A network management system combines software and hardware that administer computer networks. The components of this system include the “network systems manager, management information base, remote network monitoring, probe together with all the supporting hardware and software”.

The Network Manager
A network manager plays fundamental roles in the network management system. The manager is responsible for installation and maintenance of an organization’s computer networks. He also trains the staff and provides the necessary technical skills. As such, a network manager has in-depth knowledge and skills of all the organization’s networks. He also manages a team and has a team working skills to help in training and imparting the network skills on staff.
The network manager also detects problems with the network and develops a recovery plan to minimize business disruption. This is a vital role in the running of most businesses today as advances in communication and technologies find the application in organization. The manager also assists in developing new systems to aid in the technological growth of an organization.

Management Information Base
This is another very fundamental component of a network management system. It refers to the database that is utilized in managing the network entities. The information base is the complete collection of the information within the information and network system.

This base provides structures for containing a network and the data used for the network management. This includes the internet protocol (IP), remote access routing services, and simple network management protocol (SNMP). The Management information base data structures store maintains and manages data from various sources.
The following is a Management information base for multi-domain network address

Remote Network Monitoring
Remote Network monitoring (RMON) is a useful component of the network management system as it helps in providing standard information that can be utilized by the network manager or administrator to carry out analysis, monitoring, and troubleshooting a group of distributed networks. RMON provides a definition of the information that a network system can hold.

RMON collects various kinds of information. These include bytes sent, packets sent, packets dropped, conversations between different sets of addresses, statistics by the host, and many other events that may occur. The network administrator can also use RMON to determine the amount of traffic or bandwidth imposed by each user on a network. It can use alarms to help in detecting potential problems in then network. As a result, RMON can be used to help in guaranteeing network security given the challenges facing today’s information and communication technology industry.

Network Probe
Network probes refer to small hardware devices whose main function is to collect data in a network. This data is very important in running an enterprise and its information technology department. The probe provides a mechanism for gathering data necessary for the network construction, trends and historical patterns. The information assists the network professionals such as the administrator and manager to make quality, timely and informed decisions in case of a problem such as network failure.

The networks in many enterprises today are complicated entities, which require proper and effective management. It is absolutely difficult to manage something that is invisible. This is where network probes assists. The probes provide the visibility essential for proper management of network systems. An effective network probe avails accurate and reliable statistics with regards to the operations of the network. They make the management of networks efficient and enhance the performance. As such, they improve the performance of the entire enterprise that relies on the network.