Method and system for monitoring the performance of computers in computer networks using modular extensions

A system for monitoring the performance of a first computer coupled to a computer network, comprising:

• a first computer;
• a second computer;
• a computer network connecting the first and second computer;
• a tracking program running on the first computer and operable to repeatedly obtain performance data comprising at least one performance value, the performance value comprising a measure of the performance of the first computer, the tracking program further operable to automatically send the performance data from the first computer over the computer network to the second computer;
• and
• a dispatching program running on the second computer, the dispatching program operable to receive the performance data and pass the performance data to a first extension agent, the first extension agent operable to process the performance data.