitor A system monitoring tool that can be extended by Nagios plugins and includes an autodiscovery feature. NetProbe A simple network monitoring tool for Windows that is based on an autodiscovery process that produces a network layout plan.
Zenmap A free graphical interface that interprets network data sourced through Nmap and creates a network map from autodiscovery data. Spiceworks A free, ad-supported online website monitoring tool that traces devices across the internet.
What is Network Discovery? What should you look for in Network Discovery tools? We reviewed the market for systems that offer scanning and discovery of network devices and analyzed the options based on the following criteria: An automated service that can scan an entire network continuously A system that will compile a hardware inventory including all discovered network devices A system that is able to spot when devices are added, moved, or removed An easy-to-use system that shows live device statuses in the dashboard A network topology mapping service A free trial or a system that is free to use A free tool or a paid system that offers value for money With these selection criteria in mind, we have found several network scanners that can discover and log all connected network devices.
NPM scans the network with its devices, end-points, and links whether physical or logical. What are some features related to network discovery and mapping? You can also optimize your Wifi network by troubleshooting signal overlaps and dead zone areas.
Color-Coded Maps: The maps use different colors to help visualization. An overloaded connection is red, up and running connection is green, and warning links in yellow. NetPath can also measure performance characteristics of each node and its links.
With PerfStack you compare different data types side-by-side in one dashboard and see data on the same timeline. Network Performance Analyzer is only supported by Windows Server and Pros: Supports auto-discovery that builds network topology maps and inventory lists in real-time based on devices that enter the network Has some of the best alerting features that balance effectiveness with ease of use Supports both SNMP monitoring as well as packet analysis, giving you more control over monitoring than similar tools Uses drag and drop widgets to customize the look and feel of the dashboard Tons of preconfigured templates, reports, and dashboard views Cons: Is a feature-rich tool that will require a time investment to properly learn EDITOR'S CHOICE SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is our top pick for a network discovery tool because the network scan phase of this service is continuous.
Reviews Tutorials hardware Software Search for:. Pros: Supports auto-discovery that builds network topology maps and inventory lists in real-time based on devices that enter the network Has some of the best alerting features that balance effectiveness with ease of use Supports both SNMP monitoring as well as packet analysis, giving you more control over monitoring than similar tools Uses drag and drop widgets to customize the look and feel of the dashboard Tons of preconfigured templates, reports, and dashboard views.
Cons: Is a feature-rich tool that will require a time investment to properly learn. Pros: A simple and intuitive user interface, great use of color to display key metrics Cloud-based service makes desktop management flexible, especially for remote teams Includes patch management alongside remote administration features.
Offers configuration profiles that streamline onboarding new devices. Cons: Would benefit from a longer day trial period. Cons: Would like to see a longer trial period. Pros: Uses a combination of packet sniffing, WMI, and SNMP to report network performance data Fully customizable dashboard is great for both lone administrators as well as NOC teams Drag and drop editor makes it easy to build custom views and reports Supports a wide range of alert integrations such as SMS, email, and integrations into platforms like Slack Supports a freeware version.
Cons: Is a very detailed platform with many features that require time to learn. Pros: Offers a free and paid version Is capable of using auto-discovery to find new devices Features SLA compliance reporting, good for MSPs and larger networks Available on Window, Linux, and Mac, making it a flexible option across multiple operating systems. Cons: The interface feels outdated, making it difficult to navigate at times Visual options are limited Maps are generally not visually appealing, not great if used in a presentation.
Pros: Simple graphics get the job done without cluttering the dashboard Autodiscovery can automatically identify Cisco ACI and other devices Provides insights through automatic diagnostic scans Great for mapping out complicated environments.
Cons: Must contact sales for pricing Would like to see more out of the box features Could use better historical data analysis tools. Pros: Uses both SNMP and NetFlow for monitoring giving it more coverage options than other tools Can scale easily, Enterprise package supports up to 10, endpoints Utilizes automatic network discovery to create live inventories and network maps for administrators to track assets and network size Freeware and paid versions allow for both small and large size networks to effectively use this tool.
