Questions & Answers

How does ScanEngine Explorer differentiate from other network tools?

If a management program already exists that does what you want with devices you possess, use it. But if you have devices not supported by other tools or have a unique function in mind, then ScanEngine Explorer can build what you need[*]. The unique value of ScanEngine Explorer is it's general purpose ability to automate or monitor undefined functions communicating with any device that talks http or snmp.

ScanEngine Explorer is unique in that no specific target function sets boundaries around it's capability. It combines a ping tool, an snmp inquiry tool, an snmp MIB parser, an snmp MIB reference tool, a basic html fetch tool, a scriptable html page scraper, a network traffic packet monitor and log, a network traffic packet viewer, a database management tool, a scripting language, including both development and runtime environments, a charting tool, a send-email client, and a runtime statistics agent. All the tools interact with each other to provide an environment to accomplish anything as simple as pinging a destination to constructing virtually any continuous running network application one might imagine.

How does ScanEngine Explorer differentiate from other management applications?

At the lowest tier, many devices are designed with intent that they are exclusively to be used with a web browser for configuration or monitoring. ScanEngine Explorer permits them to be integrated into larger management solution by it's ability to scrape the device web page by script.

At the next tier, many devices are manufacturer provided with a bundled management application that is device specific, with fixed features. ScanEngine Explorer adds the ability to integrate with any other devices to implement any feature the user might imagine.

At the highest tier, many network management applications provide collections of functions and support a wide range of devices. For example MRTG is widely employed to chart internet traffic of devices by SNMP, and NAGIOS is widely employed to manage a diverse network of IT infrastructures. If you seek a management function already embodied in an available management application, use it. But if you want to explore the information available in any devices you might have, or need to create a unique management function, then you need something like ScanEngine Explorer.

How does ScanEngine Explorer fit into a web application?

ScanEngine Explorer is not a web server which a web application requires. ScanEngine Explorer provides the scanning engine to monitor network accessible devices, and can create logs, charts, and javascript data for a web application to display.

* Note: Devices must possess a web interface (either unprotected or basic authentication), or snmp (v1 or v2c).