Cisco Network Assistant

Managing small Cisco networks from one application

Cisco makes this application for managing networks. Menus organized around tasks and a graphical interface let it run wired and wireless networks of as many as 80 Cisco devices, which makes it a tool for small and medium-sized businesses rather than large estates.

What an administrator can do

The graphical interface is organized around the jobs an administrator needs to carry out, so routine work does not depend on typing commands. The application also keeps a configuration inventory, a record of how each device is set up, and produces health reports on the state of the managed network.

Buying through the vendor

Cisco offers its software under a single Enterprise Agreement covering the whole portfolio. The company says one contract lets customers scale their investment across products and simplifies buying and managing licenses.