Maintaining and Monitoring the Network
There are two situations in which network tools are indispensable: when you must diagnose network problems, and when you want to monitor and analyze patterns of network activity to avoid network problems. Microsoft® Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 includes a set of useful network tools that help you monitor, capture, and interpret network data.
This chapter describes SMS network diagnostic tools, how they work, and how you can use them. Typically, you use Network Monitor to capture and analyze network frames to diagnose network problems and to identify optimization opportunities. You use Network Trace to graphically display site systems and the physical network that connects to them.
On This Page
In This Chapter
In This Chapter
Using Network Monitor
Using SMS Network Diagnostic Tools on Remote Computers
Using Network Trace
Table 10.1 lists network monitoring and maintenance tasks and the SMS tools you use to accomplish those tasks.
Table 10.1 Network Monitoring and Maintenance Tasks and Tools
To do this task |
Use this tool |
|---|---|
Capture and examine network traffic (frames) |
Network Monitor |
Create capture and display filters to capture or view only the frames in which you are interested Automate data capture by using capture triggers |
Network Monitor |
Edit and retransmit frames onto your network |
Network Monitor |
Analyze and interpret captured data |
Network Monitor Experts |
Graphically map the network connections between site systems and network devices such as routers |
Network Trace |
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