Cons: OpManager is dense with features, integrations, and settings, and may take time to fully master. Pros: Uses simple visualizations to help provide at-a-glance insights Supports modular pricing, allowing companies to pay only for features they intend to use Can monitor LANs, WANs, and cloud-based applications such as container environments. Cons: Modular upgrades might not be a good fit if you intend on utilizing all aspects of a networking monitor.
Pros: Open-source transparent tool Simple, yet informative interface Flexible alerting options support SMS and email Robust API backend makes it a great option for developers who want to integrate their own custom applications.
Cons: Open-source version lacks quality support found in paid products Installation can be technical and complex. This constant inventory update is an essential requirement for billing. Under the hood, the autodiscovery feature of Atera relies on SNMP procedures , so it runs alongside the network performance monitor that is included in the RMM. As a cloud-based service, Atera is charged for by subscription. Customers can choose whether to pay monthly or yearly. The annual rate works out cheaper, but all fees have to be paid in advance.
Charges are levied per technician, and it is easy to add on new accounts as the business expands. This scalability makes Atera a good choice for startups, independent technicians, and rapidly expanding MSPs. Atera makes a dashboard available as a front end to its services. This console includes the network equipment inventory as well as live network monitoring statuses, which are shown as graphs and charts.
The technician gets access to the console through a web browser, and there is no further software for the MSP to install on its site. However, the system that is being monitored does need agents to be installed on it. The Atera package is available in three editions: Pro , Growth , and Power.
All of these editions include the network discovery feature. You can get a free trial of Atera to put the service through its paces. ManageEngine OpManager is an extensive network management system that includes an autodiscovery function.
The system performs a network discovery scan of your network for devices during the installation phase, and then keeps rechecking all equipment constantly. The links between each piece of equipment enable OpManager to build network maps. The maps can be displayed in a range of formats. These include a straightforward Layer 2 map that shows all equipment with straight lines representing the links between them.
You can also get OpManager to display a 3D view of your premises , showing the location of each piece of equipment. If you have in-house servers held in racks, you can also get the OpManager interface to show you the position of your servers in the cabinet.
Finally, you can switch to a world view that shows an actual geographical map with all of the sites of your business connected together. Although the links drawn on that map do not accurately represent the complexity of all of the internet topology between your sites, it does display performance metrics that represent the average speed of the links between your sites.
This system allows for device agents to report alert conditions back to the controller so you will keep abreast of the statuses of all of your network devices.
This constant monitoring catches any changes in the inventory of your network, and it will update the network maps automatically. OpManager includes a network mapping tool, which enables you to create your own custom maps of your network. The network monitor can manage virtual environments and it will map those for you.
It is also able to track VoIP traffic running over the data network, and it can integrate wifi routers and Cloud-based servers into your network map.
OpManager includes network traffic analysis, and you can get traffic flow information both link by link and end-to-end depicted on your network maps. OpManager is available for Linux and Windows environments.
There is a free version of the system, which will allow you to manage up to three devices. You can use the free version to get to know the system, using it as a free trial before you commit to buying the full system.
Datadog Network Performance Monitoring includes a network discovery feature that tracks down all devices connected to the network, logs them in an inventory, and depicts all of the links between them. The agent gathers information and sends it to the Datadog server where all processing occurs.
The console of the service is accessed through any browser. Being a cloud-based service, the Datadog Network Performance Monitoring module can map local and remote networks and also include internet connections to cloud-based resources. The network view enables the user to change perspective, selecting to see a single device and all of the connections to it, a complete view of the network, or a focus on the links that run between to endpoints.
The network map is live so it gets redrawn if any devices are moved, added, or removed. The network topology map is interactive and acts as an interface through to details on each device. The data flows traveling around the network and through each device are also shown on the network map. An examination of a specific device offers details on the data throughput of that piece of equipment and status reports on its performance, shown both in graphical format and as event lists.
