How Network Operations Teams Use InfluxDB to Solve Network Monitoring Gaps

Organizations are increasingly questioning the value of traditional Network Monitoring Systems (NMS) due to their inability to keep pace with modern network complexities and rising costs. Many NMS platforms, such as SolarWinds, have become expensive and lack the capability to address dynamic network environments, leading some enterprises to transition to solutions centered around InfluxDB and Telegraf. These tools offer high-resolution, real-time visibility into network operations, capturing short-lived spikes and granular metrics that NMS platforms often miss, such as Virtual Fabric Drops and CPU utilization issues. InfluxDB provides a scalable and cost-effective approach, allowing teams to monitor networks effectively without the limitations of predefined device models or vendor dependency. The use of tools like Grafana for visualization further enhances the operational dashboards and alerting, ensuring that network teams maintain day-to-day reliability and long-term planning capabilities. This shift highlights the evolving needs of network operations, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and real-time data in managing increasingly complex and distributed network environments.