See your network and identify traffic hogs, then work out traffic shaping measures. Auvik EDITOR’S CHOICE This cloud-based network monitoring system includes an automated network discovery, documentation, and mapping service that is constantly updated.Here is our list of the best network mapping and topology software: The tools on offer range from rudimentary maps that are backed by automatically-collected inventories to sophisticated topology graphics tools that do not have any autodiscovery capabilities. Many network performance monitoring software include some level of network mapping, drawing or diagram functionality that usually includes autodiscovery of the devices connected to the network. unless you like to generate lots of redundant and uninformitive Visio diagrams.Having a good network diagram gives you a bird’s eye view of what’s going on which is great for troubleshooting problems, planning ahead, and staying on top of network changes. I tried Microsoft's Active Directory Topology Diagrammer, and unless I'm doin' it wrong it was a waste of time. I just can't find anything I like, and don't have a lot of time to test. I don't need to get too deep into things like firmware revisions of switches, but basic SNMP details should suffice. I'm looking for things than can dump basic hardware configs of servers (drive sizes, RAM, basic processor), AD roles, IP's, etc. I've tried a host of freebies, but any rec's on reasonably inexpensive and straight-forward network discovery / topology tools are appreciated. Quite often I don't have a lot of time to do this. So, I'm often on my own to decipher how a small or medium sized infrastructure is put together and what the member servers and devices are doing, usually windows, but not exclusive to. I do mostly consulting and contract support right now, and more often than not and I can't trust the competence of the IT depts I work with.

Lansweeper vs network topology mapper