Traffic views shown on the network map can be segmented by application, or by endpoint, so it is possible to work out which devices or applications are generating the most traffic. The tool has other options that include the ability to analyze traffic patterns and see where devices and links get overloaded.
This is a great tool for capacity planning and forecasting. The Network Performance Monitoring module of Datadog is charged for on a subscription basis with a rate per host per month and also a cheaper annual rate per host.
However, whichever payment cycle is chosen, the whole time period has to be paid upfront. Datadog offers a day free trial of the Network Performance Monitoring module. Site24x7 is an infrastructure monitoring platform that offers a list of specialized tools.
The Network Monito r is integrated into all of the system management packages offered by the service. The Network Monitor has two elements: a device monitoring tool and a traffic analyzer. The network device monitor is based on SNMP. This strategy has the advantage of locating all of the devices on a network through a status report request. Any device out on the network will have an SNMP agent installed on it that listens for a request.
SNMP agents send status reports in response to the Site24x7 request. The Site24x7 system involves an agent that is a data collector installed on the monitored system. This collects the SNMP responses and uploads them to the Site24x7 server over encrypted connections for processing.
The collection of responses tells the Site24x7 server exactly what devices are out there on the network and how they are connected. This is the autodiscovery feature in the system and it will replay every time an SNMP request broadcast is performed. The responses from device agents get written up into a network inventory. The Site24x7 network monitor has a network topology mapper , which instantly creates a map of the network from the network inventory whenever it is accessed.
So, the topology map is always up to date. The other component of the Network Monitor is its traffic analyzer. This works through NetFlow and other device communication protocols to collect live traffic throughput data for each interface on switches and routers.
This enables the Network monitor to enhance its device inventory and topology maps with live traffic throughput information per link. Instead, it forms part of each of the five monitoring service bundles that Site24x7 offers. These are:. For example, taking out a subscription to Site24x7 Infrastructure gets you access to the Network Monitor plus server, virtualization, application, and website monitoring tools.
You can get a day free trial of Site24x7 Infrastructure. Syxsense Manage is a SaaS platform that enables the central administration of remote sites. The cloud-based console is accessed through any standard Web browser from anywhere. It is through this interface that the system manager enrolls a network. Getting a network included in the management system involves downloading an agent program onto one of the hosts connected to it.
Once the agent is on site, it performs a network discovery routine. This service operates on a cycle, so it runs continuously throughout the Syxsense Manage service life. This means that it will spot any changes to the list of devices connected to the network. The results of the network scan are shown in the system console. This lists all of the discovered devices. Once the asset inventory is complete, the service scans each discovered endpoint and creates a software inventory.
This operation will scan through devices running Windows , macOS , and Linux. The manager of multiple sites repeats these steps for all locations just by installing the agent on each site. With all sites enrolled, the manager can see an overview of the entire system and then focus in on each site and then down to each individual endpoint. The software inventory can also be consolidated per site, which enables functions such as software license management.
The package includes utilities for manual access and also automated maintenance services. Among the automated services is a patch manager. This maintains the software inventory and keeps checks on the suppliers of the operating systems and software packages listed in it, looking for the availability of updates. When patches become available, the Syxsense Manager service copies them over to its own storage space.
A Syxsense Manage package includes 50 GB of cloud storage. The Syxsense Manage package is a subscription service with the lowest bundle monitoring 10 devices. This is charged annually in advance.
You can assess the service with a day free trial. Paessler PRTG is a combined network device monitor, traffic analyzer, and server status manager. This will keep track of the health and performance of all of your network hardware and supporting devices. The server status monitoring extends to Cloud storage and online application services. Application transaction and resource utilization are also covered, and the monitor extends to the tracking of database transactions that server application execution.
