Even a basic network analyzer can tell you if it's the server or the client that's slow, or if your network is overloaded. Sometimes it can pinpoint the cause of the problem, but at minimum, it should tell you where to concentrate your resources.
So how high-end should you go? As with many other technologies, the more experience you have, the less you'll need to spend.
Get Real--Ethereal, That Is
One of our favorite analyzers is the open-source Ethereal. While lacking some of the features in commercial products, it's free and could meet your needs, especially if you have a small or departmental network or you're just looking to get basic information. And unlike most commercial offerings, which run only on Windows, it's Linux-compatible.
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