3Com CoreBuilder 3500, Implementation Manual

Page: 543 / 592

Remote Monitoring (RMON) 543
RMON Benefits From a network management console, traditional network management
applications poll network devices such as switches, bridges, and routers
at regular intervals. The console gathers statistics, identifies trends, and
highlights network events. The console polls network devices constantly
to determine if the network is within its normal operating conditions.
As network size and traffic levels grow, however, the network
management console can become overburdened by the amount of data
it must collect. Frequent console polling also generates significant
network traffic that itself can create problems for the network.
The RMON implementation in your system offers solutions to both of
these problems:
■
The system examines the network without affecting the characteristics
and performance of the network.
■
The system can report by exception rather than by reporting constant
or frequent information. That is, the system informs the network
management console directly if the network enters an abnormal state.
The console can then use more information gathered by the system,
such as historical information, to diagnose the abnormal condition.