PRTG will also cover virtual environments and wifi elements in your network. All of those different types of services take a lot of tracking, and it can be challenging to conceptualize all of the interfaces between different types of systems. The software installs itself, and one of the setup steps is a network discovery scanning phase that will document and list all of these different types of devices and how they work together.
You can opt for an online version of the system, but that still needs an agent to be installed on your system. The PRTG dashboard can assemble maps that represent all of the different elements of your network. You can access maps that show virtualization , wifi performance , VoIP traffic , general network performance by link and end-to-end , and connections over the internet through to the operations of network links and server performance owned and managed by other companies.
Any potential problems arising in any part of the system get reported to the console immediately. The LAN monitoring pages of the RMM are attractively laid out and include alerts and performance data in color-code graphical elements. The layout of the monitoring page can be customized to create limited views. This also enables the MSP to make information screens available to the client.
As well as monitoring networks, the RMM is able to monitor servers and applications. All of the screens are customizable and the dashboard also gives access to process automation features. One automated tool in the system is its network discovery utility. This does an initial sweep when the agent is first installed on a new site. The autodiscovery program will compile a device inventory. The process runs recursively, so the inventory is updated with a live list of all equipment connected to the network.
As this is software-as-a-service , Atera bundles processors and storage space on the cloud in with the use of the software. Prices are set per technician per month or per year , so it is easy to expand the MSP by just adding on seats. You can get a look at Atera by applying for a day free trial. Related post: Network Configuration Management Tools. Nagios manages open-source network monitoring software, which is completely free to use.
The interface for this free system, which is called Nagios Core, is not very comprehensive. You get a basic web interface with the main download, and then you can search through the Nagios Core community pages to look for plugins and skins that other users have developed for themselves and are willing to share. The Nagios Core system is a great option if you have no budget for LAN monitoring tools and you are prepared to compromise on presentation.
There is a free version of Nagios XI that is free with limitations — you can only use it to monitor seven nodes.
However, this offer, together with two grades of paid usage, means that Nagios XI is suitable for all network sizes. That is a one-time purchase price and includes access to email support and community forums. You can pay extra for phone support. The buyers of the Enterprise editions are obliged to subscribe annually to a maintenance plan or a maintenance and support plan.
With Nagios XI, you get the real-time monitoring capabilities of Nagios Core, but the data that is collected is managed, presented and filtered in a much more digestible format. The graphics on the dashboard do all of the work for you. You can see instantly where there are problems on the network. The pages of the interface include charts, graphs, and dials that help you get performance data at a glance.
The Nagios XI system is easy to set up because the software includes auto-discovery, so it maps the network by itself. This feature is very useful when you add equipment to the network. A Configuration Wizard helps you to get the interface operating to your tastes.
You can create user groups and individual accounts to delegate partial access to data among team members. Nagios is able to monitor equipment on remote sites and you can deepen your remote monitoring capabilities for server physical statuses by installing the Remote Program Execution agent on those servers. The range of subscription options, including Nagios Core and the free version of Nagios XI for small networks, means that this system is truly scalable.
Nagios Core upgrades to Nagios XI with just a software install. This is a very good feature for rapidly expanding companies. Related post: Nagios vs Zabbix. A Pandora NMS install begins with a network sweep that enables the system to map your topology. The network map is just one of the graphics contained in the dashboard that helps you keep track of the system at a glance. Your central network manager node will poll the system constantly to keep track of device statuses.
Standard SNMP alerts report critical conditions as they arise without waiting for a status request from the network manager.
Whether this combination would be of interest to you depends on if you already have a DDI suite and configuration management system with which you are happy. However, if you are looking for an entirely new networking toolkit, this option could work out well for you. It is also possible to define roles within the console to give partial access to the controls of the dashboard, enabling junior staff to safely participate and upline managers to access reporting functions.
That price is for a package that includes 35 endpoint licenses and the price increases with larger license counts. Some extra features are available as added extras but are included with the Enterprise plan. They include remote access systems and SAP monitoring. If you need those, you might consider upgrading to the Corporate plan where those extra features are included in the price.
