Network Monitors and Analyzers
Network monitors collect network statistics and store and open network packets for examination. They also provide diagnostic tools.
Network analyzers (aka protocol analyzers) are generally more sophisticated than network monitors.
In addition to collecting network statistics they can query devices, analyze and troubleshoot the network using network statistics, generate network traffic for the analysis, and analyze devices, types of collisions, errors, and rank broadcasting hosts.
There are other sophisticated network management tools. The two main management protocols used with network management systems are SNMP and CMIP.