Network Diagramming Channel Feature

Network Monitoring and Diagramming is Key to Optimal Performance

The performance of the network is a hot button within any organization. Whether you rely on the network to support your business operations, communications or both, a problem with performance can affect productivity and the customer experience. As a result, there is significant competition between carriers when it comes to network performance and digramming – competition that benefits the end-user. 

According to this ComputerWorld report, the highest and lowest-ranking carriers in Australia are no longer as widespread on the performance spectrum as they once were. A report by J.D. Power and Associates shows that Telstra and Vodafone (News - Alert) Hutchison Australia, the highest and lowest, respectfully, had a gap of 11 problems per 100 connections in 2012. That gap has narrowed to just seven problems per 100 network connections. 

Leading the pack, Telstra (News - Alert) had just nine problems per 100 network connections. The provider also dominated in 2012, the first year of the study. Vodafone claimed last place with 16 problems per 100 connections. In the middle was Optus (News - Alert) with 11 problems per 100 connections. Network performance rankings match market rankings for the telcos. 

To establish these numbers, the study measured usage activities in messaging, calling and data, assessing performance according to the number of audio issues, dropped calls, slow downloads, SMS failures, errors in the connection and other network problems. More than 2,000 wireless customers were surveyed across Australia. 

Fewer problems have been experienced on 4G networks than on 3G networks, according to subscriber feedback. Both Telstra and Optus have begun the rollout of their 4G networks, putting into action their network diagramming efforts. Vodafone has plans to start its 4G deployment sometime in June. 

Even with the promises afforded in 4G of fewer problems, network operators don’t want to have to wait until J.D. Power and Associates talks to subscribers to learn about the performance of the network. Instead, network monitoring should already be in place, an important part of the network diagramming, before deployment even begins. 

To that end, it’s important to understand what is truly meant by network monitoring. As highlighted in this Paessler blog, it is the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network to identify slow or failing systems. The network administrator is then notified in the event of an outage via pager, email or other configured alarm.

For the optimal performance of the network, configuring alarms and establishing monitoring should include not just failures, but also overall performance and usage. If usage is too heavy for current configurations, it is readily felt by the end-user. Likewise, if applications are not running properly on the network, monitoring will notify the administrator before it becomes a critical problem for the end user. 

The important point is to take a proactive approach to the performance of the network or any benefits extended to the user base are quickly negated. Unless a provider wants to give an opportunity to the competition, network monitoring is a wise investment.

Edited by Jamie Epstein