Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

As a network admin, you're probably all too familiar with the importance of your network switches. These devices keep the heart of your network beating by connecting various devices, from computers to printers, and ensuring data flows smoothly. However, switches, like any hardware, come with their own set of issues that can disrupt productivity and cause headaches if not addressed promptly.

In the fast-paced realm of IT businesses, it's easy to overlook the intricate web that powers your operations – your network infrastructure. Let's face it, most enterprises only give it the attention it deserves when something goes wrong. And by then, the issue has often snowballed into a full-blown crisis.

As network admins, we know that routers are the lifeblood of any network. They’re the unsung heroes, routing data from your internal systems to external destinations like the Internet. When routers are performing at their best, everything flows smoothly. But when they’re overloaded, misconfigured, or simply not up to snuff, your network’s performance and security are at risk.

In the world of network monitoring, SNMP is the tried-and-true protocol that’s been helping IT teams monitor device health for decades. Whether you're managing switches, routers, firewalls, or access points, SNMP Device Monitoring remains one of the most widely used methods for tracking device performance and status. At Obkio, one of the most common questions we hear from prospects is: “Do you offer SNMP device monitoring?” The short answer: Yes, absolutely.

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head over UDP packet loss? You're not alone. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a go-to for streaming, gaming, and VoIP, but when packets start going AWOL, it can spell trouble for your network's performance. Imagine you're in the middle of an important VoIP call, a critical online gaming session, or a live video stream, and suddenly things get choppy or laggy—that's UDP packet loss rearing its ugly head.

If you manage an enterprise network, then you’ve definitely come across MPLS. Although many businesses rely on MPLS technology for large, high performing networks, they can suffer from network problems, like network congestion, that can impact user experience. Monitoring MPLS using a Network Monitoring tool is key to identifying and solving network issues that impact MPLS performance.

If you've ever been on a choppy VoIP call or sat through a video meeting where people sounded like robots from the ‘90s, you’ve likely run into a little thing called jitter. It’s one of those sneaky network issues that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, until it ruins your real-time traffic. As IT pros and network admins, you're probably used to dealing with packet loss and latency. But jitter? That one's a bit trickier.

When it comes to network management, there are two challenges that are ever-present; ensuring optimal network performance and maintaining uninterrupted network connectivity. Network admins are the unsung heroes, diligently managing the digital highways that connect the modern world. To maintain the delicate balance between seamless user experience and network reliability, two crucial practices come to the forefront: Network Load Testing and Load Balancing.

If you’ve ever had a user complain that their video call was choppy or their VoIP call had weird delays, even though the Internet speed looked fine, you’ve probably run into Internet jitter. It’s one of those issues that doesn’t always show up on a speed test, but it can absolutely wreck real-time communication. And if you’re managing networks across remote offices, home setups, or hybrid work environments, you’ll want to keep an eye on it.

Are you tired of feeling like you're in the dark about the services you're paying for? Are you getting what you paid for? Many businesses are in the same boat when it comes to Service Level Agreement (SLA) monitoring and reporting. It’s great having an SLA (or Service-Level Agreement) for the provision of a service, but you need to go further to really understand if the standards specified in the SLA are actually being met. That’s where SLA monitoring and reporting comes in.