Next to your network hardware, your network router software and network switch software are the most important components of your company's network. Making sure that your software is current helps keep your network safe from hacker attacks and gives your network personnel the tools they need to maximize performance and reliability.
There are three essential types of switch and router software you need to consider in order to get the best performance from your network:
1. Firmware resides on your router, switch or other network devices, providing increased efficiency and bug fixes for the device.
2. Network monitoring software gives your IT staff a means to know how the network performs at any given moment.
3. Wireless router software manages your wireless network infrastructure and secures your wireless network.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Acquire and effectively use manufacturer firmware to keep network equipment running smoothly
More and more it's becoming important that the programs running on network equipment be updated as frequently as programs running on PCs. Firmware updates provide fixes to known problems and help protect against various threats, from viruses to Denial of Service Attacks.
I recommend: Get the
Cisco IOS Feature Pack to keep your Cisco network equipment firmware current. Consider the Cisco IOS Advanced IP Services with SSH package from
CDW if your network utilizes SSH technology in its computer switch software.
Manage network infrastructure with remote console switch software
In addition to having the correct software on each individual piece of network equipment, you need PC router software that can give you the big picture of your network, identify performance issues and monitor for network equipment alarms.
I recommend: SolarWinds gives you the big network picture. It provides configuration management, bandwidth and network performance monitoring, discovery and fault management tools. OpManager from
AdventNet is another type of switch and router management software with comprehensive fault and performance management across WAN, servers, applications and all other IT infrastructure.
Trust wireless switch and router management tools for your wireless network
While traditional switch and router software is great for hard-wired switches, wireless switches and routers require management software with extra features. Software for network switch and routers in wireless environments should be able to manage access point bandwidth, for example. Make sure you're getting the most from your wireless network by using wireless router software.
I recommend: Use the
D-Link DS-510S SNMP Network Management system to manage a mixed wireless and wired network. Consider
AirWave to manage a solely-wireless network of any size, from just a few wireless switches to tens of thousands of wireless network devices.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Make sure that the switch and router software you purchase is compatible with your particular brand and model of network equipment for maximum efficiency.
The official source of Switch and Router Software is
the Switch and Router Software page at Business.com
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