[Atlas]

I'm currently evaluating network management and monitoring tools with a distinct preference for open source solutions (I want to be able to dig around in it, skin it, and create custom reporting portals). I would like it to be multi-user capable (with each user having different permission levels). Most importantly, the configuration of new networks and the addition of hosts must be so easy that a small child (MCSEs) could do it.

I know I'm asking a lot. So far, I've looked at NAGIOS and SolarWinds. SolarWindows fails on most of my requirements, but it is fairly easy to add new systems. NAGIOS meets all the other requirements, but is a pain in the ass for non-UNIXy people to deal with.

Right now, I'm installing Zabbix, to be followed by Big Sister.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[elmore]

Looks like you have all the major players there. Zabbix can also be a pain to configure. Unfortunately all of the really good free systems require a lot of coniguration work and you're gonna need to be comfortable with the NIX.

[Atlas]

I was afraid of that... guess I could just make a PHP script to modify the conf files and restart. Are there good configuration tools for any of the aforementioned systems? I saw nagiosweb but it hasn't been updated in forever.

[elmore]

Well there's big sister:

http://bigsister.graeff.com/home.html

[draconius]

I didn't really understand quite what you were looking for, but you perhaps check out cacti (http://raxnet.net)

I also used it at where I work to setup monitoring of the network in 4 different buildings, as well as monitor 9 different servers for disk space, mem usage, processes, logged in users, basically, anything that you can get snmp to do, you can do with cacti...and then some. it is very nice, and you can also write your own add ons for it rather easily...

you can see what I did with it at my home here at http://www2.pyrospheric.net/cacti/graph_view.php?action=tree&tree_id=9&leaf_id=173&select_first=true

pretty much just the basics there....
I would link you to the one that I have where I work...but I cant give out passwords and such :)


otherwise,
cheers, and let me know what you end up using...I like to try out new network management tools!