Introduction to NMIS
NMIS (Network Management Information System) is an open source network management platform that performs multiple functions from the OSI Network Management Functional Areas. NMIS has evolved rapidly to meet the demands of highly available production environments and user requirements.What is NMIS?
NMIS is a comprehensive network monitoring and management solution that:- Collects network data using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- Monitors availability and performance of any SNMP-capable device
- Provides visualization through a highly configurable and extensible web interface
- Generates reports for both technical analysis and executive summaries
- Manages configurations and tracks network changes
- Handles events with flexible alerting and escalation
History and Development
NMIS has been developed continually since 1998 and remains fully open source under the GNU GPL license. Version 9 represents the most recent major generational upgrade, featuring:- Modern MongoDB-based architecture
- Distributed polling capabilities
- Enhanced scalability and performance
- Advanced threshold management
- Flexible event handling
Key Capabilities
Distributed Polling Engine
The distributed polling engine uses SNMP to collect availability and performance data from any SNMP-capable device including:- Routers and switches
- Firewalls
- Servers
- Storage devices
- Wireless access points
- Any device with SNMP support
Data Collection and Storage
NMIS 9 uses a modern architecture:- MongoDB for configuration and inventory data
- RRD (Round Robin Database) files for time-series performance data
- Configurable retention periods for historical data
- Efficient storage with automatic data aggregation
Web Interface
The NMIS web interface provides:- Real-time network status dashboards
- Detailed device information and graphs
- Performance trend analysis
- Event and alert management
- Configuration and administration tools
Architecture Overview
NMIS 9 consists of several key components:- nmisd daemons - Background processes for scheduling and data collection
- Web interface - Apache/CGI-based user interface
- MongoDB database - Stores nodes, inventory, events, and configuration
- RRD files - Time-series performance data storage
- CLI tools - Command-line administration utilities
Target Audience
NMIS is designed for:- Network Administrators managing enterprise networks
- DevOps Teams requiring network visibility
- IT Operations needing performance monitoring
- Service Providers managing customer networks
- Organizations seeking open source solutions
Current Version
NMIS 9.6.5 (as referenced in/home/daytona/workspace/source/lib/NMISNG.pm:35) represents the latest stable release with continuous development and community support.
Licensing
NMIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL):- Free to use, modify, and distribute
- Source code is openly available
- Community and commercial support options
- Additional commercial modules available from FirstWave
Additional Modules
While the core NMIS platform is open source, additional commercial modules are available for:- NetFlow and Application Flow analysis
- Network mapping and visualization
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Database integration
- Event management
- Configuration management
- High availability deployments
Next Steps
Installation
Install NMIS on your server
Quick Start
Get your first device monitored
Documentation and Support
- Official Documentation: https://docs.community.firstwave.com/
- Community Support: https://docs.community.firstwave.com/
- Commercial Support: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.firstwave.com/