Anyone here use or have experience with SolarWinds network software tools?

[Epsil0n00]

We just purchased SolarWinds Network Managment Software. Have any of you ever used this software? What do you think of it? It comes with the following tools (mini-software packages):
- Network Discovery
- Fault Monitoring
- Performance monitoring
- IP address mgmt.
- Switch port mapping
- Network Security
- Real time interface monitor
- Real time bandwidth gauage
- Trap receiver
- Spam blacklist
- DNS analyzer
- MIB browser

Do these tools work well? Do you have favorites that you think are really usefull?
Thanks for your opinions!

Epsil0n

 

[trikster2]

I've used solar winds in the past.

All of the tools have their uses.

I especialy like the bandwidth graphs it produces.

 

[dphantom]

I've occasionally used some of the tools. Their pretty good. Most of what I use now is free stuff like ethereal, nmap, snort... Never had the money to get the package.

 

[spidey07]

they work well. All of them.

 

[Epsil0n00]

Thanks for the feedback, I am excited to give them a try and see how well they work. I will try to remember to stop back by this thread and give a brief review...

Thanks again!
Eps.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I've seen a couple of assclowns scan my network with the scanning tools. :|

 

[Epsil0n00]

I installed the tools and what I have realized are the following:
- These are powerful tools if configured correctly
- These are powerful tools if you know what the hell you are doing
- I do not know what the hell I am doing!
- I don't know how to congifure them correctly
- I have a lot of learning to do quickly!

I guess I would be classified as one of those assclowns that will soon be hammering my own network with SNMP packets. ROFL

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Epsil0n00
I installed the tools and what I have realized are the following:
- These are powerful tools if configured correctly
- These are powerful tools if you know what the hell you are doing
- I do not know what the hell I am doing!
- I don't know how to congifure them correctly
- I have a lot of learning to do quickly!

I guess I would be classified as one of those assclowns that will soon be hammering my own network with SNMP packets. ROFL

That doesn't qualify you as an assclown in my book. As long as you aren't touching my network anyhow.

 

[Epsil0n00]

LOL, yeah... well, when I start running the "SNMP brute force attack" utility and the "WAN Killer" we'll see just how much of an assclown I am. So far they have sounded way too itimidating to even mess around with.

 

[nweaver]

I have used the trial versions a few times (I am trying to convince my manger that yes, we need them!!. They are a very nice set, and it takes quite a few opensource programs to replace the suite. MRTG, NTOP, and Ethereal are a good start for someone who can't convince their company to buy the Solarwinds suite. The learning curve is (imho) much higher for the opensource stuff.


Only run Wankiller against management machines when you are trying to convince them of an ISP change :evil:

 

[Epsil0n00]

Originally posted by: nweaver
I have used the trial versions a few times (I am trying to convince my manger that yes, we need them!!. They are a very nice set, and it takes quite a few opensource programs to replace the suite. MRTG, NTOP, and Ethereal are a good start for someone who can't convince their company to buy the Solarwinds suite. The learning curve is (imho) much higher for the opensource stuff.


Only run Wankiller against management machines when you are trying to convince them of an ISP change :evil:

Thanks for the feedback--I am hoping that with some learning I will find these tools invaluable. I think the motivation came from overloaded LAN and WAN interfaces and the need to "see what is happening on the network." I didn't have much input into the purchase decision; the software just showed up one day... so I really hope that it is worth the money!

Fortunately I shouldn't need to use WANKiller to convince my boss of the ISP switch... we recently just put in a 7MB DSL connection (which has been completely unreliable thanks to QWest's 'fabulous' service). Now we are seriously looking at upgrading our T1 to a "Burst enabled DS3" - 3MB floor synchronous, burst upto like 45MB when needed. That will rock if we get that service!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Epsil0n00

Originally posted by: nweaver
I have used the trial versions a few times (I am trying to convince my manger that yes, we need them!!. They are a very nice set, and it takes quite a few opensource programs to replace the suite. MRTG, NTOP, and Ethereal are a good start for someone who can't convince their company to buy the Solarwinds suite. The learning curve is (imho) much higher for the opensource stuff.


Only run Wankiller against management machines when you are trying to convince them of an ISP change :evil:

Thanks for the feedback--I am hoping that with some learning I will find these tools invaluable. I think the motivation came from overloaded LAN and WAN interfaces and the need to "see what is happening on the network." I didn't have much input into the purchase decision; the software just showed up one day... so I really hope that it is worth the money!

Fortunately I shouldn't need to use WANKiller to convince my boss of the ISP switch... we recently just put in a 7MB DSL connection (which has been completely unreliable thanks to QWest's 'fabulous' service). Now we are seriously looking at upgrading our T1 to a "Burst enabled DS3" - 3MB floor synchronous, burst upto like 45MB when needed. That will rock if we get that service!

Careful about those burstable services....they present a variable expense. But for most purposes they are great.