Windows 10 Network Mapping Tool
Joao Charlesbois
Network mapping tools can be deployed by IT managers as standalone applications to conduct a detailed inventory of their network landscape. Alternatively, network mapping could be a component feature in a multi-functional network management solution that first creates a network map and then aids in other tasks like network monitoring, troubleshooting, and security.
Traditional network mapping tools used to offer a command-line interface (CLI), which enabled control but deterred user experience. One had to memorize different CLI commands to operate the tool. Most network mapping solutions come with graphical user interfaces (GUI), with point-and-click and drag-and-drop functionalities. Advanced network analysis, automations, and report generation happen through the GUI interface. Keep in mind that some organizations may want an optional CLI add-on for greater control.
Network mapping tools help conduct IT inventories, as they evaluate the connected landscape to check for new devices, configuration changes, and other modifications. Users should be able to set the tool up for both on-demand and scheduled reporting. Reports are usually exported in standardized formats like Excel spreadsheets and CSV files. Some tools may even support exporting as diagrams that work with charting tools like Microsoft Visio.
Disclaimer: This list is based on publicly available information and may include vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.
Editorial comments: Cisco Network Assistant not only visualizes the network but also lets users troubleshoot common network issues. However, it only recognizes Cisco components, making it unsuitable for heterogeneous environments.
Overview: 10-Strike is a software company providing network management solutions since 2003. 10-Strike LANState is a simple network topology mapping, host monitoring, and management program.
Editorial comments: 10-Strike LANState is ideal for companies that want a basic tool without recurring costs. However, it is an entry-level tool with limited value-adding functionalities and integrations.
USP: IT managers can access Intermapper from any platform, including Windows, Linux, and Mac. Also, it supports customized alert and escalation workflows to collaboratively solve network issues.
Editorial comments: Intermapper offers a wide range of functionalities at an affordable price. However, the user interface is outdated, and customers have reported that the solution could use a cosmetic facelift.
USP: OpManager is effective as a network troubleshooting tool beyond network mapping. Users can prioritize network faults, start the remediation process, and even automate network actions.
Editorial comments: OpManager is a comprehensive solution for network professionals. However, it uses technical terms and solution-specific phraseology that makes some functionalities difficult to understand.
Overview: Network Olympus is a tool that helps monitor availability, map topology, find bottlenecks, and resolve them to improve uptime. It operates on a lifetime purchase licensing model.
USP: Network Olympus provides flexibility when visualizing the network, including dedicated maps for each floor, drag and drop configurations, building layouts, hierarchical structures, etc.
Editorial comments: It is a well-supported and feature-rich solution. However, it is meant only for network mapping and does not aid in capacity planning, network troubleshooting, and other use cases.
Overview: SolarWinds develops IT management software and remote monitoring tools for enterprises. It offers a standalone network mapping tool to visualize complex network environments.
Editorial comments: It allows users to perform multi-level network mapping, essential for complex environments. However, the initial map-building process takes time and can be resource-intensive.
It's easy! Just use the built-in drag & drop map editor which comes with a large number of device and status icons, symbols, images, and much more out-of-the-box. Or use custom HTML to generate multi-layer maps so that you can drill down through multiple layers to quickly identify the root cause of an issue.
In addition to easy-to-read maps that you can easily create from scratch, PRTG offers monitoring capabilities which you won't find in other, pure network scanning and mapping tools. PRTG maps and dashboards not only show devices and their physical and logical connections, but also deliver actionable information on their status.
Over 500,000 administrators worldwide use PRTG to monitor their server performance, LAN, virtual environments, the accessibility of their websites, and more. PRTG is the best network analysis solution and performance monitoring tool for Windows and supports all important protocols like SNMP, NetFlow, WMI, or Packet Sniffing.
We'll make you a monitoring expert Gain practical knowledge on how to monitor your infrastructure with Paessler PRTG. Our training sessions are planned and provided by Paessler system engineers and are suitable for different experience levels.
Network mapping is the process of visually representing a network's physical and logical connections. It allows network administrators to see how devices and systems interact and helps in organizing and analyzing network data and optimizing the network infrastructure.
Network mapping enhances network management by providing a visual representation of the network's structure, which helps in identifying and resolving network issues quickly. It improves monitoring and troubleshooting by allowing administrators to identify problems, understand data flow and thus optimize the overall network performance.
Using both network mapping and network monitoring helps admins visualize network dependencies and track important performance metrics, leading to more efficient troubleshooting and minimized downtime. This synergy ensures a comprehensive view of the network and enables a proactive management and quicker resolution of issues.
Here are the step-by-step instructions required to use network upload to bulk-import multiple PST files to Microsoft 365 mailboxes. For frequently asked questions about using network upload to bulk-import PST files to Microsoft 365 mailboxes, see FAQs for using network upload to import PST files.
You have to perform Step 1 only once to import PST files to Microsoft 365 mailboxes. After you perform these steps, follow Step 2 through Step 6 each time you want to upload and import a batch of PST files.
If you're not an E5 customer, use the 90-day Microsoft Purview solutions trial to explore how additional Purview capabilities can help your organization manage data security and compliance needs. Start now at the Microsoft Purview compliance portal trials hub. Learn details about signing up and trial terms.
You have to be assigned the Mailbox Import Export role in Exchange Online to create import jobs in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal and import PST files to user mailboxes. By default, this role isn't assigned to any role group in Exchange Online. You can add the Mailbox Import Export role to the Organization Management role group. Or you can create a role group, assign the Mailbox Import Export role, and then add yourself as a member. For more information, see the "Add a role to a role group" or the "Create a role group" sections in Manage role groups.
In addition to the Mailbox Import Export role, you also have to be assigned the Mail Recipients role in Exchange Online. By default, this role is assigned to the Organization Management and Recipient Management roles groups in Exchange Online.
Consider creating a new role group in Exchange Online that's specifically intended for importing PST files. For the minimum level of privileges required to import PST files, assign the Mailbox Import Export and Mail Recipients roles to the new role group, and then add members.
The only supported method for importing PST files to Microsoft 365 is to use the AzCopy tool, as described in this article. You can't use the Azure Storage Explorer to upload PST files directly to the Azure Storage area.
This procedure involves copying and saving a copy of a URL that contains an access key. This information will be used in Step 2 to upload your PST files, and in Step 3 if you want to view a list of the PST files uploaded to Microsoft 365. Be sure to take precautions to protect this URL like you would protect passwords or other security-related information. For example, you might save it to a password-protected Microsoft Word document or to an encrypted USB drive. See the More information section for an example of this combined URL and key.
You can import PST files to an inactive mailbox in Microsoft 365. You do this by specifying the GUID of the inactive mailbox in the Mailbox parameter in the PST Import mapping file. See Step 4 on the Instructions tab in this article for information.
In an Exchange hybrid deployment, you can import PST files to a cloud-based archive mailbox for a user whose primary mailbox is on-premises. You do this by doing the following in the PST Import mapping file:
After PST files are imported, the retention hold setting for the mailbox is turned on for an indefinite duration. This means that the retention policy assigned to the mailbox won't be processed until you turn off the retention hold or set a date to turn off the hold. Why do we do this? If messages imported to a mailbox are old, they might be permanently deleted (purged) because their retention period has expired based on the retention settings configured for the mailbox. Placing the mailbox on retention hold gives the mailbox owner time to manage these newly imported messages or give you time to change the retention settings for the mailbox. See the More information section in this article for suggestions about managing the retention hold.
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