Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

Two key metrics that often come up in discussions about network performance are throughput and goodput. While these terms may seem similar, they highlight different aspects of your network’s efficiency and misunderstanding them can lead to poor decision-making that can impact the way you manage your network and your business’ resources.

Have you ever been in the middle of an important video call, only for it to glitch or freeze out of nowhere? Or did an application suddenly slow down right when you needed it most? These frustrating moments can often be caused by something hidden in the background: packet bursts. But what exactly are packet bursts, and why do these sudden surges in data traffic catch you off guard when your network seems steady? Are they just random spikes in the data flow, or is there something deeper causing them?

Are you tired of constantly dropping calls or struggling to hear your loved ones on the other end of the line? Fear not, because we're here to talk about the one thing that can make or break your VoIP experience: MOS score. No, we're not talking about the fuzzy creature from Star Wars - we're talking about the Mean Opinion Score, the nifty little metric that can help you measure and improve the quality of your VoIP calls.

As a network admin, you're probably all too familiar with the importance of your network switches. These devices keep the heart of your network beating by connecting various devices, from computers to printers, and ensuring data flows smoothly. However, switches, like any hardware, come with their own set of issues that can disrupt productivity and cause headaches if not addressed promptly.

In the fast-paced realm of IT businesses, it's easy to overlook the intricate web that powers your operations – your network infrastructure. Let's face it, most enterprises only give it the attention it deserves when something goes wrong. And by then, the issue has often snowballed into a full-blown crisis.

As network admins, we know that routers are the lifeblood of any network. They’re the unsung heroes, routing data from your internal systems to external destinations like the Internet. When routers are performing at their best, everything flows smoothly. But when they’re overloaded, misconfigured, or simply not up to snuff, your network’s performance and security are at risk.

In the world of network monitoring, SNMP is the tried-and-true protocol that’s been helping IT teams monitor device health for decades. Whether you're managing switches, routers, firewalls, or access points, SNMP Device Monitoring remains one of the most widely used methods for tracking device performance and status. At Obkio, one of the most common questions we hear from prospects is: “Do you offer SNMP device monitoring?” The short answer: Yes, absolutely.

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head over UDP packet loss? You're not alone. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a go-to for streaming, gaming, and VoIP, but when packets start going AWOL, it can spell trouble for your network's performance. Imagine you're in the middle of an important VoIP call, a critical online gaming session, or a live video stream, and suddenly things get choppy or laggy—that's UDP packet loss rearing its ugly head.

If you manage an enterprise network, then you’ve definitely come across MPLS. Although many businesses rely on MPLS technology for large, high performing networks, they can suffer from network problems, like network congestion, that can impact user experience. Monitoring MPLS using a Network Monitoring tool is key to identifying and solving network issues that impact MPLS performance.