Subscriber Discussion

Has Anybody Used IP Netconnect For Remote Network Monitoring?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jan 02, 2019

Somebody in our office ran across IP NetConnect recently (IP NetConnect seems to be affiliated with AG SmartBot). The product appears to be a device that you can plug into your client's network that lets you monitor and maintain the camera system remotely.

From their advertising, the device seems to act as a VPN server, can be connected to DDNS, monitors internal network devices, takes snapshots of the network, provides WiFi access to the customer's network, and can report issues to some monitoring services. Outside access seems to be done through a third-party server so that you don't have to bother with port-forwarding.

Now, I can see the usefulness of VPN access and network monitoring and all. We usually request VPN access to the customer's site and then install a network monitor on a server. So putting that all on one device could be useful.

What bothers me about IP NetConnect is the website looks cheap, the interface looks amateur, and the sales people act like network monitoring is a totally new idea (it's not). From the level of know-how that I can observe, can I really trust them?

The only thing that seems innovative about these units is that they combine network monitoring with VPN, DDNS updating, and WiFi.

Has anybody used these things? Do they work? Do you feel they're safe enough to stick on your customer's network?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Jan 02, 2019

We are using a similar device from Snap AV. It is called OVRC.

 

We do have 3 of the IPConnect devices as they are cheaper than the OVRC device.

 

OVRC interface is much more modern.


OVRC scans the network and identifies which ports the device needs and will connect using one of those ports. A pop up will ask which port you want to use.

 

OVRC does not have DDNS or WiFi


IP Connect only has ~3 default ports, and if you need to connect using a different port # you have to put it in manually. If you don't know the port #,you are out of luck.

The thing that really really pissed me off was the initial setup. We did a demo, saw how they worked, adn said OK, we will try 3. We got them, then had to request a web log in, and they would not provide a web log in until my tech was onsite, and connected the device so they could walk him through it. That really pissed me off as we were really busy, and my tech didn't have time.He just needed to pop in and out, and he had to call, get his laptop out, etc.

 

We are still evaluating but I think we are going to stick with the OVRC devices even though they are more money.

 

 

 

 

(2)
WD
William Davis
Jan 07, 2019

There are a other alternatives out there that can be deployed as a SaaS solution.  For Access Control and Video for health and performance monitoring, take a look at Vunetrix.  https://vunetrix.com .

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jan 07, 2019

Bill, aren't you affiliated with Vunetrix? If so, you should probably mention that in your post.

I'm aware there are SaaS network monitoring solutions. We're already using PRTG (which looks identical to Vunetrix).

(1)
WD
William Davis
Jan 07, 2019

Of course...apologies for the ommission.

MM
Michael Miller
Jan 07, 2019

Have a look at www.auvik.com

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