Performance mgmt., SNMP packages on tap at N+I

LAS VEGAS - Users looking to get more control over their networks and the services they deliver will want to check out network management software and tools from two management vendors on display at NetWorld+Interop 2002 Las Vegas this week.

With tight IT budgets, network management vendors have been working to help users get more out of their networks with software and appliances that optimize performance and service across networks. In addition to a slew of management products highlighted last week by Network World, Network Physics and SNMP Research this week will show how their tools help users better use bandwidth and automate network configuration, respectively.

Network Physics is set to debut its Internet traffic management product, called NP-1000. NP-1000 is made up of two appliances with embedded software that are connected to a port on a router in a customer's network. One appliance passively collects data flowing into and out of the router while the other maintains a database of the collected metrics - such as response times between the router and a server.

Customers can access the data in the database from any machine running a Web browser. The software also can feed data via SNMP to any network and systems management console. Pricing is based on throughput and can range from $25,000 to $90,000.

"The point is to provide information about how the network traffic is traveling and even reporting on parts of the path, for example, ISP hops, that you don't own," says Nick Gualt, Network Physics CEO. The company, founded in March 2001, is looking to reduce Internet connectivity costs and optimize end-to-end performance for enterprise users, he says. "Most companies don't always know who or what is using the bandwidth, but we're showing that by giving a view into every packet and every flow."

Also at N+I, SNMP Research will show users its three new software applications designed to make upgrading to SNMP Version 3 more appealing and easier for enterprise companies. The latest version of the protocol has built-in security features that can save users time.

And some network device vendors, such as Cisco and Nortel, have upgraded their equipment to SNMP Version 3. Now with the help of SNMP Research's software, users can configure their software faster to tap into SNMP Version 3 on those devices, according to Jim Warren, vice president of business development at SNMP Research.

"Upgrading to SNMPv3 . . . does take some configuration work to get all agents, software and machines using the same version. We're providing a tool kit to help users turn on those features in their devices and take advantage of this standard," Warren says.

The three new applications that fall into SNMP Research's EnterPol SecureIntelligence management suite are SNMPv3 Configuration Wizard, CIAgent PolicyPro and CIAgent Monitor. The software runs on Solaris, Windows and Linux servers.

A configuration wizard leads users through the process of setting up access rights and notification targets for new users of SNMP Version 3. CIAgent PolicyPro takes the configuration policies and rules established with the configuration wizard and pushes them out to multiple agents and devices. The application automates the process and lets network managers use all or just a portion of a preset configuration and apply it to new agents, saving time in configuration.

And CIAgent Monitor monitors the health and performance of the SNMPv3-compatible devices, servers and agents on a user network. It provides reports on metrics such as the disk usage, CPU usage and memory, and graphically displays the data in a dashboard-like application.

Available now, the three new tools are packaged together as standard applications as part of the EnterPol product, which costs $5,000.