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Knowledge Center > ipMonitor 8.5 Administrator's Guide
Network Scan Wizard

ipMonitor includes a Network Scan Wizard that queries a range of IP addresses and recommends resources to monitor.

Potential Monitors that can be added are based on the types of resources detected. Although recommended Monitors can be summarily added to an installation, further customizations can also be made by using the Add Server Wizard directly from within the Network Scan feature.

The Network Scan Wizard makes it easy to:

  • Quickly add all recommended Monitors to your installation.
  • Pick and choose individual Monitors to add to your installation.
  • Add entire Groups of Monitors to your installation.

Features include:

  • Control over the discovery methods ipMonitor uses to perform the Network Scan.
  • Control over the range of IP addresses that will be scanned.
  • The ability to add non-standard ports to the list of ports that ipMonitor will probe.
  • The ability to navigate through the list of returned items using the Add Server Wizard's tree-like structure, which provides a visual representation of the server or device.
  • The ability to use cached scan results to add Monitors and Groups to your installation over a period of time.
  • The ability to exclude servers, workstations and devices from the list of resources that will be scanned when the Network Scan Wizard recommends Monitors to add to your installation.

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Network Scan Execution Mode

To initiate a scan of your network, click the Scan Network button located on the Monitors submenu bar.

The first screen of the Network Scan Wizard presents a list of three Execution Modes. Select the Mode you wish to use when running the Network Scan Wizard:

Discover Network Resources
If this is the first time the Network Scan has been run on your installation, you'll be able to set initial Discovery Parameters, such as the IP address range to scan, SNMP Communities, Credentials and non-standard Ports. If the Network Scan Wizard was previously run on this installation, you'll be able to update the existing configuration parameters and scan result data before adding new Groups and Monitors.

Note: When running the Network Scan Wizard for the first time, this is the only option that will be selectable.

Add New Groups and Monitors Using Existing Scan Results
The Network Scan Wizard caches the results of the last Network Scan, allowing you to add Monitors and Groups over a period of time without the need to rediscover the entire network each time the wizard is used. This can result in considerable time savings when large networks or many resources are involved.

Selecting this option allows you to skip the Network Scan configuration screen entirely and return to the list of previously scanned IP Addresses. From there, you can quickly and easily add additional Monitors to your installation based on the resources detected during the previous Network Scan process.

Reset Scan Data
Select this option to purge all previous scan results and reset the Discovery Parameters to their default values. This allows you to initiate a brand new scan of your network and rediscover resources based on configuration parameters you specify.

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Step 1 : Discovery Parameters

The Discovery Parameters page allows you to configure the settings that control the discovery process. This screen will be displayed when the Network Scan Wizard is run in one of the following Execution Modes:

  • Update Existing Scan Results
  • Run a New Scan

Find IP Addresses

The IP Address Ranges section is used to define the range of IP addresses ipMonitor will scan. If resources that fall outside of the specified IP addresses are detected, these settings will prevent ipMonitor from scanning neighboring ranges or networks.

  • Range Start (inclusive) specifies the starting address of the IP Address Range.
  • Range Stop (inclusive) specifies the ending address of the IP Address Range.

Note: The values specified in the Range Start and Range Stop fields are "inclusive", indicating that the IP addresses entered will also be scanned.

  • The Add... button allows you to define additional ranges of IP addresses that will be scanned by the Network Scan Wizard.

Note: If you enter an inverted IP Address Range that would result in a negative number of IP Addresses being scanned, ipMonitor will automatically correct the error and proceed with the scan as though the IP addresses had been properly entered.

Use DNS
ipMonitor will contact the local DNS server to retrieve DNS Zone information, which will then be used to build a list of IP addresses to scan.

Use ICMP/PING
ipMonitor will use ICMP/PING to locate machines or devices on the network using the IP Address Range defined.

Note: Only machines that return a valid response will be listed in the scan result set.

Use SNMP
ipMonitor will interrogate the IP addresses specified in the IP Address Ranges fields to check for SNMP-enabled applications, machines and devices located within the scan range.

Use Credentials

Credential for Scanning
Assigning a Credential for Scanning is an optional setting. If you wish to take advantage of ipMonitor's security model, you can provide a Credential to have the Network Scan Wizard impersonate an account with the privileges required to access remote resources. When the Network Scan Wizard connects to a resource that requires authentication, it will use the Credential's account and password information to authenticate.

Note: You can use the Add button to assign multiple Credentials to the Network Scan Wizard:

  • If multiple Credentials have the same permission levels, only one Credential will be used to access the remote resource.
  • If one Credential has greater permissions than another, that Credential will be used to access the remote resource.

