subject: Using Scalability to Work with Network Changes [print this page] Using Scalability to Work with Network Changes
Technology changes quickly, especially in the infrastructure and networking field. The way you implemented your system six months ago is probably quite different than the way it is now. In order to meet the needs of your network and its users, the network must constantly grow in order to maintain successful operation and meet demand.
As such, when your network expands, you want your network management solution to be user friendly and scalable. It's important to ensure that the tools can grow with the network and trouble shoot network issues. This is especially true when spending big bucks for network software because you want assurance that the software will grow with you.
Scalability means having the ability to monitor your network even when your own performance management platform goes down. It would be an embarrassment if you couldn't properly monitor your network because of equipment failure or some other reason beyond your control. Making sure that you have a contingency plan in that scenario is a good ideait will make you look like a superstar if it ever happens.
When dealing with web servers, you want the ability to be able to add web servers without impacting network availability or performance. This is an ideal way to set up your infrastructure so that problems not web-related can be isolated. After all, you don't want your users and perhaps colleagues calling you because they can't bring up a certain web portal or application, do you?
As more applications migrate to the Web, it's best to separate out processes that are resource-heavy and then feed data into your web server. When you are dealing with your own network tools, you can do this as well; giving you increased flexibility and better deployment options.
Having a scalable, flexible network management solution is beneficial to everyone in the organization, even if they aren't aware of it. In fact, if they don't notice anything different, it's better on your end anyway, right?
