Network Analysis Tool

What is network analysis?

Network analysis refers to the processes involved in monitoring network traffic for the purposes of collecting information about traffic volume, activity, bandwidth, and different types of data flow. Network analysis can be also called network packet analysis or sniffing. 

Here is a quick example: if the cloud- and web-based elements of your networking environment are experiencing slowdowns, one of the first things you’ll want to check is your Wi-Fi signal, as this could be a contributor to service outages. The processes of identifying and troubleshooting network-related issues is network analysis.

In addition to collecting information about data moving across the network, network analysis tools decode the data and display important metrics about it in an easy-to-parse user dashboard, allowing users to understand the current state of network activity at a glance. 

Network analysis tools can assist with a variety of tasks, from general troubleshooting and monitoring wireless network availability and throughput to security countermeasures like detecting spyware and unauthorized, potentially malicious activity. Software applications with network analyzer functions can also be used to locate faulty hardware and applications creating bandwidth bottlenecks. Network analyzer software can even help determine which parts of the network have been targeted by a DDoS attack—and the source of the attack.

Network analyzer systems are a combination of hardware and software. Sometimes a network analyzer will be standalone hardware with software installed on it, while other times it’ll be software installed on a computer as part of the network. The main differences between network analysis tools involve which parts of the network the tool focuses on, the number of protocols they can decode (and the quality of this process), how the user interface looks, and what graphs or data analysis it can produce.

Why is network analysis important?

Network analysis plays a critical role in any IT management strategy. Network analysis is all about ensuring the network is currently functional and will continue to be functional in the future. Effective networks support business processes at all levels, and slowdowns or failures on a network can immediately impact business productivity. Users must perform network analysis to identify bottlenecks, capacity issues, and more, to effectively troubleshoot current slowdowns and plan for future network needs. 

Network analysis is also important for ensuring network security. By analyzing traffic levels, for instance, you can quickly catch unexpected increases in traffic, possibly signaling malicious activity. Hacked devices often generate high levels of traffic. Performing ongoing network analysis offers critical insight into potential security risks and protects the business overall. 

Some network performance issues are minor—meaning they result in little more than reduced productivity—but some issues can be major, affecting the business’ bottom line and reputational or financial standing. By using dedicated analyzer software to monitor network device performance and bandwidth, users can help prevent issues from becoming problems that interfere with network service or end users’ ability to perform their required tasks. Given how many business-critical systems rely on cloud- and web-based applications, using the right network analysis tools is essential. 

What does a network analyzer do?

Network analyzers track network traffic levels and connectivity in ways that enable insights for users. One of the key features of network analyzer tools—sometimes called packet sniffers—is they copy data as it moves through network interfaces and makes the data available for analysis by exporting it to a data flow collector. Because packet sniffers can collect a massive amount of data—including encoded administrative information—it’s essential to have a network analyzer tool capable of translating data packet information.

Network analyzer systems and monitoring tools can be used to create network performance baselines to help identify network events or anomalous behavior requiring investigation. Having these baselines helps boost operational efficiency, as network admins and technology support staff will inevitably spend less time trying to identify the cause of network slowdowns or service outages because they’ll be able to use performance data to locate down to the minute when the issue appeared, and which devices were involved.

Many types of network analysis software include alerting systems to notify users when the network experiences slowdowns and provide insight into which devices use the most bandwidth. Network analyzer tools will usually also provide the capability to create network maps to track node health, show packet-level paths, or reveal where the wireless signal is strongest and weakest.

Network analysis plays an important role both for typical networks and Wi-Fi networks. As more devices connect to the wireless network, the increased traffic bogs down the channel and generates interference, essentially rendering the devices unable to communicate. Using network analysis tools to optimize wireless network coverage and signal strength will help to better balance network load.

How does a network analyzer work?

Network analysis tools capture and analyze data traffic. These tools allow you to determine the specific portions of network traffic they monitor, meaning you can tailor monitoring based on feedback from end users. 

For instance, if employees across the organization report a certain application running slowly, then users can capture traffic at the application server’s network interface to determine if the server is truly the site of the problem. If the server responds normally, then moving the packet sniffer increasingly closer to the client or clients reporting the problem will help determine which hop along the network path is responsible for the slowdown.

However, for a device to send flow data to a network analysis tool, it must first be enabled to do so. The configuration process requires that interfaces be discovered and added to the corresponding database—in the case SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer, this is the Orion® database. For this tool, the next step requires the interface index number in the Orion database to match the index number in the collected flow data. Once the devices have been configured and the data collected, the network analysis tool will analyze the bandwidth usage and network traffic according to many performance metrics.

How does the network analysis tool work in NTA?

One of NTA’s most useful features is its ability to analyze packet-level traffic across your network and wireless traffic. This allows users to track and monitor the applications, devices, and users putting the biggest drain on network performance. This information can be leveraged to troubleshoot issues with faulty hardware or users taking up a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. 

NTA also supports automatic alerts for when it detects unexpected or anomalous changes in network traffic, ensuring administrators are kept up to date in real time for events potentially requiring investigation or action.

NTA gives IT professionals the ability to take advantage of the flow technologies built into routers and switches, enabling them to easily monitor, solve, and troubleshoot bandwidth-related problems. Specialized for Wi-Fi and network traffic analysis, NTA also seamlessly integrates with other SolarWinds tools like Network Performance Monitor for even more comprehensive NetFlow monitoring capabilities.