Routers. Servers. Switches. These devices formed the core of the IT network infrastructure 20 years ago. Today's networks are a whole new animal. You've got traditional devices like servers and endpoints, but you’ve also got mobile devices, virtual and cloud applications, VoIP equipment… plus a whole slew of non-traditional items like your HVAC or door alarms.
Two important things to know:
- Most of these items have an IP address.
- If an item has an IP address, Intermapper can monitor it.
My guess is that you’re dutifully keeping tabs on your standard routers and switches (as a good network professional should), but you’re likely leaving dozens of items un-monitored that you could (and should) be monitoring.
A lot of people say, "I've got 100 main routers, switches, and workstations, so I'll just need a 100-device license." You've covered the basics, but what about the rest of your network? Modern, distributed networks encompass a veritable technology buffet, and Intermapper can monitor more than you think.
Related Content: Monitor Anything with an IP Address with Intermapper
What Exactly Counts as a "Device"?
We often talk about monitoring our network "devices." What does that mean, exactly? As more technology connects to the internet, the definition of a “device” is quickly expanding to be more than just standard servers and endpoints. In the new world of the Internet of Things (IoT), a network “device” could be anything with an IP address that, if it went off the grid, could affect your business operations.
Would you consider a smart thermometer a network device? Let’s say you have one set up to monitor your data center temperature. One afternoon, the temperature rises to dangerously high levels, but you don’t catch it in time. Your equipment could fail and even be ruined. Without monitoring that smart thermometer and receiving an alert when it goes off-line, you wouldn’t know what happened until it is too late, costing your business thousands of dollars in new equipment.
Maybe you don’t have smart thermometers, but what about door alarms? An HVAC system? Security cameras? All of these items are devices that network monitoring software like Intermapper can monitor.
Related Content: How Do Device-Based and Sensor-Based Licensing Compare?
