Overview

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is a powerful and widely used network monitoring software developed by SolarWinds. It provides comprehensive monitoring, alerting, and reporting tools for managing network performance, availability, and fault detection. Here's a detailed breakdown of SCP-NPM (SolarWinds Certified Professional - Network Performance Monitor):Product Overview: SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM)Core FunctionalitySolarWinds NPM is designed to:Monitor network availability and performanceProvide real-time insights into network healthDetect and alert on network faults and outagesVisualize network topology and pathsKey Features1. Network Device MonitoringSupports routers, switches, firewalls, servers, etc.Uses SNMP, ICMP, WMI, and API-based pollingTracks CPU, memory, bandwidth, and interface utilization2. NetPath™Visualizes network paths to services (on-prem or cloud)Identifies bottlenecks and performance issues in the route3. PerfStack™ Performance Analysis DashboardDrag-and-drop interface to correlate network metricsHelps with root cause analysis by visualizing relationships4. Intelligent AlertsCustom thresholds and escalation logicIntegrates with email, SMS, Slack, ServiceNow, etc.5. Customizable Dashboards and ReportsWeb-based interface with NOC viewsCreate and schedule custom performance reports6. Network Topology MapsAutomatic Layer 2 and Layer 3 mapsDynamic maps based on real-time performance data7. Wireless Network MonitoringMonitor wireless access points, SSIDs, client detailsHeatmaps for signal strength and coverage8. Cloud and Hybrid Network MonitoringSupport for AWS, Azure, and hybrid environmentsMonitors network connectivity to and within cloud servicesTechnical DetailsAspectDetailsDeploymentOn-premises (Windows Server); supports VM or physical serverDatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server (local or remote)Protocols SupportedSNMP v1/v2c/v3, ICMP, WMI, NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, API-basedScalabilitySupports thousands of nodes/interfaces; uses polling engines and APEsIntegrationWorks with other SolarWinds tools (e.g., NTA, SAM, IPAM, VNQM, etc.)SCP-NPM CertificationObjectiveThe SolarWinds Certified Professional (SCP) for NPM demonstrates expertise in:Installing, configuring, and managing SolarWinds NPMTroubleshooting and performance tuningOptimizing alerts and reportsInterpreting and using advanced features like NetPath and PerfStackExam DetailsCategoryDetailsExam FormatOnline, proctored, multiple-choice questionsDuration90 minutesPassing Score~70% (not officially published)PrerequisitesNo formal prerequisites; experience recommendedRecommended Study TopicsNPM installation and configurationSNMP, ICMP, and WMI monitoring setupAlert configuration and best practicesNetPath and PerfStack usageCustom reports and dashboard creationNetwork troubleshooting with NPM

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