What is Windows network monitoring?
Microsoft Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems and is preferred by users all around the world. A Windows device is associated with a lot of processes, services, and events that often need to be tracked from a single console. This is where a Windows network monitoring tool comes in handy. A Windows network monitoring tool is used to monitor the availability and performance of Windows devices in a network.
Why is Windows network monitoring important?
Owing to its simple user interface, Windows is one of the forerunners in the operating systems sector and is the go-to choice for most network admins out there. Windows is also compatible with many other applications, which is all the more reason to use it. With so many people using Windows devices in their networks, it’s only logical for a network monitoring tool to offer in-depth monitoring for the processes, services, performance, and other parameters associated with a Windows environment.
What can Windows network monitoring do?
Here are some things you can do with the help of a Windows network monitoring tool:
Hassle-free Windows performance monitoring
What are Windows performance monitors?
Windows performance monitors help monitor the performance of the Windows devices in your network.
Why are they important?
The performance of Windows devices is critical to the overall functioning of a Windows network. Whether there’s an issue with CPU or memory utilization, network admins have to be more cautious than ever while dealing with these functions since they affect the overall performance of a system.
How does a Windows network monitoring software help monitor the performance of Windows devices in your network?
- Configuring thresholds: Network admins must be well-versed with the performance and significance of the Windows devices in a system and set corresponding thresholds for the network monitoring tool to monitor them. Getting yourself acquainted with device performance and setting suitable thresholds is easier said than done. A Windows network monitoring tool enables you to automate the threshold configuration process by providing an adaptive threshold feature, making your work easier.
- Enabling alarms and notifications: A Windows network monitoring tool helps you configure alarms in the event of a mishap. It also often allows you to integrate the alarms with ITSM tools so notifications are sent to the concerned parties for rectification as soon as possible.
- Visualization: A Windows network monitoring tool provides you with user-friendly visualization formats like reports and dashboards that can be easily interpreted.
Seamless Windows service monitoring
What are Windows services?
Windows services are certain background processes that start executing the moment a system boots up.
Why is it important to monitor them?
Windows services are non-UI software applications that run in the background and they’re essential for the seamless functioning of a system. Since these indispensable services are vital to a Windows device and hence the Windows network, the device is monitored continuously by setting suitable thresholds.
How does a Windows network monitoring tool help monitor the Windows services in your network?
- Configuring thresholds: It takes strenuous efforts to set thresholds manually. A Windows network monitoring tool helps you automate the threshold configuration process for Windows services.
- Enabling alarms and notifications: A Windows network monitoring tool also typically comes with an automated fault management system that integrates with ITSM tools so any alarms sent in the event of a mishap are tackled efficiently by the concerned parties as soon as possible.
- Visualization: A Windows network monitoring tool allows you to visualize the monitoring process in the form of reports, dashboards, and NOC views. These visualizations are later used to analyze and gather critical insights about the concerned system.
Proactive Windows process monitoring
What are Windows processes?
Windows processes are the background services and programs that run in a Windows environment. These processes are terminated once the corresponding program or application is shut down.
Why is it important to monitor them?
Too many processes in a Windows device may overload and affect the system and, in turn, the network. To combat this, these processes must be monitored with suitable thresholds.
How does a Windows network monitoring tool help monitor Windows processes in a network?
- Configuring thresholds: To overcome the complexities involved in manual threshold configuration, a Windows network monitoring tool offers an adaptive threshold feature that enables you to automate threshold configuration.
- Enabling alarms and notifications: If the thresholds are violated, the Windows network monitoring tool sends out alerts to the concerned parties with its automated fault management system. They are also usually compatible with other ITSM tools so fault rectification is hassle-free.
- Visualization: A Windows network monitoring tool helps you visualize your network either topologically or geographically for easy interpretation.
Windows event log monitoring
What is an event log?
An event log is a file that consists of a list of events associated with the environment. It contains information regarding the usage and performance of applications or programs on the devices in the environment.
Why is it important to monitor them?
From user logins to significant events that have taken place in the environment, the event log has it all. This file can be used to monitor the access history and event history of the devices. Monitoring these files helps identify malicious files or irrelevant events running in your environment.
How does a Windows network monitoring tool help monitor event logs in a network?
- Configuring thresholds: A Windows network monitoring tool allows you to set thresholds to monitor the event logs in your environment. It also allows you to automate the threshold configuration process with the help of an adaptive threshold feature.
- Enabling alarms and notifications: You can configure alarms and notifications for specific instances. By integrating the Windows network monitoring tool with ITSM tools, you can send out quick alerts to the concerned parties as soon as possible in case of a mishap.
- Visualization: A Windows network monitoring tool allows you to visualize your network and its monitoring process so you can gather insights about your network.
For instance, the occurrence of an event might be monitored during a specific time interval. If the specified event is not logged in the event log, an alert might be sent out by the Windows network monitoring software with the help of an automated fault management system, which can be integrated with ITSM tools for seamless fault rectification.
Custom scripts
What are custom scripts?
Custom scripts are program snippets that allow you to monitor your network for specific requirements. They offer greater flexibility since you can write and run snippets to help you monitor your network for your desired needs.
Why is it important to monitor them?
Businesses today are becoming more dynamic. With their increasing complexity, their monitoring needs are also getting more complex. This intricate situation calls for exclusively altered monitoring needs that vary based on the type of business.
How do Windows network monitoring tools help monitor custom scripts?
- Configuring thresholds: A Windows network monitoring software monitors your network for specified thresholds. These thresholds can also be automated with the help of an adaptive threshold feature.
- Enabling alarms and notifications: You can integrate the automated fault management system in a Windows network monitoring software with other ITSM tools for seamless fault rectification.
- Visualization: You can visualize your network in the form of reports, dashboards, NOC views, business views, etc. with the help of a Windows network monitoring software.
Troubleshooting
What is troubleshooting?
Troubleshooting is the process of running tests to analyze the problems in an environment.
Why is it important?
Enterprise networks are increasing in size due to advancements in technology. Increasing demand puts a lot more stress on the already-existing delicate network. A global network has to deal with a Herculean number of devices, interfaces, and other components. In these situations, there’s no telling what might set off a network outage, from something as small as a faulty cable to something as large as server downtime. A Windows network monitoring software must be capable of running troubleshooting and performing diagnostics on its own. This increases the likelihood of fault detection and decreases the chances of a network outage.
OpManager: A holistic Windows network monitoring tool
ManageEngine OpManager provides you with the best of the above features and much more. With OpManager, you can monitor your Windows devices and configure alerts in case of mishaps while reducing network downtime and operational costs.
Learn more about Windows server monitoring, Windows service moitoring and Windows network monitoring in OpManager. To download OpManager, click here.
