# Tech Topics

*The network monitoring industry is full of its own subjects. However, we have compiled a list of the most common terms in today's network monitoring vocabulary.*

| Topic | Description | Supporting Feature |
|---|---|---|
| [Application Delivery Controller](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/application-delivery-controller.html) | An application delivery controller (ADC) acts as a load balancer, and manages and monitors the requests and responses between clients and web servers. | [Server Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/server-monitoring.html)<br>[Service Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/service-monitoring.html)<br>[Process Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/process-monitoring.html) |
| [Bare-Metal Hypervisor](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/bare-metal-hypervisor.html) | Hypervisors that run directly on physical hardware, facilitating efficient, reliable and secure deployment of virtual systems, are refered to as bare-metal hypervisors. | [Hypervisor Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/hyperv-monitoring.html) |
| [CPU Ready](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/cpu-ready.html) | CPU Ready is the amount of time during which a VM is ready to use CPU, but was unable to schedule physical CPU time because the host CPU resources were busy. This value can be used to measure the performance of virtual machines in your network. | [VM Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/virtual-machine-monitoring.html)<br>[Hardware Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/hardware-monitoring.html) |
| [Disk Array](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/disk-array.html) | Disk arrays are dedicated storage systems comprised of a group of disks working together to achieve a higher data transfer rate than conventional storage devices. | [Storage Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-monitoring.html)<br>[Capacity Forecasting and planning](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-capacity-forecasting-planning.html)<br>[SAN Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/san-monitoring.html) |
| [HDD vs. SDD](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/hdd-vs-ssd.html) | A comparative study of two major types of storage devices, in terms of performance, speed, reliability, and security. | [Storage Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-monitoring.html) |
| [How to prevent VM Sprawl?](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/how-to-prevent-vm-sprawl.html) | A VM sprawl occurs when virtual machines increase in number uncontrollably, exceeding the management capacity of the IT environment | [VM Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/virtual-machine-monitoring.html) |
| [Hyperthreading](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/hyperthreading.html) | Hperthreading is a revolutionary innovation by Intel, that allows a processor core to run more than one thread, essentially meaning that more work can be done in parallel. | [CPU Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/cpu-monitoring.html)<br>[Process Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/process-monitoring.html) |
| [IaaS](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/infrastructure-as-a-service.html) | Infrastructure-as-a-service is a cloud-based resource provisioning model that allows companies to outsource their network infrastructure over the internet, essentially eliminating the need for maintaining on-premise hardware. | [Cloud Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/it-operations-management/cloud-monitoring.html) |
| [IOPS](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/iops-and-storage-performance.html) | IOPS is a measure of the number of read/write operations a storage device can perform in a second. It is the standard against which most vendors measure the storage performance. | [Storage Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-monitoring.html) |
| [Layer-2 Protocols](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/layer-2-protocols.html) | Layer 2 protocols are a list of communication protocols used by Layer 2 devices (such as network interface cards (NIC), switches, multiport bridges, etc.) to transfer data in a wide area network, or between one node to another in a local area network. | [Network Monitor](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-performance-monitoring.html) |
| [MTBF, MTTF, MTTR](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/mtbf-mttf-mttr.html) | Network administrators need to measure the efficiency of the network to keep it running smoothly. This measurement is done on the basis of three main metrics; Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time To Failure (MTTF), and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR). This helps admins in incident management and therefore ensure continuous availability of devices. | [Network Availability Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/availability-monitoring.html)<br>[Forecasting](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/forecasting-performance-trends.html)<br>[Third-Party Integrations](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/integration.html) |
| [Network Diagrams](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-diagrams.html) | Network diagrams are a visual representation of your network unrestricted by geographical and topological barriers. They help with managing complex networks by mapping links, connections and dependencies between the devices in your network. | [Network Visualization](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-visualization.html) |
| [Network Monitoring Metrics](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-monitoring-metrics.html) | Network monitoring metrics are measurements used to assess network availability, CPU usage, network latency and network health. Monitoring these metrics ManageEngine OpManager ensures proactive management, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency. | [Network Performance Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-tools.html) |
| [Network Optimization](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-optimization.html) | Network optimization entails proactive monitoring and automated responses to potential network issues, often arising from new technologies and remote work. | [Network Performance Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-performance-monitoring.html) |
| [Network Packet Loss](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-packet-loss.html) | Packet loss is when a device sends a particular amount (or "packets") of data through the network and a considerable portion of the data is lost or "dropped" by the devices along the route. So this means, any data that was sent over the network would not reach the destination device completely. | [Availability Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/availability-monitoring.html)<br>[Network Assessment Tools](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-assessment-tools.html)<br>[Network Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-tools.html) |
| [Network Protocols](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-protocols.html) | Network protocols are a set of rules, conventions, and data structures that dictate how devices exchange data across networks. In other words, network protocols can be equated to languages that two devices must understand for seamless communication of information, regardless of their infrastructure and design disparities. | [Network Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-tools.html) |
| [Network Resilience](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-resilience.html) | Resilience is the ability of a network to handle disruptions and continue offering its services to users at an acceptable standard. Highly resilient networks can prevent downtimes due to misconfigurations, power outages, or operator errors by restoring network operations as and when they go down. | [Network Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-tools.html)<br>[High Availability](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/high-availability-monitoring.html)<br>[Load Balancing](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/load-balancer-monitoring.html)<br>[Adaptive Thresholds](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/adaptive-thresholds.html)<br>[Automated Workflows](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/it-workflow-automation.html)<br>[Root Cause Analysis](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/root-cause-analysis.html) |
