Frontier Software introduces NETscout Expert Visualizer; 3D visualization tool uses RMON2 framework for displaying network traffic conditions at a glance.CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 1, 1995--Frontier Software Development Inc. today announced the availability of NETscout Expert Visualizer vi·su·al·iz·er n. One who visualizes, especially a person whose mental images are predominantly visual. Noun 1. visualizer - one whose prevailing mental imagery is visual visualiser , a new and revolutionary tool for displaying and browsing enterprise wide network management information. NETscout Expert Visualizer utilizes a powerful 3D multicolored display engine to provide visual network diagnostics within the framework of the emerging RMON (Remote MONitoring) Enhancements to the management information base (MIB) structure used by the simple network management protocol (SNMP). In 1991, RMON added comprehensive network monitoring capabilities. 2 standard. This new network diagnostic application environment allows the user to easily visualize, isolate and characterize network traffic conditions and problems by creating graphical logical and physical views, for selectable topologies, traffic types, devices and RMON network attributes. Visualization is enhanced by several built-in rotation, hide/expose and animation features. Finally, Expert Visualizer supports "drill down" troubleshooting and tight integration with existing NETscout Manager applications. "NETscout Probes provide a wealth of monitoring information for multiprotocol and multitopology enterprise wide traffic all the way through the application layer," said Nathan Kalowski, vice president of marketing for Frontier Software. "Expert Visualizer now allows this information to be aggregated into custom views, allowing network problems to be viewed at a glance and quickly resolved with NETscout Manager diagnostic tools." Built to the Framework of the RMON2 Standard The original RMON standard specified nine groups of network diagnostics for monitoring traffic through the MAC layer of the ISO model See OSI model. . The emerging RMON2 standard specifies monitoring and diagnostics for all seven layers. Frontier has always provided seven-layer monitoring with its EnterpriseRMON and DomainView architecture. NETscout Expert Visualizer and NETscout Manager have been built in the framework of the RMON standard and provide powerful tools that are structured for easy migration to the upcoming RMON2 standard. Expert Visualizer provides user-customizable physical and logical views of network traffic. These logical views, called "Monitors", are organized into three groups conforming to the RMON2 classifications. NETscout Manager applications can be launched from any view. o Traffic Monitor - This monitor is designed to troubleshoot physical network problems. The information is taken from the data link layer and maps onto the basic RMON standard supporting any RMON compliant agent or probe. Traffic Monitor provides information relative to performance, topology and traffic patterns for one or more segments. o Internetworking Monitor - This monitor facilitates troubleshooting of logical network problems with information taken from the network layer and maps onto the RMON2 standard. Visualizer can display information from any RMON2 compliant agent or probe implementing the network layer. Internetworking Monitor provides information related to subnetworks and enterprise network layer traffic patterns and performance for a variety of network layers including IP, IPX (Internetwork Packet EXchange) The network layer protocol in the NetWare operating system. Similar to the IP layer in TCP/IP, it contains a network address and allows messages to be routed to a different network or subnet. , DECnet, Vines and Appletalk. o Application Monitor - This Monitor permits troubleshooting of application level problems for applications such as Notes, ccmail, Sybase and others. The information is derived from NETscout extensions for DomainView and EnterpriseRMON and the application specific group of RMON2. Application Monitor provides information regarding application traffic and usage patterns throughout an enterprise network. Applications participating in the application view are customizable by the user. Frontier's NETscout product family already supports RMON2 type diagnostic features through its DomainView architecture and EnterpriseRMON implementation. With the announcement of the Visualizer, Frontier has begun the process of migrating existing NETscout users to RMON2. Frontier's migration strategy calls for very minimal changes to the user interface and applications, thus causing minimal disruption to the user. Probe software will be easily and transparently upgraded by downloading to the probe's flash memory. This upgrade will be available free of charge for all NETscout users. Visualizing Network Problems at a Glance Expert Visualizer presents a customizable 3D graphical view of the network. The user can isolate portions of the network by selecting segments, topologies (e.g. Ethernet, Token Ring A local area network (LAN) access method developed by IBM. Conforming to the IEEE 802.5 standard, Token Ring uses a token ring access method and connects up to 255 nodes in a star topology at 4, 16 or 100 Mbps. , WAN, FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) Often pronounced "fiddy," it was a LAN and MAN access method that had its heyday in the mid-1990s. FDDI was an ANSI standard token passing network that transmitted 100 Mbps over optical fiber up to 10 kilometers. , etc.), domains (e.g. IP, DECnet, Novell, etc.), subnets (by protocol) and hosts. In addition, the user can zoom in on selected portions of the network by sizing screen objects based on various vital RMON parameters such as collisions, utilization, packets, broadcasts, errors and others. The size of each screen object (e.g. segment, host, etc.) indicates the intensity of the selected statistic at that location. The number of lines and width of lines connecting the objects indicates the intensity of internetworking traffic between segments, subnets or hosts across the entire enterprise. NETscout Manager diagnostic tools such as segment zoom, host zoom, data capture and others can be launched from any selected segment or host. The power of Expert Visualizer is in providing the user the ability to easily build a graphical view of a portion of a complex network; quickly identify a problem area; and "drill down" with powerful diagnostic tools. Finally, because Expert Visualizer provides a 3D representation of the network vs. 2D, large and complex enterprise networks can be easily displayed. "The Visualizer cuts through `information clutter' by delivering more insight to the network administrator," said John McConnell John McConnell is the name of:
