Tools for Network Administrator
When it comes to building your tool compartment we all have many select favorites. Numerous instruments come and go but there are those that have stuck around for the long pull. The ones you introduce on modern computers and the ones you keep on a thumb drive, for movability. Below is a list from my toolbox, 7 free tools for Network Administrator.
Putty
My 1# most-used tool. Whether it is consoling, ssh, or telnetting into a switch this is the application ue use. It is lightweight and simple to use. I can log all of my output to a text file which I have written about previously. It also interfaces with SuperPutty if you like using tabs.
Wireshark
This application is handy for troubleshooting networks and applications. With the plethora of options available, you can filter by protocols, IP addresses, and more. Additionally, it makes a great learning resource for understanding TCP/IP communications.
TFTPD32
This application makes it easy to do maintenance tasks such as uploading firmware to network devices and downloading backups of configuration files from network devices. If you have a template configuration file you can also upload them using TFTPD32.
Cacti
This open source tool is used for graphing. It utilizes RRDTool, templates, and data acquisition methods to graph your network. I primarily use it to graph interfaces of my switches and routers.
Rancid
Earlier We were manually backing up my routers and switches configuration files. There were times where I was devastated because a router failed and I had no documentation of it’s configuration. Time was wasted reconfiguring the router. With proper configuration, RANCID will use cron to log into your network hardware and download a copy of it’s latest configuration. This saved my ass so many times. You get plenty of sleep knowing your config files are backed up regularly.
IP Scanner
To see what devices are active on a subnet we can use this tool. You can give it a range or have it scan a subnet and it will let you know if a host was alive on a specific IP address and what hostname was discovered on that IP.
Above are few free network administrator.
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