The virtual appliance seems a pretty good way to implement ZXTM in the average network, particularly if you're not going to be hammering the processor to death by using SSL encryption/decryption (which is always a CPU-killer)

Of the paid-for SMB system monitoring packages on the market right now, SolarWinds ipMonitor 9.0's got to be at the top of the heap.

The bottom line? Speed Meter Pro does a very good job of tracking and analysing network performance issues, but by itself it simply doesn't do enough. If you want a full-blown network troubleshooting tool, you'll have to buy the combo.

Although the product sits happily on a random desktop machine, we’d put it on something that’s up and running all the time so it’s constantly connected and able to keep running all the time.

Core Impact is a powerful tool for assessing network security, allowing experienced and inexperienced penetration testers alike to compromise network hosts quickly and easily. Version 7.5 expands the scope with Web application security checks, and it refines the valuable e-mail phishing feature for assessing the security savvy of end-users. Core's smart dashboard, friendly UI, attack configuration wizards, and focused reports make penetration testing easier than ever to conduct and interpret.

RedSeal's Security Risk Manager performs rapid and accurate analysis of network risk. Combining device configuration data with vulnerability data and other information, SRM creates a visual map of high-value, high-risk assets, and provides a collection of views and reports that help you zero in on the most effective path to mitigation. RedSeal SRM isn't cheap, but any organisation with valuable network assets would be well served to implement it.

Smaller networks will find this program extremely useful, but many will be frustrated by its challenging operation and user interface.