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Your staff is out to lunch and about to dig into those delicious calzones they've been dreaming about all day. Then suddenly the call comes in: Server \\ExtremelyImportant01 is down. This kind of situation is why I always carried a laptop and air card everywhere I went (even to a couple of weddings).

Now the advent of smartphones make these do-it-yesterday jobs a lot easier when your employees are on the go. Both the Android and iPhone platforms offer some solid apps for performing a variety of network sysadmin tasks. Think of these as the gifts that keep on giving: Your staff might have to do sysadmin work standing in the grocery checkout line, but that doesn't mean they have to lug around a backpack full of gear in the process.

Android:

ConnectBot
ConnectBot is a powerful SSH client that allows multiple sessions and includes file transfer capabilities to and from your phone, which makes accessing file stores a snap. Check out ConnectBot in action here. Cost: Free.

Exchange by Touchdown
This app advertises itself as the "first Exchange/Outlook sync app for the Android platform." While we wait for Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) to increase its calendar compatibility with Microsoft Exchange, this is your best option for keeping track of scheduled downtime and other key appointments. Cost: $19.99 with free demo.

Inventory Droid
If your shop uses barcode-based asset tracking, Inventory Droid is a helpful tool for cataloging different equipment types. When you have a data center full of different server hardware configurations and need to remember how many NICs server \\ExtremelyImportant01 has on board, this app will save the day. Cost: $4.99 with free demo.

Wifi Analyzer
Use this tool to find the least crowded wifi connections or for help configuring wireless router traffic settings. In some cases, it's most useful in conjunction with a laptop, but it also delivers plenty of functionality on its own. Cost: Free.

bMonitor Server Monitor
This powerful, must-have app lets you monitor the health of your server farm. It includes http, ping, port, and automatic logging options.Cost: Free.

iPhone:

Jaadu
Jaadu is a remote VNC client that allows desktop connectivity directly from your iPhone or iPod Touch. There is also a version that uses the Remote Desktop Protocol; depending on how many Windows versus Mac machines your shop runs, you may just want to get one version over the other. There is a Jaadu RDP demo video available here. Cost: $24.99.

Network Ping
This tool provides color-coded status for IP addresses on your LAN, ping, and traceroute support, and a telnet console. The paid version lets you save a list of up to 400 IP addresses along with custom names, and it also supports telnet to any server port. Cost: $3.99 with free lite version.

Network Utility
This app also offers ping support, but it also supports DNS lookup, geotargeting in conjunction with Google Maps, and WiFi network tracking. Cost: $6.99.

iSSH
If you're looking for an iPhone SSH app, this is the one to get. It includes the unique ability to send session transcripts via email. Cost: $6.99.

NetNewsWire
If your hardware sends RSS status feeds, NetNewsWire is the best RSS reader to have on hand. Cost: Free.

So, which smartphone platform works better for remote network management? That depends upon which tools are most important to you and your staff. While there is a lot of overlap, it's worth noting that the Android doesn't yet offer a remote desktop client app. And while cost isn't a big concern for most enterprises, both platforms offer plenty of free or very low-cost options.

There are more smartphone apps hitting the market every day, and there are lots of useful tools that I haven't covered here. Which ones are your favorites?