Best Practices In Choosing Network Monitoring Software
|
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Hawaii (HMSA) found itself with a rapidly expanding network and data center. Our network devices, servers, and software were all growing in complexity and we knew that we would have to leverage technology to gain better control of our IT systems and network. In the past, we confronted the same dilemma that systems administrators in all IT organizations face: weighing the value of simple monitoring solutions versus expensive, feature-rich enterprise solutions that require labor intensive maintenance. We attempted to implement a large-scale system and network monitoring package from a major vendor but found the product was never fully implemented or adopted by the users because of its overbearing complexity. We then quickly implemented an inexpensive, low-end package that provided basic monitoring ? but lacked much of the deeper functionality our organization required, such as performance and application monitoring.
We knew we had to take a completely new approach. We decided to develop a set of best practices to ensure that new investments in system and network monitoring would be successful.
At the core of these best practices are two themes ? simplicity and cost-effectiveness HMSA's core best practices rest on five elements:
- Data center monitoring technology should be Web-based. Web-based technology simplifies rolling out the system, because no client-side application must be installed and upgraded. In addition, administrators can work from any location. Web-based user interfaces are also typically easy to learn, easing adoption and lowering training costs.
- Monitoring technology should be standards-based. HMSA chose to adhere to industry standards such as Simple Network Monitoring Protocol (SNMP) in order to simplify setup and installation and to avoid getting locked into one vendor's solution. Because SNMP is supported by almost all hardware and software vendors, monitoring a heterogeneous environment composed of many products is greatly simplified.
- Monitoring technology should be automation driven rather than consulting or manpower intensive. Expending costly and valuable IT resources on long-term enterprise software projects has proven risky and expensive.
- Data center operations should be viewed as a business process. IT departments tend to look at monitoring technology as something that displays trending graphs and sends alarms when there are network problems.
- Monitoring technology with simple license terms is preferable to products with many add-on or hidden modules. To control the costs of a monitoring implementation, a company needs visibility of up to five or 10 years of ongoing maintenance costs. Many enterprise software vendors' products are composed of many modules and components that have separate pricing models and require different training and support. HMSA believes that products with a number of components tend to be more expensive and complex to maintain over time.
We evaluated more than 15 vendors against these best practices and found that CITTIO's WatchTower monitoring platform was the closest fit. Equipped with WatchTower and our strong best practice approach, we successfully deployed enterprise-class system and network monitoring on 500 servers and network devices in a timely and cost-effective manner. Moreover, we are gaining the complete system control and network visibility our large, complex organization requires.
|
|
|
Microsoft Crm And Great Plains Implementation: Freight Forwarding Business Automation Example
Microsoft Business Solutions offers several ERP applications: Great Plains, Navision, Solomon and its own CRM solution ? Microsoft CRM. Targeting to automate all business operations, Microsoft CRM is now integrated with Microsoft Great Plains and in the close future it should have integration with Microsoft Navision. In this small article we'll show you business automation example, where Microsoft CRM and Great Plains are integrated and customized to fit Freight Forwarding business processes.
Create Asp In Minutes
DBxtra goes ASPGetting to the information hidden within corporate databases has always been a problem for all levels of an organization.IT shops are const...(related: Software)
Microsoft Crm Integration With Microsoft Office Documents ? Overview For System Integrator
Microsoft CRM is CRM application, maintained and supported by Microsoft Business Solutions. Microsoft CRM utilizes majority of the Microsoft technologies: Windows Active Directory, SQL Server, MS Exchange, BizTalk (integration with MS Great Plains, and soon with Navision), Message Queuing, .Net web services to name a few. There is market demand on the efficient integration of MS Office documents into Microsoft C...(related: Software)
Keep Your Software Simple! A Review Of Editplus
I like my software simple. If it's too complex or difficult to figure out, I don't use it.For example, I have tried a lot of different programs for creating my web pages. These include:
- Namo Webeditor
- Microsoft Frontpage
- Dreamweaver
- NetObjects Fusion
- Hotdog Pro
- CoffeeCup HTML Editor
Crystal Reports - Microsoft Sql Server
Microsoft SQL Server is the leader for inexpensive and middle size SQL solutions. Plus it is now capable to serve large enterprise on Microsoft Windows platform. Crystal Reports is the most flexible tool on the market and it has market recognition. Multiple software vendors offer Crystal Reports as the main reporting tool: Microsoft, Best Software, Oracle to name a few.Sometimes developers try to use Crystal directly to pull data from multiple database platforms - we understand the need to give you additional tips to increase Crystal report flexibility. Also common case when Crystal report should pull data from multiple database platforms. Assuming that you are creating Crysta...(related: Software)
Groupware As A Document Manager: Collaboration Series #3
This article is the third of a series of articles exploring specific aspects of groupware. The brief informational articles in this series discuss some of the technologies associated with groupware, as well as some of the characteristics of groupware. Some of these characteristics may go hand in hand with business collaborative needs. Other characteristics go beyond what some groupware providers have to offer. The purpose of these articles is to equip the groupware user or investigator with helpful knowledge about the product in order to enable more effective use or to lead the investigator to...(related: Software)
Microsoft Great Plains Installation ? Overview For It Director/controller
Microsoft Great Plains is main mid-market application from Microsoft Business Solutions. This is short article, written in question/answer/FAQ style to give IT Director/Controller balanced top level information on Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains implementation. If you have decided on Microsoft Great Plains as main ac...(related: Software)
Mozilla Vs. Firefox
For those who are unclear on the differences between the Mozilla package (Netscape is also comparable to Mozilla except they're two different companies) and Firefox / Thunderbird, here it is:
- Mozilla is a complete package meaning it comes with email, browser, address book, newsgroup, and chat applications integrated.
- FireFox is a stand-alone browser application. It doesn't have email built-in. There is a chatzilla extension available.
- Thunderbird is the stand-alone email applicati...(related: Software)
Quarkxpress Tips: How To Move Content Between Print And Web Layouts
Since its release in 1987, QuarkXpress had made an immediate impact to computer enthusiasts. QuarkXPress introduced precision typography, layout and color control to the desktop computer, and delivered those features to des...(related: Software)
Corel Wordperfect 7 Macro Programming Example
Case study:A secretary using Corel WordPerfect 7 is often required to carry out calculations and insert the values into invoices or other documents.She does this by entering calculations into either a real calculator and transcribing ...(related: Software)
Microsoft Great Plains Reporting ? Overview For Developer
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular, partly because of Microsoft muscles behind it. Now it is targeted to the whole spectrum of horizontal and vertical market clientele. Small companies use Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology ? Great Plains Dexterity dictionary and runtime), Great Plains Standard on MSDE is for small ...(related: Software)
How The Firefox: How To... Manual Helped Me
A few months back I really got sick of my computer always being slow and having system errors. So I started doing a bit of research and heard of a new browser called "Firefox".After a few months of going through it I started to see a huge difference in my computers performance and as a result in my own productivity online and off. This was a direct result of using the Firefox browser. So I then started to learn the features that came with it and I realized that this browser had A LOT more features than I had ever seen or used on any other browser. As I started to mention this to my co-workers and friends and family they all got interested in the browser and decided to install it on their own systems.Thats when the questions started.It didn't matter where I went, I ran into someone who had a question or questions on "How d...(related: Software)
Best Spyware Removers
Finding the best spyware removers to detect and remove spyware and adware from your computer is much easier if you consider a few things before you make your purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a spyware protection program.The best spyware removers should offer you complete protection against spyware, adware, keyloggers, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), and browser hijackers. These are the main spyware infections that expose your confidential information and diminish your PC's performance.
site-map - Copyright © 2008 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Software