| [Network Routing](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-routing.html) | Routers helps your network components select the best network path from the available choices. This makes network communication efficient and reliable. This process is called routing | [Availability Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/availability-monitoring.html)<br>[Router Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/router-monitoring.html)<br>[Network Performance Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-performance-monitoring.html)<br>[Network Topology Mapping](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-topology-mapper.html)<br>[Bandwidth Management](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/bandwidth-monitoring.html)<br>[Adaptive Thresholds](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/adaptive-thresholds.html)<br>[Capacity Planning](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-capacity-forecasting-planning.html)<br>[IP SLA Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/ip-sla-monitoring.html) |
| [Network Topology](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/network-topology.html) | A topology is a layout of a network, which determines how the network communicates with different devices. Both the physical and logical structure of nodes and connections in a network are shown in a network topology diagram | [Network Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-tools.html)<br>[Network Mapping](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-mapping.html)<br>[Network Topology Software](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-diagram-software.html)<br>Layer2 Maps<br>Business Views<br>Virtual Topology Maps<br>3D Floor and Rack Views<br>Google/Zoho Maps |
| [RAID Configurations](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/raid-configurations.html) | A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a reliable way to improve the performance and reliability of servers, by storing data using a collection of multiple drives. This improves redundancy and ensures data backup and safety in case of accidents or data loss. | [Storage Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-monitoring.html)<br>[RAID Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-raid-management.html)<br>[Network Visualization](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-visualization.html)<br>[Network Health Monitor](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-health-monitor.html) |
| [Route Flapping](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/route-flapping.html) | Route flapping is a networking issue where the state of a router constantly fluctuates within a short period of time. Arising due to misconfigurations, the underlying dynamic routing architecture, or even due to the multitude of routers in a network, route flapping can drastically disrupt normal netwprk functionality if left unmanaged. | [Network Path Analysis](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-path-analysis.html)<br>[Router Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/router-monitoring.html) |
| [SAN vs NAS](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/san-vs-nas.html) | A comparative study of the two major types of storage networks used in an enterprise environment in terms of architecture, performance, scalability, management and economic efficiency. | [Real-time Planning](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/real-time-network-monitoring.html)<br>[Capacity Planning](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-capacity-forecasting-planning.html)<br>[Automated Alerts](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-monitoring-alerts.html) |
| [SD-WAN](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/sd-wan.html) | SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a type of networking technology that uses software-defined networking (SDN) principles to manage and optimize the performance of wide area networks (WANs). | [Meraki Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/cisco-meraki-monitoring.html)<br>[Hardware Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/hardware-monitoring.html) |
| [SLA Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/sla-monitoring.html) | A service level agreement (SLA) is an agreement regarding the level of quality that is to be delivered by a service provider, to a customer. SLA Monitoring is the process of measuring and analyzing the metrics associated with the given service, so as to calculate whether or not the service level meets the agreed standard. | [IP SLA Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/ip-sla-monitoring.html)<br>[VoIP Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/voip-monitor.html)<br>[Network Fault Management](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-fault-management.html)<br>[Root Cause Analysis](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/root-cause-analysis.html)<br>[Network Traffic Analysis](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-traffic-analysis.html)<br>[Integrations](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/integration.html) |
| [Software Defined Data Center](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/software-defined-data-center.html) | An SDDC is a new approach to managing data centers, by utilizing the concept of virtualization to pool resources and allocate them on the basis of the needs of the network. | [Automated Discovery](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-device-discovery.html)<br>[Adaptive Thresholds](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/adaptive-thresholds.html)<br>[Root Cause Analysis](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/root-cause-analysis.html)<br>[Workflow Automation](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/it-workflow-automation.html)<br>[Integrations](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/integration.html) |
| [Spanning Tree Protocol](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/spanning-tree-protocol.html) | Switch loops (also called bridge loops) and broadcast storms are common complications among layer 2 devices. A spanning tree protocol is used to eliminate these issues, while also adding to the redundancy and fault tolerance of the network. | [STP Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/spanning-tree-protocol.html) |
| [Storage Pools and LUNs](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/storage-pools-and-luns.html) | A storage pool is formed by clustering the storage capacity of separate disks and physical resources, to be utilized in a storage environment. Storage pools are separated into units of different sizes, for specific purposes, and each unit is given a unique identifier called the logical unit number (LUN). | [Storage Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-monitoring.html)<br>[RAID Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/storage-raid-management.html) |
| [Switching Loops](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/switching-loops.html) | Switching loops occur when network switches are connected together in such a way that network traffic loops around infinitely instead of traversing the hops needed to travel from source to destination. | [Switch Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/switch-monitoring.html)<br>[Switch Port Mapping](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/3com-switch-port-monitoring.html)<br>[STP Monitoring](https://www.manageengine.com/network-monitoring/help/spanning-tree-protocol.html) |
| [VLAN vs VXLAN](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/vxlan-vs-vlan.html) | VLAN (Virtual LAN) is a technology that divides a physical network into multiple logical networks, while VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) is a network virtualization technology that extends VLANs across data centers or cloud environments using encapsulation. | [LAN Monitoring](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/lan-monitoring.html) |
| [What is Network Visualization?](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/tech-topics/what-is-network-visualization.html) | Network visualization tools help you monitor and administer complex, distributed networks with the help of charts & graphs, business views and dashboards. | [Network Visualization](https://manageengine.com/network-monitoring/network-visualization.html) |