Network management has always been complicated, and despite technological advances, it is still tedious and involves numerous challenges. Diverse equipment and technologies in the same infrastructure, growth, and lack of control are common problems affecting a corporate network management.  

Network management systems were created to help network engineers to deal with several challenges, such as: 

• Simplify device configuration. 
• Provide interoperability between different devices. 
• Improve user interfaces of standard vendor NMS. 
• Fix failures, congestions, and bottlenecks. 

Evolution of Network Management Systems 

Despite all advantages, in the past when first network management systems were launched in the market they weren’t as successful as they are now. This is due to high costs, complexity, and not very intuitive interfaces; Additionally, the first systems presented the lack of the ability to comprehensively manage all the devices. Early versions of NMS software were compatible with just a single vendor. So, these systems reached a theoretical success, but it was not noticeable in sales.  

Hence it is not surprising that many users ignored them in a past, opting mainly for the network management software integrated as standard in the different devices, servers, operating systems, or applications according to each vendor. However, now things are changing. The latest versions of network management systems are easy to navigate, offer greater coverage, provide multi-vendor compatibility being very useful. 

What does Network Management System mean in simple words? 

Network Management System, also well known as an NMS, can be defined as a software containing a set of components to simplify network management.  

NMS enables network operators to detect and identify failures, to make configuration changes, to carry out upgrades, to get network performance data, inventory etc. 

What does NMS offer? 

Troubleshooting and incident response: network management system collects information about faults and negative events, so network operators detect faster any issue within the network. 

Performance monitoring: enables you to collect key metrics by means of agents, physical connections, SNMP, so the system can provide you with enough information about how your network and its elements are running and operating. 

Network device management, monitoring and discovery: NMS is used to detect devices on the network and to ensure the devices are incorporated, configured, and updated correctly. 

Analysis: NMS is used to track performance metrics and deliver data to generate analytical reports. 

Events and alarms notification: network management system communicates network issues to network operators. 

Why network management system? 

• Cost savings.
• Time savings.
• Better productivity and efficiency.
• Systems consolidation.
• Providing interoperability.

How to choose the right NMS for your enterprise? 

There are different aspects that you should consider when buying a network management system.  

• Determine your needs, network requirements, scope, and goals. 
• Evaluate implementation time, learning curve and user friendliness. 
• Consider scalability and future-proof technology. 

Here the complete guide to selecting the right NMS for your enterprise. 

SGRwin is a network management system offering multi-vendor compatibility and wide range of components to transform your network management! Contact us.