I am fairly new user of nanog mail list so I am not sure if the question below is appropriate for this list. If not, please excuse it. - I am building a new low-budget customer WAN/LAN network and need some ideas for network management tools. I've seen couple of email threads regarding all sort of "net goodies". However, since I haven't used them all, I am not sure which OS would be the most appropriate for these aps? Can anyone share their ideas in regards of apps and supporting platforms? I would be most comfortable with free distribution of linux, but I am not sure which distro supports most of the tools? Is the paid OS required for all these tools, like RedHat Server or SuSe or Windows platforms? Thanks much, Vitto
- I am building a new low-budget customer WAN/LAN network and need some ideas for network management tools.
Generally this means that you have someone technical who will work long hard hours to make things work properly.
I would be most comfortable with free distribution of linux, but I am not sure which distro supports most of the tools? Is the paid OS required for all these tools, like RedHat Server or SuSe or Windows platforms?
No Linux distro organization will "support" these tools, i.e. you have to provide your own technical support. However the tools will run on all recent distros of Linux. In some cases you will have to compile the tool yourself or use a tool like "alien" to convert between .deb and .rpm packages. Because you will be working hard to get the network management tools working properly, I suggest that you go to <http://www.opensuse.org/en/> or <http://www.opensuse.org/it/> if you prefer, and get a distro that is easy to install and manage. To look for tools, the best place to start is at <http://www.caida.org/tools/> which should have a listing of every network-related tool that exists. --Michael Dillon
Vitto, My opinion is probably a bit jaded, but here it is anyway... First off, regarding OS, I'd say use whatever OS the customer is most familiar with using/maintaining. If they're a Windows shop you don't want to complicate the administration of the NMS by putting on an OS that they're unfamiliar with. With regards to the NMS applications themselves, I'd be glad to help you get up and running with the stuff we offer here at SolarWinds. Easy to install/use and you can download free copies from SolarWinds.com. Josh -----Original Message----- From: vitto malitani [mailto:vmalitani@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:18 AM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: Net Mgmt Tools and supporting OS I am fairly new user of nanog mail list so I am not sure if the question below is appropriate for this list. If not, please excuse it. - I am building a new low-budget customer WAN/LAN network and need some ideas for network management tools. I've seen couple of email threads regarding all sort of "net goodies". However, since I haven't used them all, I am not sure which OS would be the most appropriate for these aps? Can anyone share their ideas in regards of apps and supporting platforms? I would be most comfortable with free distribution of linux, but I am not sure which distro supports most of the tools? Is the paid OS required for all these tools, like RedHat Server or SuSe or Windows platforms? Thanks much, Vitto
I'd recommend ZenOSS (http://www.zenoss.com) based on your low cost requirement and my own experiences. What Linux distro you use and rather you need to pay for support depends on your level of *nix experience and comfort. Most Linux based software packages like ZenOSS or Groundwork will also tell you what some of their "favorite" distros are based on how they distribute the software and what guides they have if they don't just come right out and say it. Good Luck, -Scott -----Original Message----- From: vitto malitani [mailto:vmalitani@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 12:18 PM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: Net Mgmt Tools and supporting OS I am fairly new user of nanog mail list so I am not sure if the question below is appropriate for this list. If not, please excuse it. - I am building a new low-budget customer WAN/LAN network and need some ideas for network management tools. I've seen couple of email threads regarding all sort of "net goodies". However, since I haven't used them all, I am not sure which OS would be the most appropriate for these aps? Can anyone share their ideas in regards of apps and supporting platforms? I would be most comfortable with free distribution of linux, but I am not sure which distro supports most of the tools? Is the paid OS required for all these tools, like RedHat Server or SuSe or Windows platforms? Thanks much, Vitto
Hi Vitto, The tools you use depend massively on the kind of network you're building. Things I'd look at would be RANCID, Cricket + genrtrconfig, Cacti, jffnms, mon from kernel.org, Nagios, ZenOSS, OpenNMS and my own NMS, Observer (http://www.observer.org). You'll find lots of help with all of these tools from the mailling lists and forums related to them. Good Luck! adam.
Adam Armstrong wrote:
Things I'd look at would be RANCID, Cricket + genrtrconfig, Cacti, jffnms, mon from kernel.org, Nagios, ZenOSS, OpenNMS and my own NMS, Observer (http://www.observer.org).
I may have meant http://www.project-observer.org :) adam.
participants (5)
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Adam Armstrong -
michael.dillon＠bt.com -
Scott Berkman -
Stephens, Josh -
vitto malitani