It’s said that mechanics are only as good as their tools. However, the most important tool in any mechanic’s toolbox is accumulated knowledge. The saying holds true for IT staff, too.
System administrators and network engineers need high-quality tools to make network repairs that keep e-mail flowing, servers serving and applications accessible. But it’s difficult for IT staff to be able to accumulate expert knowledge in all these different areas of network management.
This is where Netasyst is designed to help. Network Associates today released two new additions to its Netasyst server software lineup.
Coping in a Complex World
Small business networks are becoming more and more complex. Just like larger corporations, small- and medium-sized businesses are deploying advanced technologies, such as VoIP and CRM.
Even through your IT staff probably cut its teeth on e-mail and Web servers, now the same personnel are being asked to deploy new applications and build out a networking infrastructure.
Designed for Windows XP networks, Netasyst D/DX is a network analysis tool that’s built to help IT staff troubleshoot network bottlenecks. Netasyst D is a basic version of the same server software that is behind Netasyst DX. The difference between the two tools is expert knowledge. For example, Netasyst D can check bandwidth capacity to see if a network can handle a new application, and it can verify that the calculations for bandwidth consumption were correct or off target. Netasyst DX can do the same thing, but it will also offer advice on how to remedy the problem.
Steve Finegan, Network Associates product marketing manager, said there are many ways Netasyst D/DX can help small business networks perform better.
“Certainly Netasyst D/DX can be used prior to deploying new applications or servers,” Finegan said. “Any sniffer can help pinpoint network bottlenecks, but Netasyst DX is protocol analyzer that can spot poor server response time, identify over- and under-utilized resources and identify inefficient applications. Netasyst DX is really all about network optimization.”
In addition to sorting out sticky applications, Netasyst D/DX can be used to maintain network availability and performance and verify existing security measures. Finegan said that one of the key features of Netasyst D/DX is its capability to minimize the effects of security incidents.
“We provide free security filters for Netasyst D/DX that help recognize when a worm breaks out on a network,” Finegan said. “Netasyst D/DX helps IT staff take immediate corrective action to determine where the worm is and clean it up. This can dramatically decrease network downtime.”
Since October 2003, Netasyst users have downloaded more than 95,000 of these worm-squashing security filters. Through remote monitoring an analysis, IT staff can provide the same level of network performance and security to remote offices or branch offices. This ends up saving small business IT time and travel expenses, while minimizing potential network downtime.
What’s to Blame: the Network or the App?
Certainly, network troubleshooting can be a slow and diligent process. However, finger-pointing is frequently the greatest cause for delaying network repairs. This is because determining whether the fault lies with the network or the application is a tricky problem. Finegan explained how Netasyst D/DX helps IT staff see the big picture.
“It’s a common problem — is it the application or is it the network? With Netasyst D/DX. IT staff can actually see if it’s files on the server on the client that are causing network latency issues,” Finegan said. “It can identify misconfigured devices, root out slow Web servers and find e-mail log jams. Netasyst D/DX automatically identifies duplicate IP address, excessive retransmission, and excessive requests for files that have been denied. With the expert advice added, IT staff can see in detail how to fix what.”
More than anything else, Netasyst D/DX can help small businesses resolve networking problems faster, Finegan said. Because the time-to-resolution is accelerated, end-user productivity is enhanced, and the end result is reducing the total cost of ownership.
Netasyst D/DX is a software-only product that supports 10/100 local area networks (LANs) using the Windows XP operating system. Two products are now available. Netasyst D network analyzer software starts at $1,995 and Netasyst DX starts at $4,995. One year’s worth of free 24×7 technical support comes with both products. After the first year, technical support costs run between 15- and 20-percent of the total purchase price.
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