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Companies can save time, money, and the odd broken network-induced headache with the right remote network monitoring tools, say analysts.

What's more, there are few drawbacks.

There are many options for remote server monitoring, and a business should select one that best meets its need, says Ross Armstrong, a senior research analyst with London, Ont.-based consulting firm Info-Tech Research Group.

He recommends the technology for companies with more than 15 servers or “small organizations that have a part-time tech who works from home.”

Remote server monitoring tools range from free Web-based sign-up services to low-cost software products to pricier hardware in the form of KVM keyboard-video-mouse) switches.

But Armstrong is leery of free products.

“The first thing that goes through your mind when being offered a free service is ‘what's wrong with it?'” he says. Companies who aren't bringing in money from their users might not offer good support.

Hardware advantages

London-based StarTech.com Ltd. offers a KVM switch that does more than connect multiple monitors to one computer. It enables monitoring and managing of the office network remotely through a Web browser.

“There's a strong case to be made for KVM,” Armstrong says. “With that device you can manage something from anywhere in the world.”

Users can pull up a virtual image of their servers in real time and confirm that their network functions are working – everything from Web access, to e-mail and FTP or custom ports.

The KVM switch also offers greater hands-on ability to troubleshoot network issues from a distance.

You could perform a remote “cold boot,” of the network or access the bios level to attempt debugging in the event of a crash, says StarTech.com Product Manager Paul Lechner.

There's also the ability add virtual devices – such as disk drives – to your network remotely,  he says.

“If you have a server in Hong Kong that needs to be re-imaged because it failed, you can create a virtual drive through a CD-ROM connected to a computer in Canada.” 

The most popular KVM Control Over IP 16-port device costs about $1,500 and supports up to 136 computers, Lechner adds.

Daisy-chaining the devices allows for more computers to be monitored.

Software benefits

Larger companies might need more powerful capabilities than what KVM can provide, Info-Tech's Armstrong says.

He said smaller companies with less complex networks could likely benefit from a software option instead.

Toronto-based uptime software Inc. serves clients around the world with its remote server management software that works across many different operating systems.

The tool monitors the performance of physical and virtual servers and offers other features like capacity planning and reporting.

“It goes very deep on the monitoring and reporting side,” says Nick Johnson, marketing manager at uptime. But it's “not a tool for deploying patches.”

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