Computer networks have become large and globally inter-connected in the Internet age. Network management software allows organizations to manage network complexity by identifying their elements and their relationships in an easy to understand way. Network management software collects information about each device on a network and enables communication about their state to be displayed to the administrator of the network. This enables the rapid identification of problems such as device faults, bottlenecks or outages.
The best network management software also provides tools for identifying and fixing problems automatically and can also automate tasks associated with installing and configuring new network devices or changes to the existing network structure. They help with the maintenance of existing networks by enabling automated upgrades of software on network devices and managing change control to ensure changes to the network are undertaken in a controlled way.