Network Mapping Tools
Accelerate Troubleshooting With Orion Maps to Visualize and Correlate Information in Your Network
The amount of data generated by network gear and fed into monitoring systems like SolarWinds® Network Performance Monitor (NPM) can be daunting, especially in complex hybrid environments. How can we recognize the signal from the noise?
SolarWinds Orion® Maps are a troubleshooting feature displaying a map of physical and logical relationships between entities monitored by the Orion Platform products you’ve installed. Auto-generated or created from scratch, Orion Maps can help you quickly isolate and identify critical health and performance issues surfaced by NPM.
Use Orion Maps Time Travel to Conquer Intermittent Issues
Sometimes we experience the negative effects from problems in the network, after the fact. In the morning, after the weekend, and you have some research to do. Intermittent issues can be some of the trickiest to solve. With time travel you can see how network gear looked at the time an issue occurred and recreate the site of issue. Introduced in version 2020.2, Orion Maps now has time travel allowing NPM users to go back in time and visualize how your network looked at the time the issue occurred.
沿关键网络路径的逐跳分析
NetPath 是 SolarWinds 产品 Network Performance Monitor (NPM)、NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA) 和 Network Configuration Manager (NCM) 中的一项功能,它借助于高级探测来检测从源计算机到目标服务的网络路径,即使 traceroute 无法检测到。该逐跳分析可以提供混合环境中关键网络路径的深入可见性。因此您可以通过可视化的方式了解每个节点的流量、隔离数据延迟、执行根源分析,以及在用户发现之前消除问题。
Why Orion Maps Are for Everyone
Orion Maps is about sifting through the raw data and presenting what matters as information.
It’s easier than ever to create maps in the Orion Platform leveraging data from Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and other modules on the platform. In this session, Technical Content Manager Kevin M. Sparenberg and Product Manager Jeff Blank are going to build up a single map, step by step, to show you how easy, powerful, and effective they can be.
进一步了解网络映射工具
What is network mapping?
Network mapping creates a graphical representation of network nodes and the links between them. Network nodes may include routers, switches, firewalls, and other devices. Network mapping can be used to produce an overview of a network or just a portion, typically showing the current status and other key pieces of information for all devices connected to the network. Traditionally, network mapping includes both the physical and logical links between networks.
Additionally, network mapping can include a visual display of packet pathways as they travel between nodes from source computer to their destination. A packet pathway network mapper uses installed probes on managed nodes to measure packet transmission times for each path segment. The mapper can compare this current data to historical data to understand if the path traffic is normal and highlights any traffic bottlenecks between nodes.
How does a network map work?
A network map provides admins with automated, configurable tools to create visual displays of network information. Typically, a network mapping tool allows admins to drag and drop nodes onto a background map, then connect those nodes to their managed devices, so the network mapper can update and display certain information automatically, including device status, link utilization, downtime, and more. A network mapping tool typically discovers network topology using ICMP, SNMP, WMI, DCP, VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and other discovery methods.
What are the features of a network mapping tool?
Network mapping tools provide admins with robust features for mapping networks at every scale, whether across the globe, at a local office, or for a specific packet pathway. All automated network mapping tools should integrate with managed devices to show device status and logical connections. However, admins can typically customize or input this information if updates can’t be applied through automated features alone.
Network mapping diagrams can offer essential performance insights, including device information, link utilization, and downtime. A network mapping software focused on packet-level pathways can use packet metadata to offer more in-depth insights into multiple pathways, traffic bottlenecks, and service provider status. Additionally, network mapping tools should integrate with more complete network monitoring solutions to allow for a comprehensive understanding of physical distribution and performance.
For SNMP-compatible devices, a network mapping tool can also create Layer 2 and Layer 3 network maps. Layer 2 maps typically use Link Layer Discovery Protocols and the Management Information Database (MIB) to provide device information such as device type, system name, description, MAC address, IP address, port ID, and more. Layer 3 maps are more common, and map device connectivity with details like IP address, device type, downtime and uptime, OS, and more. Combining Layer 2 and Layer 3 analyses reveals a more complete picture of node status, dependencies, and connectivity.
Why is network mapping important?
Network mapping allows admins to understand how devices are connected both physically and logically, enabling them to monitor and manage device relationships. Maps allow admins to manage both local and remote devices. Without maps, admins may be stuck using lists or spreadsheets to inventory devices. However, an at-a-glance visual overview of a network is useful for far more than just inventory, as it can help admins track the status and use of network devices and potentially ensure systems are compliant with PCI and regulatory guidelines.
Network mapping helps simplify the network troubleshooting process. Admins can use a map to obtain real-time insights into device status, better pinpoint bottlenecks, and quickly locate problem devices. Armed with these network-wide insights, admins can help ensure network health, security, and connectivity for end users. Additionally, other important features of network mapping include monitoring packet pathways to help admins pinpoint delays in responses and routing loops.
A tangible understanding of device distribution is tremendously useful for admins tasked with managing resources. Having maps as a point of reference is invaluable for maintaining a network, managing daily operations, and planning for network infrastructure changes. It’s easier to assess operational risks when you understand device relationships.
How does the network mapping tool in NPM work?
The Orion Maps feature in Network Performance Monitor is designed to allow users to create comprehensive and easily customizable and dynamic network diagrams. This network mapping tool is useful for mapping network infrastructure and static business services, with the ability to automatically track device changes, link status, and update the links between routers, switches, interfaces, volumes, groups, and more, all without user intervention.
Another NPM feature, NetPath, is designed to provide networking traffic mapping at the packet level. This automated network mapping tool creates a dynamic, color-coded network map of specific packet pathways for on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, allowing you to view the hop-by-hop paths along which packets travel between nodes, all the way to an external destination. By measuring real packet metadata, the NetPath tool creates a more realistic map of network performance. This tool also connects to apps and critical services, so admins can track traffic across their network infrastructure.
What other network tool features does NPM have?
Besides offering several solutions for automated network mapping, SolarWinds NPM enables admins to better track performance across their networks through advanced alerting and SolarWinds PerfStack cross-stack data correlation. Through these features, NPM can calculate dynamic baselines to enable more accurate alerting thresholds and provide insights into historical network performance.
- What is network mapping?
- How does a network map work?
- What are the features of a network mapping tool?
- Why is network mapping important?
- How does the network mapping tool in NPM work?
- What other network tool features does NPM have?
What is network mapping?
Network mapping creates a graphical representation of network nodes and the links between them. Network nodes may include routers, switches, firewalls, and other devices. Network mapping can be used to produce an overview of a network or just a portion, typically showing the current status and other key pieces of information for all devices connected to the network. Traditionally, network mapping includes both the physical and logical links between networks.
Additionally, network mapping can include a visual display of packet pathways as they travel between nodes from source computer to their destination. A packet pathway network mapper uses installed probes on managed nodes to measure packet transmission times for each path segment. The mapper can compare this current data to historical data to understand if the path traffic is normal and highlights any traffic bottlenecks between nodes.
"With SolarWinds, we have seen improvements in availability and reductions in time-to-resolution. We are able to rectify problems faster, before users start complaining."
Michael Low
Systems Engineer
Marina Bay Sands
网络映射工具提供关键的 IT 可见性
Network Performance Monitor
- 使用 Orion Maps 自动显示物理和逻辑网络链接。
- 通过 Orion Maps 时间旅行克服间歇性问题。
- 利用 NetPath 功能生成深入的网络性能可视化。
起始价格
NPM 是一个 Orion 模块,建立在 SolarWinds Platform 之上