September 16, 2009, 8:50 AM — Do you have a network in your small office or at home? If so, you probably found setup easy, but now you could use some assistance in managing and troubleshooting the network, as well as in getting the most out of it.
We're here to help. We've rounded up ten great networking downloads--many of them completely free--that will allow you to manage your network effectively, solve wireless-networking problems, gain remote access to your network, and more.
(If you're ready to grab several of these programs, see our networking-downloads collection.)
General Network Tools
Looking to manage your network like an IT pro, even if you have no experience? With these downloads, you'll be able to troubleshoot and repair network connections, obtain the full technical details about every device on your network, measure network bandwidth, and even get remote access to your network when you're on the road.
Advanced IP Scanner
If you want a quick, no-fuss way to view all of the devices on your network, along with their IP addresses and other information, give this small, free, simple-to-use utility a try. It performs a lightning-fast scan of all IP addresses on your network, or of all devices in an IP range you specify. After the scan, it tells you what devices are at what address, and whether each device is currently live or idle. It also provides each device's status, machine name, NetBIOS information, ping information, and MAC address.
Also included are a few other nice tools, such as the ability to shut down PCs remotely. And the Wake-on-LAN feature can wake PCs containing network cards that support the capability.
Download Advanced IP Scanner | Price: Free
Bandwidth Monitor 2
With this exceptionally easy-to-use free utility, you can find out how much bandwidth any PC on your network is using. Install it on any PC, and it displays a chart that details your bandwidth use in real time, covering download bandwidth, upload bandwidth, and the total used. In addition, it keeps logs of your bandwidth use, so you can have a historical record. Customizing the software is simple, too; for instance, you can change its skin or alter the time span over which it measures bandwidth.
Note that setting up the software might be confusing, because you'll have to choose from a long list of network adapters, not all of which may be on your system. Your best bet is to click the Auto-Select button; the software will then choose the proper adapter.
Download Bandwidth Monitor 2 | Price: Free
Network Magic Pro
Network Magic is just about the best all-in-one tool you can find for managing a small network. Want to fix broken network connections, set up wireless encryption, share printers and folders among all your PCs, or get a report on the security of each PC on your network? It'll do all that, and much more.
Possibly the most useful part of the program is its network map, which is superior to the one that ships with Vista. It graphically displays every device on your network (including the printers and the router), shows you whether any of them are having problems (such as a lack of antivirus software), and provides extensive detail about each device. You'll be able to see the device name, its hardware and software configuration, its IP information, what security software it uses, and so on.
The software's Status Center shows the current state of your network at a glance, and it summarizes any issues. You can even see a history of each device's bandwidth use, as well as warnings about potential intruders.
Among other features you'll find an Internet speed tester, a wizard-based troubleshooter for fixing network connection problems. Parents will appreciate the ability to control Internet access on each computer, too. Network Magic can even send you daily e-mail reports about the activity occurring on networked PCs--which programs each computer runs, which Web sites it visits, how much bandwidth it uses, and when it is online.
At $50, Network Magic Pro isn't cheap, but it's well worth the money if you need comprehensive help with your network. If you're looking for something lower-priced, you might want to consider the $30 Network Magic Essentials, which supports fewer PCs and lacks network-attached-storage support and Internet-access controls. Also, if you have a Linksys router, even if you don't pay for any version of Network Magic, you can use Network Magic Basic, which includes the network map, some security features, and other useful tools.
