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Monitoring Central

The go-to blog for monitoring trends and solutions.

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Subject		Author
gerardodada	Welcome to Monitoring Central 10 months ago	10 months ago

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Network Management	10	0
Security	14	0
Systems Management	9	0
The Discipline of Monitoring	9	0
Cloud	4	0

Recent Blog Posts

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The Next Generation of Traceroute is Here in Monitoring Central

Posted by jamesd85 Mar 6, 2018

Let’s face it. Traceroute is not what it used to be.

Van Jacobson and Steve Deering created the original “Traceroute” in 1987. They discovered it by editing the IPv4 packet header’s TTL field, so that they could derive a path from the packets being taken from each network hop. Network professionals quickly realized how valuable this tool was in terms of solving daily network issues. However, in recent years, Traceroute has not scaled to adapt to modern technologies, and has lost most of its useful functionality.

We note the following issues: When probing the network, the ICMP and UDP packets are blocked. The paths that the tool indicates, often don’t exist. And, ridiculously enough, there is no history function available. Even Ping has that! The list of issues is so vast that we’ve actually been able to find scholarly journal articles on the subject.

What’s the good news? The good news is that SolarWinds fixed Traceroute, and is offering it for free!

SolarWinds^® Traceroute NG is a standalone free tool that effectively offers path analysis visibility via a CLI. By all standards, it’s a new, improved, and fully functional version of the older Traceroute generation tool. Yielding results in mere seconds, it provides an accurate single path from source to destination, and notifies users when the path is changed.

This new and improved version of Traceroute delivers the following information:

Number of hops
IP addresses
Fully qualified domain names (FQDNs)
Packet loss measured as a percentage
Current latency and average latency (ms)
Continuous probing that yields an iteration number for the user
Probe type used (if TCP, it also shows the port probed)
Issues (change in path, inability to reach destination)

SolarWinds Traceroute NG is able to get through firewalls, supports IPv6 networks, and can create a txt logfile containing the path number, probing time from source to destination, number of hops, IP addresses, FQDN, packet loss percentage, and average latency. It’s also able to copy data from the screen via the clipboard (copy/paste functionality), switch the probe type between ICMP and TCP using the switch command, and enable logging using the logging command, all while you’re probing simultaneously.

To sum it all up, Traceroute NG by SolarWinds brings back the power of the old Traceroute with new functionalities and capabilities that are adapted to modern technologies, so that you may once again reign supreme over the paths of your network, and never be lost when probing your long journey across the vast world wide web.

We hope you will enjoy this powerful new free tool. Click on the link below to download your Traceroute NG free tool by SolarWinds.

Traceroute NG Software - Download Free Traceroute Tool | SolarWinds

To find out more about what you can do with SolarWinds Traceroute NG, be sure to have a look at this article: Troubleshoot your network with a new free tool – Traceroute NG

991 Views Comments: 10 Permalink

How to relieve the stress of managing IP addresses in VMware environments in Monitoring Central

Posted by bwhitaker Feb 15, 2018

Are IP requests for virtual machines overwhelming your current IP address management practices? You are not alone. In a June 2016 survey of IP Address Manager customers[1], 46% of respondents stated that virtual machines were creating challenges for managing IP addresses for their company.

Independent author Brien Posey explores this topic in the whitepaper “Overcoming IP Address Management Challenges in VMware Environments.” A challenge with virtual environments is that their dynamic nature can quickly lead to depleted address pools if IP addresses are not quickly de-provisioned. Utilizing DHCP services is a less than ideal solution, as IPs can be tied up by lease expiration dates. Using manual processes for provisioning IP addresses is another option, but this can be slow, error-prone, and limit the dynamic scaling of virtual environments. DNS records obviously must also be updated in tandem.

A solution to overcoming these IP address management challenges is fully automating the process of provisioning IP addresses and updating DNS records. VMware developed vRealize^® Automation (vRA) to automate tasks in virtual environments. However, as Brien discusses, vRA was not designed to be a comprehensive IP address management solution, thus the need for third-party solutions to fill this gap. SolarWinds^® IP Address Manager (IPAM) helps overcome this limitation by providing a plug-in for VMware^® vRealize Orchestrator^™ (vRO). The plug-in provides actions and workflows critical for managing IP addresses and DNS records. These actions and workflows integrate with vRA and enable the creation of blueprints to automate the provisioning and de-provisioning of VMs.

