You added another switch, another access point and another server, and now nobody can say for certain what is on the network or whether it is still up. The Dude from MikroTik is built for that situation: it scans your network, draws the map for you and tells you when a service stops responding.
Quick facts
- Maker: MikroTik
- Platform: Windows (client installer)
- Price: free download
Key features
Find your devices without typing them in
The Dude automatically scans all devices within the subnets you specify, so you start from what is really on the wire instead of an out-of-date spreadsheet.
Get a network map drawn and laid out for you
After the scan, it draws and lays out a map of your networks, giving you a visual overview of how things connect.
Be alerted when a service has a problem
The Dude monitors the services of your devices and alerts you when one of them has problems, so you hear about an outage from the software rather than from a user.
Who it's for
It suits administrators who run a small or mid-sized network, especially one that already uses MikroTik equipment, and who want a free tool that maps the network and watches its services.
Pros and cons
- Pro: free to download.
- Pro: automatic discovery and map layout save manual drawing.
- Pro: service monitoring with alerts.
- Con: MikroTik lists it under its Legacy Tools, so don't expect it to be the focus of new development.
- Con: the client installer is for Windows.
FAQs
Does The Dude cost anything?
No. It is a free download from MikroTik.
Does it find devices on its own?
Yes. You specify the subnets and it scans all devices within them.
Does it only draw a map?
No. It also monitors the services of your devices and alerts you when one has problems.