5 open source network management projects to watch
- 18 January, 2011 14:48
- Comments
Open source software has a long history in lower-level network software so it’s not surprising there is a healthy range of free tools available for network and systems management.
Often with commercial support available, open source network management tools offer an easy way to gain more visibility into the workings of disparate systems and software.
In this edition of 5 open source things to watch, we take a look at network management projects that will allow IT managers to take control of the shop without selling the farm.
1. OpenNMS
OpenNMS is a network management application written in Java. It claims to be the world’s first enterprise network management developed under an open source model. The project was registered on SourceForge on July 2000.
Designed to scale to thousands of notes from one installation, OpenNMS can automatically discover network services and has an API for integration with bug tracking systems.
While commercial development and support services are available through opennms.com, the project makes a point about not having a proprietary “enterprise” version.
OpenNMS is cross platform and a mobile client for Apple’s iOS is available.
URL: http://www.opennms.org/
Licence: GPL
2. Zenoss
Zenoss Core is the open source network management product backed by Zenoss Inc. It manages the configuration, health, performance of networks, servers and applications in one system.
Zenoss has an integrated CMDB and it is controlled by a Web-based GUI. Custom devices like temperature sensors can also be monitored.
In addition to the standard uptime and performance monitoring features, Zenoss supports monitoring templates dubbed “ZenPacks”.
URL: http://zenoss.org
Licence: GPL
3. NetXMS
NetXMS is more of an independent open source network management project that has client and server apps for Linux, Unix and Windows. Its main developer is Raden Solutions, a Latvian IT company.
In addition to the standard network monitoring features, NetXMS has business impact analysis tools.
The NetXMS interface is a “fat” client and there is also a Web interface.
Both free and paid support is available for NetXMS.
URL: http://www.netxms.org/
Licence: GPL
4. Nagios
Nagios is one of the most popular open source network management tools and is widely deployed among Linux users. It began life as “NetSaint” before being renamed Nagios.
The central application is called Nagios Core, with additional functionality available through Nagios Plugins, Frontends and Config Tools.
Regarding the third-party applications and plug-ins for Nagios, there is the Nagios Exchange portal that categorises extensions across various genres.
Both community and commercial support is available for Nagios.
URL: http://www.nagios.org/
Licence: GPL
5. Hyperic
Hyperic is an open source network management suite that targets itself as being suitable for Web application and virtual machine management.
The commercial Hyperic was acquired by SpringSource, which was then acquired by VMWare.
Hyperic features automatic discovery and records some 50,000 metrics across 75 application stacks.
An Enterprise edition is available for Hyperic which includes more features than the open source edition and commercial support.
URL: http://www.hyperic.com/
Licence: GPL
For more articles in this series, be sure to check out:
5 open source security projects to watch
5 open source virtualisation technologies to watch
5 open source CRM systems to watch
5 open source VoIP softphones to watch
5 open source billing systems to watch
5 open source office suites to watch
5 open source IP telephony projects to watch
5 open source help desk apps to watch
5 enterprise open source wiki apps to watch
5 open source project management apps to watch
5 free project management applications you must try
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email CIO
- Follow CIO on twitter
- http://www.opennms.org/
- http://zenoss.org
- http://www.netxms.org/
- http://www.nagios.org/
- http://www.hyperic.com/
- 5 open source security projects to watch
- 5 open source virtualisation technologies to watch
- 5 open source CRM systems to watch
- 5 open source VoIP softphones to watch
- 5 open source billing systems to watch
- 5 open source office suites to watch
- Five open source IP telephony projects to watch
- 5 open source help desk apps to watch
- Five enterprise open source wiki apps to watch
- 5 open source project management apps to watch
- 5 free project management applications you must try
-
NBN build gaining momentum daily: Quigley
-
Face Time - Interview with John Brennan and Robert DiStefano
-
Monday Grok: Will Siri crack the walls of GOOG?
-
Face Time - Interview with John Brennan and Robert DiStefano
-
Face Time - Interview with John Brennan and Robert DiStefano
-
Closing the print security gap - The market landscape for print security
Today, many organisations continue to rely on printing to support business processes, particularly in the public sector, finance industry and legal profession. Whilst MFPs and printers have improved business productivity, they pose the same security risk as any networked device if left unprotected. With reported data breaches on the rise and growing industry and regulatory requirements around information security, businesses may suffer financial and reputational damage if they ignore the risks of unsecured printing. Read more. -
Five Things You Need to Know About Your Users Before You Deploy Business Intelligence
In our years of experience working with companies of all types and sizes to design and deploy business intelligence systems, we’ve learned that there are five key things you need to know about your users before you roll out related technologies to them. In this paper, we will discuss these five things, as well as their implications. -
Seven SOA Practices to Unlock Business Value
The fact is that companies are increasingly using SOA to gain competitive business advantage. Distilled down to seven essential SOA practices, the following list enables IT professionals to tightly align SOA investments with their organization’s business priorities. Using these practices can help with driving competitive advantage and adding measurable business value...and that’s a sure way for IT pros to win recognition and ongoing support within their companies.
-
Wiley Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Engineering (5 Volume Set)
-
Mac OS X Leopard All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies
-
HTML, XHTML, and CSS All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies
-
Computing Concepts with C++ Essentials 3E WIE
-
Hacking Myspace
-
Quicken 2004 for Dummies
-
Ubuntu
-
The Sscp Prep Guide
-
Changing Software Development - Learning to Become Agile








Comments
Post new comment