Download SolarWinds Log Event Manager

What is Kiwi Syslog from SolarWinds? Syslog is a UDP protocol that sends messages from Cisco routers and other network devices. These log messages are invaluable for troubleshooting network problems; they are particularly useful for detecting security breaches. The free trial download of Kiwi Syslog Server captures these datagrams and analyzes their log messages so that you can ‘see’ what’s happening inside your network cables. Review of Kiwi Syslog Server Version 9How a Syslog Analyzer Works Getting Started with SolarWinds Syslog ServerThe Actual Kiwi Syslog Install Guy’s Panic – No Messages Guy’s Disappointment – No Network Messages Decisions At Install Extra Features in the Licensed Version A Brief Review of Syslog’s History and Terminology Free Trial Download of the Kiwi Syslog Server Screenshot of the Kiwi Syslog Service Manager Kiwi Syslog Server Free Trial Download How a Syslog Analyzer Works You only have to see the word Daemon, as in Syslog Daemon, to realize that this UDP protocol originated in UNIX. I say protocol, but all that syslog does is transport event messages from routers and other network hardware. Syslog’s success and universal adoption is based on simplicity, it’s just not fussy about what sort of event log messages it carries. As a result syslog has become the de-facto standard for system management and event reporting in heterogeneous networks. A syslog daemon is merely a device / program / entity that listens for the UDP syslog packets. Thus the skill lies in what you do with the information in these message logs, and this where a Windows syslog analyser comes into play. Actually, the manufacturer SolarWinds, call it the Kiwi Syslog Server. The next problem is how to interpret the data as displayed by the Kiwi Daemon. Analyzing logs is part art, part science. As with other facets of life,

Businesses generate huge quantities of logs, making manual log analysis a tedious task. There are many kinds of logs, including application logs, event logs, and security logs, and each one has a wide range of uses, from performance monitoring to troubleshooting to security issue detection. By implementing the right tools, you’ll streamline the process and get more value out of your logs.This guide ranks the best log file analysis tools on the market. My top picks go to SolarWinds tools: SolarWinds® Papertrail™ comes out on top, followed by SolarWinds Loggly™, SolarWinds Security Event Manager, and SolarWinds Log Analyzer. But before getting into the rankings, we’ll take a look at why log analysis is important.If you want to skip this part, chose link below and move ahead to the product review:SolarWinds PapertrailSolarWinds LogglySolarWinds Security Event ManagerSolarWinds Log AnalyzerLogentriesStackifyGraylogWhat Is Log Analysis and Why Does It Matter?Log analysis is the process of checking through computer-generated log files, a kind of record. Logs are generated by programs or devices, such as networking devices, operating systems, and applications. When an event occurs in one of these devices or programs, a log is created to record the activity, the time it occurred, and other details about the event. Either these logs are viewed in real time (and often organized by priority, so the person reviewing them only sees the most important ones) or they’re stored in log files to be reviewed later.It’s important to perform regular analysis, because it can flag security issues and provide important insights into how the system and network are functioning. When you examine logs, you need to ensure they contain all the messages they’re supposed to and the messages are interpreted correctly in context. For example, an otherwise normal-looking log may be unusual if it’s repeated hundreds of times in quick succession.Log elements need to be normalized across devices, so you can understand everything on the same level and in a coherent pattern. For example, you don’t want to have one system using the log term “warning” and another using the word “critical” to mean the same thing. Normalization reduces error and ensures your statistics are meaningful.With cleaned and organized log data, you can analyze the logs to detect network patterns, determine performance, and flag issues. Log analysis assists in spotting security incidents, troubleshooting where a network or device problem began, and conducting forensics if you need to go back

Infected machines, or force shutdowns and restartsBlock IP addressesDisable user accountsKill processesRestart or stop servicesForce user log-offReset passwordsHowever, IT teams can still opt to manually respond to particular alerts with a few clicks on the dashboard. They can select an event from the monitoring windows and click on the "Respond" button to immediately force a specific action.Figure 5: Automatic response configuration in LEMUSB devices remain a major problem for many organizations. A great amount of sensitive data can be stolen by hackers, as many users aren't aware of the dangers associated with these devices. Fortunately, LEM can identify unauthorized access and copying of sensitive files and enable actions like automatic ejection of USB devices, or quarantine of workstations using USB devices.Figure 6: LEM can display a message when a USB device is detected (and potentially blocked)Advanced Search FeaturesnDepth is a powerful search engine used with the LEM console that allows users to search all of the alert data or the original log messages that pass through a particular agent. nDepth, available in the option "Explore" in LEM, conducts custom searches, allows to users investigate search results with graphical tools and take action for their findings.The search interface is designed with a drag-and-drop interface such as filters and rules. Executing a search query is now more intuitive.Figure 7: Advanced search console in LEMThis dashboard presents some visual analytics tools such as:Word Clouds: Keyword phrases that appear in the alert data.Figure 8: Word CloudsTree map: Shows the items that frequently appear in the data as a series of categorized boxes.Figure 9: Tree map.Other visual widgets are also presented, such as bar, line, pie and bubble charts. It's possible to configure a histogram that summarizes alert activity within a particular period.ReportingSolarWinds technology has included a powerful reporting engine with Log and Event Manager. It has over 300 built-in reports that can help to reproduce any type of results, from graphical summaries of activities to detailed threat reporting and compliance.Compliance reports are specifically designed to show organization's compliance with standards and legislation, like PCI DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and others. On the other hand, reports can be fully customized to meet the organization's needs.Figure 10: SolarWinds LEM reportsConclusionSolarWinds LEM is a powerful security and compliance operations and reporting system. It provides a log management with security incident response options, delivering a well-priced, versatile and easy-to-use product. Features like Active Response and the search center are excellent tools for administrators as it will help to manage threats in an easy manner. SourcesSolarWinds Log and Event Manager (Evaluators' Guide), SolarWindsHow to use nDepth in SolarWinds Log and Event Manager, SolarWindsFree SolarWinds Training Videos, SolarWindsSolarWinds Log and Event Manager, SC MediaSolarWinds Log and Event Manager: One Powerful Tool,