Performance plan
There are various equipment and DTEs which are found in the Fantasy Games network. With the advent of the internet and computer networks, there is the need to have a network in the organization so that resources are shared and communication will be effected. With the growing nodes that are seen to be growing by the day, there will be need to have monitoring of the network.
Variables in the network
The network has a lot of equipment and computing devices. These devices will need to be monitored so that their management is well taken care of. There are servers, routers, firewalls and end user equipment. There will be need to monitor the network equipment so that if there is a corrective measure required in a network, it will be undertaken fast. All the links that are connected should be monitored so that there is consistent connection and downtime will be minimized as much as possible. The servers will also have to be monitored so that all processes that are run will be run persistently. Servers are very important equipment and they are supposed to be running all the time. All computers in the network depend on the servers that are running on the network. The servers have services that need to be running throughout. These services will have to be started if they are found to have stopped. There are tools which can be used to undertake this. There are different servers that will have to be monitored. These services include web services like Apache, Daemon services that manage most of the processes that are run in the network.
Monitoring tools
There are various monitoring tools which are available for use in the network. Fantasy Games network has a wide collection of tools that are available which can be used. One of the monitoring tools that Fantasy Games network will find it useful is that of Ganglia. Ganglia is a monitoring tool that is used to monitor the customers as a group. It is normally hard and difficult to get to know the performance of the cluster as a group. The use of Ganglia will help the administrators have a look at the management and the operations of a given group of computers. It is therefore a requirement that the computers be known how they are performing as a group.
Another monitoring tool is Nagios. Nagios, although difficult to install and configure is a good tool that is used to monitor the operations of the whole network. It can be used to send alerts to emails. Fantasy Games can use this tool to monitor the users and know the operation of the various players. If there is a problem in the network, or the users have a problem, they will be sorted as the alerts will be sent to the administrators and technicians who will solve the problem that is experienced.
Another tool that I will use is that of Packet Tracer software which is used to monitor the network. Since Fantasy Games network makes use of the network, there will be need to monitor the operations that takes place in this network. Logical workspace permits users to create logical network topologies via connecting and bringing together virtual network devices. Physical workspaces gives a graphical side of the logical network, making a sense of scale and placement in the way network devices like routers and switches would be like in the real scenario. It extends to giving geographical mappings of networks factoring in various towns, constructions and wiring closets. There are two packet tracer network behavior visualizing modes. The modes are real-time and simulation modes. The network acts as real devices do in real time mode, with instant response from all network activities. It allows students and alternative to real material and gives them room to acquire first hand practice on configuration prior to working with real material. Simulation mode on the other hand allow the user to view and control time intervals, data transfer inner workings, and the data via the network propagation. This aids students gain the fundamental aspects beneath network operations which can first track related concepts learning.
Logs to maintain
Logs will also be analyzed so that the problems that are encountered in the network are easily solved. There is the need to ensure that the problems that are encountered in the network have a cause. The logs should be as comprehensive as a possible. The three important areas that I will use to do the monitoring is application monitoring, security monitoring and systems logs monitoring. Security monitoring is important as the source of a network attack will normally start with a small action. The logs will capture these small steps. There will therefore be a need to have a tool that will be able to monitor and capture these actions. One tool that I will use in the security monitoring is endace. This tool is not only good in security monitoring but can also be used in network monitoring. Since most attacks and compromise are from network use, there is the need to have an effective security and network tool. Another log to maintain is that of application logs. These logs help to know the way a given application experienced a given problem. A common and popular tool is event Log Monitor Software. It is used to monitor the way transactions take place. System logs will be used by the event Log and Syslog Monitoring tools.
I will use Nagios and Packet Tracer to perform the overall network performance. These two tools are known to work together and give the best results. The one tool which can be used to manage and monitor the network is Nagios.
Capacity analysis is the assessment of the overall performance of a given network so that the speed of the packets are known. The tools that I can be used to achieve this is that of Web Capacity Analysis Tool. This tool is used to monitor the whole system and know the performance of the system.
References
Morimoto, R., Noel, M., Droubi, O., Mistry, R., & Amaris, C. (2008). Windows server 2008 unleashed. Washington: Microsoft Press.