To learn more about this topic, please read Brien Posey’s whitepaper, and attend the live webcast coming up February 21, where our very own IPAM Product Manager Connie Dowdle will take you through a demonstration of the plug-in and the latest and greatest that SolarWinds IPAM 4.6 has to offer.

IP Address Manager customer survey, June 2016, survey result

163 Views Comments: 0 Permalink Categories: Network Management, Systems Management ip_address_management, ipam_productblog, ip_address_manager;, virtual_environments, vmware., hybrid_cloud, virtual machines, vmware vcenter, virtualization_productblo, vmware vsphere, vrealize automation, vrealize orchestrator

Is unnecessary complexity making backups a headache for you? in Monitoring Central

Posted by vmcarrie Feb 6, 2018

Reliable, recoverable backups have always been fundamental to a well-run data center. But the technology we use to accomplish that goal keeps reinventing itself. The old systems never quite go completely away, even as newer options come onto the scene. Too often, this results in a complicated mix of tools and media that can be a real headache to manage.

At one point, tape was the only storage medium, and the ubiquitous Iron Mountain^® trucks hauled loads of tapes from place to place on a regular schedule. While those trucks haven’t gone away, today, they’re supplemented with disk and cloud storage.

Do you remember the simple days, when physical servers were the only thing needing protection? Traditional backup products were designed for this world, but increasing adoption of server virtualization led to new market leaders, like Veeam, with a virtual-first approach. Then laptops and an array of mobile devices needed protection.

Then came the cloud and SaaS applications. Every vendor sought to update their offerings to cover new use cases, new devices, and new storage options. Complexity multiplied, and prices went up and up.

Where does that leave you today?

In November, we surveyed the THWACK^® community on server backup, and learned a lot. We heard from more than 500 of you that backup is too complicated, too time consuming, and too expensive.

Here are the top backup-related pain points our survey respondents listed:

We also learned, not surprisingly, that you’re using a diverse mix of products that represent every era of backup history. The largest section of the pie was “other”.

We believe there’s a better way. We decided to approach the problem with a few guiding principles:

Simplicity – One backup product for physical and virtual servers, for one price that includes software and storage. No add-ins or options, no hidden costs.
Ease of use – One web-based console to see all backup status at a glance, and drill down as needed.
Reliability – Easy to deploy, clean, efficient dashboard. Our customers tell us it “just works.”
Powerful technology under the hood – Innovative features working in the background to make backups and restores fast and efficient.

The result of this approach is SolarWinds^® Backup, a cloud-first backup service designed for IT pros who are tired of spending hours every week managing their backups. While it’s a new offering from SolarWinds, the product has been in use for years among the MSP community, and is already trusted by thousands of organizations. Here’s what a few of them have to say:

- Justin Cremer, IT Professional, Libra IT

- John Treanor, IT Professional, Satellyte Technology

More customer comments and insights can be found on TechValidate^®.

To learn more about SolarWinds Backup and begin your free trial, check out the Product Blog post. Find out how simple backups can be.

552 Views Comments: 2 Permalink Categories: Systems Management backup_monitoringcentral

Using NPM and NCM to address the latest Cisco Security Advisory in Monitoring Central

Posted by ams.norman Jan 31, 2018

Update – February 7, 2018:

Cisco® updated their vulnerability advisory on Monday, February 5, 2018 after identifying “additional attack vectors and features that are affected.” What does this mean? If you patched last week, you may need to patch again. Be sure to read the advisory notice carefully to find out if your environment is at risk.

-------------------------------------

(Originally posted Wednesday, January 31, 2018):

What is it?

Earlier this week, Cisco revealed that there is a security vulnerability in the Cisco® ASAs, exposing these firewalls to remote attackers. Of course, now we all know about it, as does anyone who may want to exploit this opening. The good news: Cisco has released a critical update to address the issue. The bad news? There is no other workaround, so affected devices must be updated to be secured, and now you’re in a race against anyone who may be trying to take advantage. It’s worth noting that some FirePower devices are affected also, so read the Cisco post in detail to help ensure that you know where your vulnerabilities may lie.

What can you do?

Fortunately, if you have SolarWinds^® Network Performance Monitor (NPM), our own KMSigma has created a report so you can quickly see if you have vulnerable devices. (For a refresher on implementing user-created reports, see How to export and import reports in the Orion® web console.)

