Network Monitoring Tool: PRTG for Data Communication Networks

This report analyzes the PRTG network monitor tool for data communication and network management. It justifies the tool's selection based on its features and capabilities to meet the requirements of different network scenarios. The report details the tool's ability to monitor the entire network, identify data flow, and assess the status of connected nodes, including wireless access points. It covers features like server monitoring, security enhancements, and the use of various sensors for performance analysis, traffic monitoring, and signal strength evaluation. The report also highlights how PRTG can be used for real-time monitoring, fault tolerance, and the generation of network maps. Screenshots of the tool's interface are included to illustrate the analysis steps and functionalities. The author concludes that the PRTG network monitor tool is beneficial for increasing network reliability and saving organizational resources.

Running head: DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKS
Data Communication and Networks
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Justification of the tool choice.............................................................................................2
Tools’ features that are important for the scenarios............................................................4
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................9
Bibliography......................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
Three scenario are analyzed for the selection of the tool and preparation of the project
report. There are different network analysis and monitoring tool that can be applied in an
organizational network for identification of the data flow between the nodes connected in the
network and demonstration of the status for each of the computers connected in the network. The
tool is selected based on its features and capability to meet the requirement of all the three
scenario. PRTG network monitor tool is selected and it can be used for the monitoring of the
entire network and show status of each of the nodes connected in the network. The tool also
helps in scanning the wireless access point installed in different location of the network and
identify the security requirements for securing the access point from unauthorized access. The
screenshot of the tool are attached with the report along with description of each of the step
performed for the analysis.
Justification of the tool choice
The three given scenarios are evaluated for the selection of the freeware network
monitoring tool and analyzing the traffic flow in the network for the application of the tool. The
connection between the nodes are optimized by analyzing the fault and monitoring the data flow
in the network. The tool can be used for finding the status of the each of the computers
connected in the network and analysis of the traffic generated from each of the nodes. The PRTG
network monitor tool helps in identification of the wireless access points and finding the signal
levels of the nearest access point with the other information such as the SSID, signal quality and
the MAC address. Moreover, the PRTG network monitor tool can be installed in a central server
for identification of the group and the server health. There are different sensors that can be used

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for different purpose like analysis of the current drawn from the circuit, humidity and the
temperature of the server room. The server room can be secured and with the use of the tool the
security can be increases with the identification of the errors and the faults earlier. The protection
of the data can be improved with ensuring the data compliance and creation of automatic alerts to
the network administrator if any illegal activity is noted or the threshold value is reached.
There are more than 200 predefined sensors already available in the PRTG network
monitor tool and it can be used for different purposes. The sensor can work irrespective of the
medium used for transferring of data packets in the network such as wired or wireless. It can be
used for maintaining overview of thee wireless access points and evaluate the speed, traffic, load,
signal strength and status of each of the wireless routers installed in different location of the
wireless network. The following five factors are used for the analysis of the wireless network
such as device status, load, traffic, signal strength and last access. The routers that are online can
be analyzed by finding the SSID and the PRTG can be applied for analysis of the up and the
downtime of the network devices. The ping sensor is used for the analysis of the system uptime
and the load is also analyzed for improvement of the quality of the network connection and
finding the strain in the network. The network traffic is analyzed by calculating the data packets
passed through the access points and how mush bandwidth is utilized in both the wired and the
wireless network. The signal strength of the wireless access point is analyzed for providing the
user with strong wifi connection and finding the areas where more access points should be
installed. For analyzing the security of the access point the last device connected with the access
point can be get and the SNMP sensors can be customized for generation of notification alert to
the network admin.

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The PRTG network monitor tool is selected because it supports most routers and can act
as an ideal solution for the analysis of the quality of the network. Real time monitoring can be
obtained and it can also be used for analyzing the delay in the data packets in the network.
Round trip sensor can be used for the finding the fault tolerance of the network by identification
of the packet drop, or the packets lost in the network. With the implementation of the PRTG the
errors in the network can be minimized and thus helps in increasing the fault tolerance of the
network.
Tools’ features that are important for the scenarios
The features identified for the PRTG tools are given below:

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The PRTG can be applied for the monitoring the performance and the status of the server
and preconfigured system health sensors can be applied for monitoring the server system and
detection of the network devices linked with the server. The QoS round trip sensor can also be
used for analysis of the details of the network and measuring the performance of the server. The
jitter in the network can also be analyzed and it can be used for the impact of the workload of the
server for the entire network and monitoring the performance of the server.
An account is required to be created on the PRTG monitor tool for accessing the network
components and user group should be setup for providing different level of permission to the
users accessing the network components. The PRTG can be set up for creation of notification
and schedule for testing the network.

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The sensors that are up can be shown in the overview and the network adapter used for
the analysis of the network is also shown in the overview for generation of the network usage
report.

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The above screenshot shows the device connected in the network with the type of
communication used for communicating with the nodes interconnected in the network. The name
of the device, object, type, status and the message can be obtained from the PRTG network
monitor tool. The group root option can be used for the categorizing the network components
according to their pattern of usage and management of the network devices installed in the
network.

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The sensors used in the PRTG network monitor tool can be utilized for generating
notification alarm and different status can be set for the alarm such as open, warning and
uninstall. Red, yellow and Orange colour is used for demonstration of the warning at different
level and each of the colour have its significance such as red is used for high warning, orange is
used for moderate warning and the yellow is used for low level errors.

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The packet sniffing can also be activated using the PRTG network monitor tool and it can
also be used for getting the details of the packets and the protocols used for transmission of the
data packets in the network. The details of the packets such as the source, destination address and
the port number can also be analyzed for the identification of the intruder in the network.

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The PRTG can be used for generation of a network map and identification of the network
infrastructure of the current network of the organization.
Conclusion
Before the selection of the tool the features of the tool are evaluated and the three given
scenario are matched for meeting the objectives of the tool selection. With the selection of the
PRTG network monitor tool the organization can gain benefit and increase the reliability of the
network. The use of the PRTG network monitor can be used for monitoring the server room and
rapidly troubleshooting against ant problem against any server failure and creation of automatic
alert via email, message or push notification. The application of the PRTG can save a lot of time
and money of the organization. The different sensors available in the PRTG network monitor
helps in access and monitor thee data for monitoring thee data objects. Custom sensor can be
created for creation of customized monitoring and own notification can be created for alerting
the user using external system.

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