1. Centina Systems CentinaSystems.com
Centina Systems http://www.centinasystems.com/ Page 1
Network Performance Management For The Layman
Network performance management is one of the most important things a company can do to optimize their
computer network. The network is like a high performance machine; if everything isn?t working properly,
the entire network doesn?t work properly. If the parts of the machine aren?t the newest, most efficient, it
will fall behind the times. Companies can improve the efficiency of internet and their intranet by following a
few guidelines as they set up and maintain their network.
First, make sure that you understand the upgradeable components of the network. On the information super
highway, think of your router as the freeway entrances and exits. If they aren?t quality from the beginning,
or if they aren?t properly maintained and upgraded, they slow everything down. The switch is what allows
computers within the network to interface with each other. Newer model switches will have a greater speed
capacity. Cabling is another area that can be improved. CAT 5 cables can handle 100 MHz of bandwidth. This
can be upgraded to CAT 6 cable or gigabit Ethernet, which can handle 1000 MHz of bandwidth. It doesn?t do
much good to have CAT 6 cabling if your computers can only receive and process 100 MHz of band width.
The network interface card, or NIC, will need to be gigabit in your computers as well. Most computers made
within the last 2-3 years will have gigabit NICs standard.
If your company uses wireless internet, the wireless router or access points will need to have 802.11n
capable signal. The original signal was 802.11a, followed by b, g, and n. Wireless 802.11n signal is the
fastest available and currently the most widely used. If your computers are older, the wireless NICs in them
may only be able to interpret signal from 802.11g. You can buy wireless routers or access points that send
802.11bgn, which sends out signals for b, g, and n. You can also get NICs that can interpret all three. Newer
computers will almost always have 802.11n NICs installed.
Monitoring your system will save you a lot of time and money searching for the source of problems. Programs
like Zenoss and Alert Bot will simply internally monitor your system by periodically pinging each individual
program and device within the network. By doing so, it can find problems almost instantly as they occur.
When it finds a problem, it will send an alert email to your network manager. Security goes hand in hand
with . If your network is unsecure, you run the risk of allowing malware in to your network and on to your
computers.
Your network manager can also adjust the quality of service for the network. This enables you to put priority
on what your company will use the bandwidth for. If employees are streaming videos over the network, it will
take up the bandwidth and slow the entire network. The network manager can change the settings for
different kinds of traffic like streaming, email and web traffic. If you want very little priority going to
streaming, and most of it going to email and web traffic, they can change the settings to do so.
These simplified guidelines for can help your network run more efficiently. Your company runs on the
efficiency of its workers. Your network is no different. Take good care of your network and it will take good
care of you.
Document Tags: fault management, network monitoring, network performance monitoring, best
software for network monitoring