Network Inventory Self-Discovery vs Manual Input
If you are in charge of managing a network, you know how important it is to have an accurate inventory of devices and equipment. But the question is, how do you get that inventory? Do you rely on self-discovery methods or do you manually input all the data? In this post, we will compare both methods and provide some insights into which one might be more effective.
Self-Discovery
Self-discovery is a method where software automatically scans the network for devices and equipment. It is a quick and easy way to get an inventory of your network without having to do much manual work. Self-discovery can detect and identify devices that are connected to the network, gather information such as IP address, MAC address, manufacturer, and model number. Some self-discovery tools can even create a diagram that highlights how all the devices are connected and map out their network topology.
Manual Input
Manual input involves manually entering data into a database or spreadsheet. This option is time-consuming but it can be more accurate because it is less likely to miss anything. Manual input allows you to add information such as warranty information, purchase date, maintenance logs and any other details relevant to your network management.
A challenge of this method is that sometimes, it’s difficult to know what equipment is on the network that must be tracked. It’s up to the person in charge of the inventory to know what equipment is deployed and ensure that it is recorded. This process can take a lot of time, but it provides visibility and is much more accurate.
Comparison
Choosing between self-discovery and manual input depends on your needs and preferences. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. To help you make a decision, here’s a comparison of the two methods, based on our research and experience:
- Self-discovery is faster and less time-consuming than manual input.
- Manual input is more accurate as it takes into account all equipment, allowing for management of overlapping devices where self-discovery can miss some devices left powering on.
- Self-discovery can miss devices that aren't connected with the rest of the network.
- Manual input can take quite a bit of time especially for large networks.
- Self-discovery is an excellent way to get an initial inventory of your network, but manual input can provide a high level of accuracy.
Conclusion
We recommend that you utilize both methods in your inventory management. You can put to use self-discovery techniques as soon as new software or hardware rolls out to get an initial inventory, while using manual input can ensure the completeness and accuracy of the inventory recording. Both methods have strengths and weaknesses, but having these two approaches in place can provide a redundant check and balance.
The post has put forward a comparison between the self-discovery and manual input methods for network inventory. We hope that this post helps guide your decision in choosing the best inventory management method for your business.