Once the software was configured, we were able to create and manipulate IP subnets and VLANs across our entire test bed. EEM lets you view your subnets and VLANs as logical entities, as opposed to viewing the configuration data of each individual switch. After configuring several new VLANs, we were able to apply the changes to both switches in our test setup. EEM configured each switch with the appropriate data behind the scenes. Our testing showed EEM to be a valuable tool for enterprise network management of Extreme devices. More than just a show-and-tell tool, it really helps simplify device configuration. It also lets you monitor and view the health of your network, and includes a Web-based telnet client that lets you access the switch console from a Web browser to configure options not available in the Web-based menus.

When our testing began, Extreme was shipping version 2.1.2b3 code. Near the end of our tests, the company released a beta version of its 4.0 code. Although we didn't test the new features in this code, the vendor informed us of the many new features that had been added to this release. Some of the more important ones include filtering and QoS prioritization based on Layer 4 TCP/UDP port numbers, OSPF ASBR (Autonomous System Boundry Router) support, route filtering, route redistribution, trusted hosts and software-based IPX routing. We will test this code in our upcoming review of chassis-based Layer 3 switches.

The products sent from Compaq and Allied Telesyn are OEMs of Extreme's hardware. Allied Telesyn offers a 16-port 10/100 switch with a single gigabit uplink. Like the Extreme offering, the Allied Telesyn ATI-8518 has a redundant gigabit uplink. Allied Telesyn offers no additional value to its product, thus it is included only in our features chart. Compaq bundles the product with enhanced management options.

Compaq Computer Corp.Compaq Enterprise Switch 5450
Compaq resells Extreme's Summit48 switch as the Compaq Enterprise Switch 5450. Compaq offers additional management options, but the hardware remains the same. We tested Compaq's Network Management software on the 5450 to compare management capabilities. Compaq provides a unique package that provides added functionality, including autodiscovery and network health management.

Compaq's management software consists of a Windows NT Server back end and a Java-based panel-view application. Unlike Extreme's EEM, the Compaq Management software supports device autodiscovery. After installing the management software, we had it discover our two Compaq switches. In addition, it discovered the Compaq Professional Workstation from which we ran our management consoles and benchmarks.

Compaq's Network Management software more closely represents a typical SNMP management package than Extreme's configuration tool. Using the Compaq software, we were able to monitor SNMP alarms, and track RMON history, events, alarms and statistics from the Compaq switches. In addition, we were able to call up a device view of the switch, where we could view and configure ports on the switch. The Compaq Network Management software is not a replacement for Extreme's built-in Web server or command-line interface, but rather a tool to help you manage Compaq's networking and workstation/ server product lines. For customers interested

in simple networkwide management, the Compaq Network Management Software is a terrif-ic deal. Compaq's switch carries a street price of about $12,995, or about $1,000 more than Extreme's list price. Its list prices were not available.

Send your comments on this article to Joel Conover at jconover@nwc.com

We would like to thank the following vendors for providing test equipment: Ganymede Software for its Chariot Network Performance Application; IXIA Communications for its IXIA Model 1600 Traffic Generator; Midnight Networks for its Avalanche Network Routing Simulator; Optivision for its LiveSystem mpegNet® MPEG2 Network Video Encoder; Pioneer for its DVL-909 DVD/Laser Disc Player; and Shomiti Systems for its Shomiti Century LAN Analyzer.