Monitoring an enterprise network is challenging for two reasons: the size of the network and the distributed architecture it follows. In the distributed model, branches spread across the globe, requiring a centralized monitoring solution.
As the business grows, more devices will be added to the network, meaning your enterprise monitoring tool must be able to scale to match the performance requirements. If not, the tedious procedure of procuring new monitoring software to handle the load will be necessary.
To avoid this complexity, you need a robust monitoring solution that not only provides centralized visibility but also scales so that it can match your organization’s dynamic monitoring requirements hassle-free.
A brief look at OpManager’s Enterprise edition
ManageEngine OpManager’s Enterprise edition follows a Central-Probe architecture where the Central, installed in the headquarters, acts as the central monitoring server.
The Probes are the local monitoring servers installed in each branch office to monitor that network. They transfer the following monitoring data to the Central installed at the NOC.
- Devices discovered
- Details about alarms and events
- Archived data
The Central receives this information from all the Probes, stores it in the database, and gives a consolidated view of the overall network performance in a centralized window.
Usually, one Probe monitors a particular site, but when the monitoring load increases due to expansion, additional Probes can be installed to handle the increased load.
Optimized functions to address the needs of expanding networks
Business growth is a positive indication that your company is travelling on the right path. But as your business grows, the organizational foot print also expands, adding more devices and, sometimes, adding more network sites as well.
A sudden increase in the number of devices can slow down any monitoring solution and prompt your IT admin team to purchase a license or a new monitoring tool even in the middle of the financial year.
However, with OpManager Enterprise edition, you can overcome this challenge and monitor your ever-expanding network without facing a performance slump. To optimize the performance of the OpManager server, even after network expansion, the following functions have been introduced.
Unified Console: A unified view for better visibility
With the unified console in OpManager, the Central not only provides visibility into monitoring data, but can also perform all network monitoring actions across Probes from the Central server’s UI.
For example, a set of new devices is installed in all of your office branches. Conventionally, you need to select a Probe, access its console, and then discover the device.
With the Unified Console option, you can trigger the discovery process and add the devices to the respective Probes for monitoring from the Central server without navigating to the Probes individually. You can also view real-time data of various monitors of devices from the Central.
Effectively with this option, you can perform enterprise-wide-actions from a single page (Central’s UI) avoiding the manual effort of logging into each Probe server.
Centralized Configuration: Sync changes from one place
Another challenge that IT admins face in a highly distributed network is to modifying and implementing configuration changes across the network. In any organization configurations change time and again, so the effort needed to apply these changes throughout the network is often tedious.
With the Centralized Configuration feature, you can apply a configuration in the Central and sync it with all the connected Probes. Common configuration changes, such as SMS Server Settings, Mail Server Settings, Proxy Server Settings, and Rebranding can be synced from the Central across Probes.
LiteCentral: Scalability made simple
The LiteCentral option optimizes the Central server’s database and enables you to monitor a large network with, say over 7,000 devices without any hassles.
You can enable this option with a single click and once the option is enabled in the UI, the archived data (monitoring data stored as Reports), is retained at the Probe level and will be fetched only when the data is requested. This effectively reduces the load on the Central’s database.
Typically in an enterprise network, with hundreds of branches, the regional head or a senior manager wants an overall picture of how the network is performing. The LiteCentral feature will be useful for enterprises and enables the Central admin team to gain a high-level summary of the network. However, at any time, detailed insights about a particular device or a network, can be accessed from the Probes.
Note: The LiteCentral option once enabled, cannot be reversed.
ManageEngine OpManager’s Enterprise edition gives you in-depth visibility into distributed network performance with its robust Probe-Central architecture. Now, with the added optimized features, monitoring an expanding network is no longer a problem. These new and enhanced features ensure that you experience optimum performance levels and visibility as your organization expands.
