1. A method of monitoring a particular node in a network by a monitoring application, the monitoring application executed on a computer attached to the network, the method comprising: monitoring information about said node automatically reported to said monitoring application by a first monitor running on said node; in response to information reported by said first monitor, automatically transmitting to said node a second monitor that runs on said node and reports diagnostic events in response to monitored conditions at said node, and that automatically ceases operation at the conclusion of a predetermined lifespan; and during the lifespan of said second monitor, monitoring information about said node automatically reported to said monitoring application by said second monitor, including information that is not reported by said first monitor.