Network Discovery

Network Discovery helps you address common challenges in network monitoring:

Multiple Networks: Manage and monitor multiple networks directly from N-sight.
Security: Detect unknown or newly connected devices and push install the Advanced Monitoring Agent on Windows and macOS devices.
Connection issues: Use device online/offline status to troubleshoot network problems, such as when a switch goes offline unexpectedly.
Export CSV: Export network and connected device data to CSV.

How Network Discovery works

Network Discovery is enabled by default for servers and workstations across all clients and sites. When the Advanced Monitoring Agent is installed, the Network Discovery Agent is also installed.

You can disable or re-enable Network Discovery by following the steps in the Manage Network Discovery guide.

After installation, the Network Discovery Agent retrieves basic network information from the connected networks, including wired or wireless type, subnet mask, and default gateway.

The Network Discovery Agent retrieves basic information about the networks it is attached to. It does not scan the network and discover connected devices until after the network is placed under management.

After you have brought a network under management, the Network Discovery Agent regularly scans the subnet to detect attached devices and reports that data back to N-sight.

Scan Information

The Network Discovery Agent uses multiple protocols to scan the network. To improve scan accuracy, you can provide credentials used on the network, such as:

Windows Domain Admin Account
SNMP Community String
SSH Account
Telnet Account
HTTP/S Account

Scan Schedule and duration

The Network Discovery Agent scans the network subnet every five minutes. The scan duration depends on the size and scope of the network. Larger networks and the use of multiple protocols may result in longer scan times.

During scans, the Network Discovery Agent uses available system resources on the device acting as the Primary Discoverer. This may lead to increased CPU usage.

Fail-over mechanism

If the current Primary Discoverer goes offline, another Network Discovery Agent on the network is automatically designated to take over. Device type determines priority:

Servers
Workstations
Laptops

It may take up to two scan cycles (10 minutes) for the new Primary Discoverer to resume normal operations.

You can set the Primary Discoverer device in the Network details section of the Summary tab.

Uninstallation behaviour

If the Advanced Monitoring Agent is uninstalled, the Network Discovery Agent is also removed.