Software for bandwidth management

Can make configuration backups, and supports virtual LAN management

New software for managing switches and servers has been launched by comms vendor Zyxel and network monitoring firm Paessler.

Zyxel announced an enterprise network management tool called NetAtlasEnterprise SNMP Network Manager, able to monitor up to 500 devices.

Zyxel product manager Jon Pearce commented, “This is our first network management system for switches and has come out of our telco IP DSLAM management system.”

NetAtlas is aimed at networks running multiple applications over multiple switches and can monitor traffic down to port level, said Zyxel. It can make configuration backups, and also supports virtual LAN management. Zyxel is also aiming to support the growing “triple play” demand for voice, data and video.

Pearce admitted that NetAtlas is focused on Zyxel’s own switches, but because it is based on Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) it could provide basic configuration options for non-Zyxel switches.

Although not specifically aimed at switches, new software from Paessler called SNMP Helper Pro could help network staff to monitor server utilisation of bandwidth and other server and workstation performance metrics such as CPU load and disk space. SNMP Helper Pro has software extensions to monitor hardware running Microsoft’s Exchange, SQL, Biztalk and ISA Servers.

Zyxel’s NetAtlasEnterprise is available now priced at £2,550 + VAT, while Paessler’s SNMP Helper Pro costs about £57 + VAT, and the extensions for Microsoft servers cost £57 + VAT each.