Free Network Tools

Mark Gibbs shares insights into free network tools that an organization should have available.

-DD

Network Monitoring Tools

Paul Venezia suggests free network monitoring tools .

-DD

Perils of Online Speed Tests

Laura Solomon explains the inaccuracies of network speed tests . She also provides tips for documenting normal and abnormal network speed which would be valuable in determining when network capacity is maximized.

-DD

Monitoring Student Internet Use

Taylor Armerding reviews some of the issues that arise with monitoring student Internet use. Armerding cites a report by Jules Polonetsky and Joseph Jerome entitled Student Data: Trust, Transparency and the Right of Consent which addresses "Human Monitoring Services" such as Gaggle. Armerding provides information on proposed governmental regulation of educational institutions to restrict the collection and distribution of data about student technology use.

-DD

Free Network Monitoring Tools

Paul Venezia explores free network monitoring tools that allow the technically savvy to determine when network channels are clogged, what type of traffic is on the network, and so forth. Thus, the seven software packages can be useful for eliminating network slowdowns, thwarting attacks over the network, and so forth.

In order to understand what these tools do, the user needs to be very familiar with TCP/IP and other Internet protocols. It is also valuable to record the results of such diagnostic tools before a problem exists, as this provides a baseline for identifying deviant behavior.

Contention for bandwidth will only increase as more devices are Internet-enabled. Someone will be required to master tools such as these to keep home and office networks functioning.

-DD