The Corporate package is priced by negotiation. Zenoss Core is an open-source network monitoring system that you can install for free. There are two paid versions of this real-time network monitoring and analyzing software. You can get an onsite version, which is called Zenoss Service Dynamics, or you can have a managed cloud-based service, called Zenoss-as-a-service. Whichever option you go for, you will get an auto-discovery module. This automatically maps your network topology and logs all of the devices connected to the system.
You are allowed up to 1, network devices, but with both of the paid services, the number of devices you can have is unlimited. It will also monitor power supplies, server racks, ports, fans, and fabric cards.
The network monitoring system is based on SNMP. This is great because it means that you get automatic compatibility with all new equipment currently manufactured with network connectors. SNMP alerts provide device failure notification that feeds directly into the dashboard. Traffic flows around the network are monitored by NetFlow.
You can extend the capabilities of Zenoss to cover multiple sites and institute remote monitoring by installing data collectors on each site. The standard monitoring software can be expanded by ZenPacks.
These are notification add-ons that cater to specific hardware produced by a range of well-known equipment manufacturers. However, knowledge of the existence of a ZenPack for a specific device will make it easier to buy in new equipment for your multi-vendor environment. All flavors of the Zenoss network monitoring software include server and storage monitoring functions and they all also include IP address management functions.
Dynatrace is different to all of the other network monitoring systems on this list. It focuses on the performance of network connections rather than on the statuses of devices connected to the network.
The graphical representations of the network are stunning and they can highlight where physical cabling got overcomplicated, giving you an overview of how you can better lay out your network. The real-time network monitoring extends to virtual environments. As with the physical network, Dynatrace will discover your connections and map them.
The layout of the virtual environment shows you how much traffic each of your virtual machines attracts , giving you a better chance of right-sizing capacity. The nodes mapped as part of the virtual environment can also include any cloud services that your business employs. Dynatrace analyzes network traffic at the process level. You will be able to see which processes use the most resources and which aspects of your infrastructure are being strained.
Apart from network resources, Dynatrace presents server utilization metrics, including memory, disk, and CPU usage. The Dynatrace system would be ideal for online businesses. The representations of network activity rely heavily on mapping. This is a fairly unique approach to network performance monitoring and is very effective. The focus on process flows rather than equipment performance makes this more of a network analyzer rather than a straightforward monitor. ConnectWise produces a range of networking services and its network monitoring system is called Automate.
This cloud-based solution is aimed at small and mid-sized businesses. Instead, you have to contact a sales representative to negotiate a quote. The secretive pricing method can be a little off-putting for entrepreneurs. The Dashboard offers several view formats for your data, so you can just watch plain lists of events or get graphical displays of live data.
The Automate name explains the operating methodologies of the package. The idea is that this monitoring system will do everything for you , including network discovery and user tracking. A number of extra enable you to run a lot of network administration tasks on auto-pilot.
For example, version control is not normally a function expected of a network monitoring system. However, Automate includes a patch management tool, which logs all of the versions of the software on your system and enables you to update all of it from one central location. ConnectWise Automate is not limited to a single site. Automate can monitor multiple locations based on an IP range as well as incorporate subnets of those client networks.
This could be a good solution for a software or IT service provider because it gives your IT department full user support capabilities, not just a network monitoring software. Zabbix is another open source system.
A benefit of open source software is that anyone can produce add-ons. The core program is available for free and so are most of the add-ons. Despite being free, the dashboard has a very professional look to it. Y ou can switch out elements of the dashboard to get your most important information visible in the most prominent areas of the screen. Dashboard features include lists of live event data, graphs, and color-coding to make important information instantly recognizable.
The real-time network monitoring module of Zabbix relies on SNMP, so you will be able to benefit from the device agents that your equipment already has installed by its manufacturers. The Zabbix system can monitor cloud services, application performance, hardware such as racks and UPS, and servers.
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