Once you’ve identified affected devices, you can use Network Configuration Manager (NCM) to easily schedule, patch, and monitor your ASA devices using the firmware upgrade process. Are you running multi-context ASAs? No problem. The firmware upgrade path supports both single- and multi-context upgrades.

In this industry, it doesn’t take long to realize that discovering vulnerabilities of this nature—and subsequently addressing them—is a standard part of the job description. Having the right tools available can make a notable difference in how long your network is exposed and how much effort is required to remediate issues.

Tell us:

Were your devices affected? Have you already updated, and if so, did you use NPM and NCM to do so? Use the comments to tell us how it went. Were you affected but don’t have NPM or NCM? Download free 30-day trials of Network Performance Monitor and Network Configuration Manager today and see how they can help.

Learn more about Network Insight for Cisco ASA:

Did you know that SolarWinds added a new Network Insight^™ feature for Cisco ASA in the NPM 12.2 and NCM 7.7 releases? Learn about all the functionality included in Network Insight for Cisco ASA.

862 Views Comments: 1 Permalink Categories: Network Management npm, ncm, network performance monitor, network configuration manager, cisco asa, patching vulnerabilities

Protecting Against 5 Common Causes of Network Outages in Monitoring Central

Posted by Dez

Jan 22, 2018

Keeping a network up and running is a full-time job, sometimes a full-time job for several team members! But it doesn’t have to feel like a fire drill every day. Managing a network shouldn’t be entirely reactive. There are steps you can take and processes you can put in place to help reduce some of the top causes of network outages and minimize any downtime.

1. The Problem: Human Element

The dreaded “fat finger.” You’ve heard the stories. You may have done it yourself, or been the one working frantically late into the night or over a weekend to try to recover from someone else’s mistake. If you’re really unlucky (like some poor employee at Amazon^® last spring), the repercussions can be massive. No one needs that kind of stress.

The Protection:
First, make sure only the appropriate people have access to make changes. Have an approval system built in. And, since even the best of us can make mistakes, ensure you have a system that allows you to roll back changes just in case.

2. The Problem: Security Breaches

Network security is becoming more and more critical every day. People trying to break the system get better, and privacy needs for users gets higher. There are many critical elements to trying to keep your network secure, and it’s important not to miss any. It doesn’t do any good to deadbolt your door when your window is wide open.

The Protection:

Protect your devices from unauthorized changes. Monitor configurations so you can be alerted to any changes, see exactly what was changed, and know what login ID was used to make the change. Also, you should be regularly auditing your device configurations for vulnerabilities. Whether you have custom policies defined for your organization or need to comply with HIPAA, DISA STIG, SOX, or other industry standards, continuously monitoring your devices to help ensure your network stays compliant is one way to help.

3. The Problem: Lack of Routine Maintenance

Over time, networks can become messy and disorganized if there aren’t standards in place, increasing both the risk of errors and the time needed to resolve them.

The Protection:

Network standardization simplifies and focuses your infrastructure, allowing you to become more disciplined with routines and expectations. Naming conventions, standard MOTD banners, and interface names are just a few things you can do to help troubleshoot and keep a balance within your team and devices, allowing for better management and less human error.

4. The Problem: Hardware Failures

It’s not if hardware will fail, but when. Are you ready to make a speedy recovery? When a device unexpectedly goes down, it can have a big impact, depending on which device it is and what redundancies you have in place.

The Protection:

Ensure that you can quickly recover devices or bring a replacement online by having device configurations automatically backed up so you can quickly bring new devices online.

5. The Problem: Firmware Issues / Faults in the Devices

When you support hundreds of devices, required firmware updates can be tedious, and executing commands over and over increases the risk of error.

The Protection:

With network automation, you can easily manage rapid change across complex networks. Bulk deploy configurations to ensure accuracy and speed up deployment times.

Increase your uptime and reduce the challenges of keeping your network running smoothly so you can focus on other projects. With SolarWinds^® Network Configuration Manager, you can bulk deploy configuration changes or firmware updates, manage approvals, revert to previous configurations, audit for compliance, and run remediation scripts. Take action today to reduce these five causes of network outages.

318 Views Comments: 0 Permalink Categories: Network Management, Security, The Discipline of Monitoring

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