Network Device Management Software

Network device management is the process through which you manage and control network devices, from computers, servers, and mobile phones to virtual switches and machines. This includes implementation, operation, and maintenance of all the physical and virtual devices making up the network infrastructure.

Network device management involves installing device firmware and software, configuring devices to make sure they perform as expected, and implementing security measures and processes to enhance device and network security. Network device management can include initial device discovery, device configuration and status monitoring, and continued maintenance of the network inventory. 

Network device management involves a variety of functions, all of which are intended to help you maintain the security and functioning of devices on a network.

Device Discovery: The first step of network device management is discovering all the devices on your network and creating an inventory of them. When performed manually, this is often a labor-intensive task, as it involves continuously updating device information whenever changes occur. However, with a network device manager, you can automate the process and more easily collect and organize device data in an inventory designed to update whenever device information changes.

Configuration Database: Another function of network device management is the creation and upkeep of a configuration management database to track configurations, updates, and end-of-life information for your devices. This can help you plan for device replacements and contract renewals.

Configuration Management and Backups: The key function of network device management is device configuration management. Managing regular configuration backups is critical for device management. Frequent configuration backups can allow you to more quickly recover from service interruptions and security risks caused by failed or unauthorized configuration changes.

Configuration Permissions: Network device management software can download and compare current configs to their previous versions. With quality network device management tools, you can even see who made the change and a visual representation of what changed. This can make it easier to see whether the config changes were authorized and intentional or whether they need to revert to a previous config using a backup.

Configuration Changes: Network device management is designed to help you more easily make and verify large-scale configuration changes. With the help of network device management software, it’s possible to make bulk config changes—even across an entire network—within minutes instead of days or even weeks. 

Network device management is a must for all types and sizes of networks, from small business networks to those of large enterprises. It’s critical for buildings, offices, single or multiple server rooms, and individual or distributed locations. No matter the size of your business, a network device manager is critical for the continued functioning and growth of your network.

When network device management solutions are part of your network management efforts from the start, it can help your business and network grow seamlessly while avoiding costly errors or security issues related to complex device configurations or network architecture.

Instead of needing to constantly manage and update huge, unwieldy spreadsheets of device information, you can use network device management software to automatically create and update your network device inventory. If you foresee any growth for your business, it makes sense to invest in quality network device management software.

Managing multiple network devices without automation can be time-consuming and unreliable. If you’re still unsure about whether network device management makes sense for you, ask yourself these questions:

1. Have you ever needed to recover a failed device using a saved config only to realize it isn’t available?
2. Do you frequently troubleshoot network faults only to find configs have changed without your knowledge?
3. Do you ever need to make extensive config changes for a VOIP or TACACS project but don’t have weeks to make and verify changes?

If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, then having a network device management solution may make sense for you. A network device management tool can help you automatically back up configs, so you can quickly recover failed devices, keep track of config changes, and make bulk config changes.

Network device management can save you time and money while keeping your network devices running.

Configuration change detection is another key purpose of network device management. Trying to manually check configuration changes can be time-consuming, especially in networks with a variety of network admins, users, and operators, all of whom can make config changes. Without manually checking each change, you may have no way of knowing if the changes were authorized or successful.

Detecting changes is important for identifying whether a configuration change has created issues and for discovering whether unauthorized config changes have been made. These unauthorized changes can create significant and costly security risks if they allow bad actors to gain access to your network.

These elements of network device management help ensure faster troubleshooting when issues arise, as you can quickly see whether there’s been a configuration change and whether it might be at fault for a device performance issue. Faster troubleshooting can also help minimize downtime, which can translate directly into financial savings. 

The main purpose of network device management tools is to manage device configs. This includes performing bulk configuration changes across a network with the help of scripting and templates. It also includes conducting frequent, automated config backups, so you can always restore devices to the most recent functional configuration if an unauthorized configuration change is made or if an intended configuration change fails.

Network device management software can automatically detect changes, providing information on who made the configuration change and where. Since network device management tools automatically perform frequent configuration backups, they can easily compare current configurations to past versions and notify you of any detected changes in real time.

SolarWinds^® Network Configuration Manager is designed to be more than just a powerful network device management solution. It includes a variety of options for automating backups, creating and maintaining inventories, helping you demonstrate compliance, and more. 

The features in NCM features allow you to do the following:

• Set baselines for configurations
• Archive network config change details
• Distribute firmware updates and manage firmware patches
• Undertake compliance audits
• Automate network config tasks, reducing the need to work through the night or take devices offline
• Create a searchable, indexed database of the configurations for all your devices
• Keep track of device life cycles
• Control user access through the dashboard

Here are a few of the additional features included in Network Configuration Manager:

• Multi-Vendor Network Inventory Software: More easily maintain an up-to-date, detailed inventory of all the devices on your network, including information on which devices are operating and their location.
• Automated Network Backups: NCM is built to let you perform automated backups for your network devices, including switches and routers. The tool is designed to cover routers and switches from most vendors, and it even backs up firewall configurations.
• Network Configuration Change Management: The configuration change management feature in NCM helps you make sure configuration changes comply with regulations. Additionally, the tool can help you recover from configuration errors quickly.

Because NCM is built on the SolarWinds Orion^® Platform, it can be used alongside other SolarWinds tools for deeper insights across your network from a single, unified dashboard.