If a Credential is not assigned, ipMonitor will use the current account privileges of the ipMonitor Service on the local machine.

To select a Credential:

  • Click the Select button to pop up the Credentials for Scanning dialog.
  • Select an existing Credential from the Windows category.
  • To create a new Credential, click the New Credential button to start the Wizard.

Note: For more information about Credentials, refer to About Credentials.

SNMP Interrogation

SNMP Community
If Use SNMP is enabled, ipMonitor will attempt to connect to applications, machines and devices on port 161 in order to interrogate them using the list of SNMP Community strings you provide.

SNMP Community strings act like passwords for SNMP information. When ipMonitor issues a SNMP Get-Next command to an SNMP Agent, it sends out the SNMP Community string. If the Community string is correct, the SNMP Agent processes the request and returns results for analysis. SNMP default communities are:

  • Private (Read / Write)
  • Public (Read Only)

Some SNMP Agents are configured to use non-default Community strings. This is typically done to improve SNMP security, often in conjunction with a non-standard SNMP Port.

Custom or Non-Standard Ports

ipMonitor contains an internal list of standard TCP Ports it will automatically detect that correspond with its list of Monitors. Any number of Non-Standard Ports can be added by clicking the Add a Custom Port button.

Resources detected when scanning these non-standard Ports will result in TELNET Monitors being displayed within the Add Server wizard corresponding to that server. These Monitors can be added to your installation at any time.

The Discovery screen indicates progress as the Network Scan Wizard attempts to discover servers, workstations, devices and Services located on your network. The Network Scan Status Messages window updates with detailed feedback as each step of the Network Scan process is completed.

  • The Cancel button allows you to stop the Network Scan process.
  • The Refresh button allows you to restart the Network Scan process.

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Step 2: Add New Monitors

The Add New Monitors screen is used to select resources to monitor from those detected by the Network Scan Wizard. Although recommended Monitors can be summarily added to an installation, the Add Server Wizard is seamlessly integrated into this step, allowing a user to manually choose the Monitors to be created. This ability provides administrators with maximum control over the Monitors that will be added to an installation.

The Network Scan Status Messages window located at the top of the screen updates to show the ongoing progress of the Network Scan Wizard as it probes servers, devices and workstations it discovered.

Excluded Workstations / Servers / Devices
This section allows you to exclude servers, workstations and devices from the list of resources that will be scanned when the Network Scan Wizard recommends Monitors to add to your installation.

Note: The first time you run the Network Scan Wizard, this section will be empty. To manually exclude resources on your network from being automatically scanned, place a checkmark in the box adjacent to individual machine names or IP addresses listed in the Found Addresses section, and then click the Exclude button.

Include
To add excluded servers, workstations and devices to the list of resources to be scanned automatically by the Network Scan Wizard, place a checkmark in the checkbox adjacent to the machine name or IP address you wish to move back to the Found Addresses list, then click the Include button.

Add Server Wizard
The Add Server Wizard button allows you to launch the Add Server Wizard and manually query the server or device listed for possible Monitors that can be added.

You can use the Add Server Wizard to:

  • Scan a server or device to determine what resources can be monitored.
  • Navigate the list of results using the Wizard's tree-like structure.
  • Add individual Monitors or Groups of Monitors to your installation.

Note: For more information about the Add Server Wizard, refer to the Add Server Wizard section of the Administration Guide.

Found Addresses
Resources discovered on your network will be listed in this section by machine name and/or IP address. The following information will also be available for each resource:

  • Its current scan state (added, scanning, scanned or queued).
  • The number of days that have passed since it was last scanned.
  • The total number of Monitors the Network Scan recommends adding to your installation.

In addition, you'll also be able to access the Add Server Wizard from within this section for each server or device listed.

Select Items
To add items to your selection, place a checkmark in the checkbox adjacent to the machine name or IP address. You can also use the Select Items drop-down to select multiple items at once:

  • Select All 'Scanned' - Select all items that have previously been scanned by the Network Scan Wizard.
  • Select All 'Added' - Select all items marked as containing Monitors that have previously been added to your installation.
  • Select All - Select all listed items.
  • Select None - Clear the selection checkbox for all listed items.

Exclude
To ensure that the Network Scan Wizard will not automatically scan a particular server or device in the future, use the Exclude button. The resource will be automatically moved to the Excluded Workstations / Servers / Devices section of the screen, where it will remain until all Network Scan data is discarded and a brand new scan is initiated.

Rescan
The Rescan button allows you to rescan selected servers or devices without performing a full rescan of the entire network:

  • Rescan Selected Items - Rescan all previously selected servers and devices.
  • Rescan Items older than "X" days - Rescan only servers and devices that have not been scanned in longer than "x" days. Enter a numerical value in the blank field to indicate the number of days.