Foundation for Advanced Diagnostic Tools NETscout Expert Visualizer is the culmination of an intense 18 month effort to develop a unique high level visualization tool for enterprise network troubleshooting. Additionally, this application serves as a launching pad for existing and future NETscout applications. New topologies such as 100BaseT and ATM will be easily supported and represented with new icons. Virtual LAN Also called a "VLAN," it is a logical subgroup within a local area network that is created via software rather than manually moving cables in the wiring closet. It combines user stations and network devices into a single unit regardless of the physical LAN segment they are attached to and management of switches across an entire enterprise network will be possible with extensive traffic aggregation of individual ports, VLANS, and switches and easily viewed from a 3D graphical representation. Response time monitoring will be added as a parameter to the various views of the Application Monitor. The Expert Visualizer, integrated to a relational database relational database Database in which all data are represented in tabular form. The description of a particular entity is provided by the set of its attribute values, stored as one row or record of the table, called a tuple. , will be capable of playing back "movies" of network trends and baselines. Finally, comprehensive device monitoring and reporting, enhancing Frontier's existing Resource Manager capabilities, will be launchable from Expert Visualizer. Availability and Pricing The NETscout Expert Visualizer is priced at $4995 and will be available in September 1995. The model numbers for this software are 9001 for Sun SPARCstation, 9002 for HP 9000 and 9003 for IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) RS6000. An NT version will be available in the first half of 1996. The Expert Visualizer application requires NETscout Manager version 3.3. Frontier, Your RMON2 Headquarters Frontier Software is a technology leader in the development of the RMON standard and RMON-based distributed diagnostic systems. The company is an active member of the IETF See Internet Engineering Task Force. IETF - Internet Engineering Task Force RMON committee and has been an active contributor to establishing this new management standard (RFC (Request For Comments) A document that describes the specifications for a recommended technology. Although the word "request" is in the title, if the specification is ratified, it becomes a standards document. 1271) for distributed LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. diagnostics and RMON2. Frontier's products include the NETscout family of intelligent SNMP/RMON LAN/WAN LAN/WAN Local Area Network/Wide Area Network Probes and management console A terminal or workstation used to monitor and control a network. See Microsoft Management Console. analysis software tools. Introduced in 1992, NETscout was the first RMON based distributed diagnostic product line available in the industry. In 1993 Frontier was the first to deliver RMON management for WANs and received Data Communications data communications, application of telecommunications technology to the problem of transmitting data, especially to, from, or between computers. In popular usage, it is said that data communications make it possible for one computer to "talk" with another. "Hot Product" award for Network Management. At Spring Interop94, NETscout's Resource Manager was selected as a finalist for "Best of Show". Recently, NETScout was awarded the Application Excellence Award for Network Management from Faulkner Communications. Recently, Frontier announced the industry's first RMON-based probe for CDDI/FDDI. Frontier markets frontier markets Securities markets in the least developed of the emerging markets. Mexico and Taiwan are generally considered emerging markets while Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and Kenya are considered frontier markets. the NETscout family on a world wide basis through VARs, system integrators and OEMs as well as directly to major end users. Key end user customers include Goldman Sachs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., or simply Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is one of the world's largest global investment banks. Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869, and is headquartered in the Lower Manhattan area of New York City at 85 Broad Street. , Lehman Brothers Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH), founded in 1850, is a diversified, global financial services firm. It is a participant in investment banking, equity and fixed income sales, research and trading, investment management, private equity, and private banking. , Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care organization, based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. , AT&T and Lotus. Key OEMs/resellers include Digital, Cisco, UB Networks, and Ascom/Timeplex. CONTACT: Frontier Software Development Inc. Nathan Kalowski, 508/244-4001 x1402 |
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