Catalyst 2960 network switches. Configure them through interface with cable.
What network monitoring software do you use?
Cacti for network devices like switches/routers and wireless access points.
What do you back the tape backup with?
Back them up with the EMC networker software for the EMC SAN and we use LTO 6 tapes.
Have you used VMware?
We use VMware daily. I have images that I have created through VMware for Windows 7 and Windows 8. We use Vcenter to administer PC's and also import physical machines into VM. We use Vcenter 5 and they are just about to update to 6.