What network issues should you monitor as a SysAdmin?

2 Network latency

Another key network metric that you should monitor is network latency, which measures how long it takes for a data packet to travel from one point to another in your network. Network latency can affect the responsiveness and performance of your network applications and services, as well as the user experience and satisfaction. You should monitor the latency between your network devices, servers, and clients, as well as the latency between your network and external networks or internet services. You should also set up thresholds and alerts for network latency to notify you when the network is slow or unstable.

3 Network errors

Network errors are any events or conditions that prevent or impair the normal operation of your network. Network errors can be caused by various factors, such as hardware failures, misconfigurations, malicious attacks, or environmental issues. Some of the common network errors that you should monitor are packet loss, which occurs when data packets are dropped or corrupted in transit; retransmissions, which occur when data packets are resent due to errors or timeouts; and CRC errors, which occur when data packets have incorrect checksums due to transmission errors. You should monitor the frequency and severity of network errors and set up thresholds and alerts to notify you when the network is faulty or compromised.

4 Network availability

Network availability is the measure of how often and how long your network devices, servers, and services are up and running. Network availability is crucial for ensuring the reliability and continuity of your network operations and functions. You should monitor the status and uptime of your network devices, servers, and services, as well as the availability of your network connections and paths. You should also set up thresholds and alerts for network availability to notify you when the network is down or unreachable.

5 Network security

Network security is the measure of how well your network is protected from unauthorized access, misuse, or attack. Network security is essential for safeguarding your network assets, data, and users from internal or external threats. You should monitor the activity and behavior of your network devices, servers, and users, as well as the traffic and events on your network perimeter and firewall. You should also set up thresholds and alerts for network security to notify you when the network is breached or attacked.

6 Network monitoring and alerting tools

To monitor your network effectively and proactively, you need to use network monitoring and alerting tools that can collect, analyze, and display network data and metrics, as well as notify you of any network issues or anomalies. There are many network monitoring and alerting tools available, ranging from simple and free to complex and paid. Some of the popular network monitoring and alerting tools are Nagios, Zabbix, PRTG, SolarWinds, and Splunk. You should choose the network monitoring and alerting tool that suits your network size, complexity, and budget, as well as your monitoring and alerting needs and preferences.