Network Monitoring --network traffic, monitoring, and protocols

Discussion began with questions and suggestions on determining the
current state of network devices:

* Update Network infrastructure diagrams
* Update network device map from router to hubs
* Identify hardware pieces, IP addresses, MAC addresses, ethernet
addresses

Implementing software to check the status of network equipment should
include

* Identifying major features
* Identifying limitations on use such as limited to use on subnets
rather than entire network and how monitoring of a switched network is
supported.
* Identify hardware and software requirements
* Determine disk space requirements for historical records
* Determine types of reports generated
* Identify staffing issues (installation, configuration, features
earning, 0n-monitoring)

A variety of software is currently used on our campuses:
* Campus Net (shareware, Mac based, Web server)
* WS Watch 95 (freeware for education)
* Big Brother (Unix based)
* Net X-Ray
* HP Open View (costly but remain major vendor products)
* MRTG (Unix)
* SPALM
* Octivity
* Spectrum Tools
* Network General Tools
* EtherPeek (Mac based)
* Intermapper -- Dartmouth
* MacPing
* NT based network tools
* Back Office network tools

Network security considerations require a determination of the
critically of data and the need for protecting data as it transits the
network.  Software available allows users to sniff packets and collect
data at various points.  There may also be legal requirements, which are
not yet being met.  Some discussion occurred on IP encryption
 Some of the colleges are using or looking into
* SFH -- Secure Shell Access
* SUN -- SKIP free to education; ports for Win 95/NT
* Look@Me  free from Farrallon
* Diagnostic tools to mirror one desktop to another
* ISS--NT free, to check server for limited loopholes

The morning session wound down with a brief discussion on Firewalls.
Some campuses are using SUN firewall products  (recommend use of
Enterprise version not lite version as too limited) others are using
routing and routing tables.