Appliance does detective work

New package enables better monitoring of network performance

Network Instruments last week launched Observer 12, the latest version of its enterprise network troubleshooting package, which boasts new functionality for monitoring network performance, plus tools to help firms address compliance issues and police multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) service- level agreements.

UK sales director Ian Cummins said Observer 12 benefits from a dedicated reporting system running on a “turnkey” appliance.

“We’re introducing the Observer Reporting Server to correlate data from our [packet analysis] probes, and also adding new functions to make Observer not just a network troubleshooting system, but a network monitoring system as well,” he said.

Observer 12 also features a tool for analysing data traffic stored on Network Instruments’ Gigastor appliances. Called Security Forensics, this facility allows firms to analyse traffic data retrospectively and gather security information.

Cummins said Security Forensics could be used to highlight data collected weeks ago, then apply rules developed for Snort, the open-source intrusion detection and prevention system, to resolve security problems.

Another key enhancement, Cummins said, is that Observer 12 enables firms to monitor the service levels delivered by MPLS service providers.

The new version also provides native support for IPv6, and can perform Secure Sockets Layer and Secure Shell traffic analysis, providing administrators running Observer have the requisite encryption keys.

A further improvement is the ability to reconstruct documents using the saved data packets the document was carried in during its transmission across the corporate network.

“If someone sends a spreadsheet out and the email address is a Yahoo, Hotmail or Google one, then Observer can be set to trigger an alarm and collect the data needed to rebuild that Excel document,” said Cummins.

Observer will be made generally available today. Pricing for Observer 12 Expert, which has VoIP, MPLS and Application Analysis, will start at £2,895 + VAT. The Observer Reporting Server software begins at £9,995 + VAT and the Gigastor Appliance with the Security Forensics package loaded starts at £17,995 + VAT.