Delete
The Delete button allows you to remove resources from the Found Addresses list.

Note: Deleted resources will be re-detected upon a Rescan. To ensure that particular servers and devices are not scanned in the future, move them to the Excluded Workstations / Servers / Devices section.

State
Network resources detected by the Network Scan Wizard are tagged with one of four possible states:

  • Added - The server or device contains Monitors that have previously been added to your installation.
  • Scanned - The server or device has been scanned by the Network Scan Wizard, but no Monitors have yet been added to your installation.
  • Scanning - The server or device is currently being scanned by the Network Scan Wizard.
  • Queued - The server or device is in line to be scanned by the Network Scan Wizard.

Note: The graphical icon located to the left of the machine name or IP address will also change based on the current state of the server or device.

Days Since Scan
The number of days that have passed since the server or device was previously scanned.

Recommended
The Network Scan Wizard recommends Monitors to add to your installation based on the types of resources detected. The number shown in the Recommended column indicates how many Monitors will be added to your installation if you choose to create all the recommended Monitors as suggested by ipMonitor.

Modify
The Modify button allows you to launch the Add Server Wizard. You can then navigate through the list of returned items using the Add Server Wizard's tree-like structure, which provides a visual representation of the server or device. From there, you can manually customize your Monitor selection and add Monitors to your installation based on the resources you select.

Note: For more information about the Add Server Wizard, refer to the Add Server Wizard section of the Administration Guide.

Once you've finished adding Monitors to your installation using the Add Server Wizard, you'll be returned to this step of the Network Scan Wizard to continue creating new Monitors for other resources on your network.

Stop / Start
The Stop button instructs the Network Scan Wizard to stop scanning servers and devices. Once the Network Scan Wizard is stopped, the Stop button will toggle to Start. Click the Start button to resume scanning network resources from the location where the Network Scan was halted.

Back
Click the Back button to return to the Discovery Parameters screen.

Exit
Click the Exit button to leave the Network Scan Wizard without adding any new Groups and Monitors to your installation.

Create [x] Monitors
The Create [x] Monitors button will update to show the number of recommended Monitors that will be added to your installation based on the servers or devices you select.

Note: This number only applies to recommended Monitors that will be automatically added to your installation. Monitors added through the manual use of the Add Server Wizard will not be included.

When you've selected all the servers and devices for which you wish to add suggested Monitors, click the Create [x] Monitors button to proceed to the next step.

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Step 3: Create Monitors and Groups

This step allows you to confirm the new Monitors and Groups that will be added to your installation.

The Summary of New Groups and Monitors screen allows you to verify the new Groups and Monitors that will be added to your installation. To make changes to your selected items, click the Back button located at the bottom of the screen.

The information box located below the list of new Groups and Monitors displays a summary of the actions that will be taken by the Network Scan and their effects on your installation. The information displayed includes:

  • The number of additional Monitors that can be created under your existing license plan.
  • The number of Monitors that will be created.
  • The number of Groups that will be created.

Monitor Naming Convention
When the new Monitors are created, their default names will all follow the naming convention specified here. However, Monitor names may be changed at any time from the Edit Monitor screen, or by using the Mass Edit feature.

Four options are available:

  1. GROUPNAME | INSTANCE | TYPE
    For example: 10.1.2.3 | IIS Admin | Service
  2. INSTANCE | GROUPNAME | TYPE
    For example: IIS Admin | 10.1.2.3 | Service
  3. INSTANCE | TYPE
    For example: IIS Admin | Service
  4. INSTANCE | SERVER
    For example: IIS Admin | 10.1.2.3

Monitor Naming Convention Separator
You can further customize Monitor Naming Conventions by choosing one of the separators provided.

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Step 4: Finished Creating New Groups and Monitors

Monitors and Groups have now been added to your ipMonitor configuration.

From here, you can:

  1. Click on a Monitor Name to launch its configuration screen in a new web browser window.
  2. Change configuration settings such as Monitor Name, Test Parameters and Timing.
  3. Enable the Monitor to start monitoring the resource.

There is no need to configure all Monitors and Groups in one session. ipMonitor stores the results of your scan so you can return to the list at a later time.

Note: ipMonitor adds a Tag to every Monitor created using the Network Scan wizard. The Filter option (located on the top bar of the Monitors List) enables you to filter Monitors by scan ID or scan date. For more information about Tags, refer to About Tags.

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Additional Resources

For information on other features and concepts related to those discussed in this article, refer to the following ipMonitor resources:

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Last Updated: March 30, 2007 | What did you think of this topic?

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