The OptiView WAN Analyzer made short work of dissecting my OC-3 link, autodiscovering the ATM framing parameters in use. Within minutes, the analyzer's front page identified a couple of dozen routers, thousands of devices, link utilization, top conversations, top applications and virtual circuit information. Drilling down is a matter of mouse clicks, and you're rewarded with impressive details. For example, going from the front page to the list of worst offenders for KaZaa peer-to-peer use across my link took three clicks, and I could easily see which connections were using a particular application across all VCs (virtual circuits). In short, potentially thousands of pieces of relevant information are assimilated into one digestible view.
Analysis using the many views and tools is detailed and flexible. The analyzer's buffers maintain up to a week's worth of data--which is a bit on the stingy side for long-term trending, but data can be dumped into a database for longer term analysis.
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Good
Easy-to-view screens provide lots of detail
Models to support most WAN topologies Works well with other Fluke Networks management tools Bad
Requires disruption of WAN links to install
May require coordination with ISP or others OptiView WAN Analyzer, $27,995 (unit tested); tap, $1,555; multiuser console software, $11,999. Fluke Networks, (800) 283-5853, (425) 446-4519. www.flukenetworks.com |
As impressive as the OptiView WAN Analyzer is at identifying applications present on the link, there is room for a more complete--or even better, a user-definable--list of applications to monitor. Though the analyzer will classify hundreds of applications, too many will fall into the "Layer 3 Other" heading, meaning the analyzer sees them but can't classify them. This sort of evolving classification will be as much of a challenge for Fluke Networks and its competitors as it is for those in the packet-shaping game, and will require frequent updates for the tools to remain effective.
The OptiView WAN Analyzer will earn its keep on many networks: The details provided by its well-designed interface will allow for verification of policy effectiveness on the LAN side; dynamic seven-layer views provide intensive information on how your link is being utilized; and assistance in tracking down network trouble and troublemakers comes with the package.
The model I tested is a combination OC-3/OC-12 tester complete with remote interface that upgrades at no cost--therefore, future-proofing is built in, and if you spend a little more for multiuser console software, several analysts can use the tool simultaneously.
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