Get Layer 2 Topology Mapping with NetCrunch | AdRem Software
Background

NetCrunch Platform Module

Layer 2 Topology Mapping

NetCrunch discovers and presents physical connections between switches and nodes on automatic layer 2 topology maps.

The module is part of:

  • NetCrunch Suite
  • NetCrunch for Network Infrastructure

it can be added to any NetCrunch platform product.

@@img:layer-2-map.png Layer 2 Map

When the infrastructure grows and expands to multiple locations, it becomes hard to maintain up to date static network diagrams. Thus, NetCrunch topology maps are automatically updated when a new node is added or port connection changes. Additionally, the maps display the status of each device, while connections between switches show actual bandwidth usage.

NetCrunch uses SNMP (v1,v2c or v3) to retrieve data from switches. It also supports CDP and STP protocols.
Download NetCrunch Trial Register for Webinar

  • TOP BENEFITS
    1. Spot network problems at a glimpse and quickly drill down to the problematic device or to the link from the network maps.
    2. See actual node status and traffic information on network diagrams
    3. Understand relationship between the parent and the dependent devices.

  • Segment Map

    The map shows connections on each switch port. Each line on the map presents current in/out traffic on the port. You can click on the line to see real-time traffic graph of a given port, or you can open traffic history.

    @@img:segment-map-volume.png Segment Map with Traffic Volume

    The map can represent summary traffic by volume in the last hour or last 24 hours, or simply the current status of the connections.

    @@img:segment-map.png Segment Map

  • Port Map

    In the case when multiple devices are connected to a single port and NetCrunch can't access switch or router data, the program draws a static map without traffic data and port information.

    This often happens when we discover non-manageable software switches.

    @@img:port-map.png Port Map

  • KEY FEATURES
    1. Automatic presentation of switch connections and bandwidth usage
    2. Support for Etherchannels
    3. Monitoring traffic on switch interfaces
    4. Port mapping with VLAN support

Layer 2, also known as the Data Link Layer, is the second level in the seven-layer OSI reference model for network protocol design. Layer 2 is equivalent to the link layer (the lowest layer) in the TCP/IP network model. Layer 2 is the network layer used to transfer data between adjacent network nodes in a wide area network or between nodes on the same local area network.

Layer 2 switching (or Data Link layer switching) is the process of using devices’ MAC addresses on a LAN to segment the network. Switches and bridges are used for Layer 2 switching. They break up one large collision domain into multiple smaller ones.

In a typical LAN, all hosts are connected to single central device. In the past, the central device was usually a hub. But hubs had many disadvantages, such as not being aware of traffic that passes through them, creating one large collision domain, etc. To overcome some of the problems with hubs, bridges have been created. They were better than hubs because they created multiple collision domains, but they had a limited number of ports. Finally, a switches have been created and are still widely used today.

Switches have more ports than bridges, can inspect incoming traffic and make forwarding decisions accordingly. Each port on a switch is a separate collision domain.

NetCrunch Platform Modules

  • NetCrunch Platform Explore core features making NetCrunch productive monitoring platform Read more

  • SNMP & Core Monitoring Monitor devices and services availability using 70+ built-in protocol monitors and SNMPv1,v2c,v3 equipped with dozens Monitoring Packs and 8500+ Read more

  • Logs, Servers, Virtualization, and Application MonitoringMonitor servers, operating systems, virtualization host, SQL, web, cloud, and more...Read more

  • Hardware and Software Inventory for WindowsMonitor Windows machine and track hardware and software inventory Read more

  • Layer 2 Visualization Visualize layer-2 connections, VLANs and traffic on switch ports Read more

  • Traffic Flow AnalyzerAnalyze network traffic with flows (NetFlow, sFlow and other protocols) and use Cisco NBAR2 for application monitoring Read more

  • Integration Services Integrate NetCrunch with Service Desk and productivity applications. Let NetCrunch forward data to an external system Read more

  • Advanced Monitoring and AlertingUse business status to reflect critical path and service dependencies, use advance condition to react to heartbeat or missing events. Set advanced threshold conditions on metrics to detect rapid changes or abnormal behavior. Read more

  • Advanced Configuration Manage multiple NetCrunch users, organizational groups, monitoring templates and create dynamic Atlas folders Read more

ADREM SOFTWARE IS A PARTNER OF