Network Visualisation

Todays network managers and system administrators are challenged by a rapidly growing mass of status information and an increasing volume of data sent through networks. Analysing this data can reveal weaknesses in the performance and security of the system. Performing this task with text-based tools in real time is slow,difficult and inefficient. Preventing overloads in the capacity of connections or taking immediate action on possible attacks is almost impossible, without spending an inappropriate period of time. Network visualisations are powerful if basic rules of data illustration are considered and the information is well prepared. Implementing effective filters, as well as aggregating and averaging information, can reduce the data volume strongly and help to gain a mental map of the network administrators have to manage. Nevertheless, details should be available depending on the users demands. Visualisation tools should support the user in fields of security handling, flow monitoring and the status of the system. Monitoring the system is often only one out of many daily tasks of an (system or network) administrator. Alternative monitoring methods with sound or ambient illustrations can keep the network administrators informed but offer the possibility to focus on other tasks at the same time.