Award: Network & Application Performance Management System
Winner: Compuware Corp.: Application Expert 2.1
The number of players in the Network & Application Performance Management arena grew last year, putting pressure on reigning nobility such as Hewlett-Packard, Response Networks and Opnet Technologies. Bringing a somewhat fresh view of application performance management was Compuware Corp., with Application Expert 2.1.
With an intuitive user interface and amazing drill-down capabilities, Application Expert offers root-cause analysis of application performance issues. By providing high-level and packet-level views of data as it flows across the network, Application Expert pinpoints problems in applications, network devices and bandwidth utilization. Application Expert is the first product designed to bridge the gap between developers and network administrators, offering a common view of application and network performance that allows both groups to utilize the same data when troubleshooting performance issues.
Award: Enterprise Network Management System
Winner: Peregrine Systems: InfraTool Network Discovery 4.0
Network management generally elicits nightmare visions of huge, gnarly implementation projects that suck the life from everything they touch. This has begun to change. Every vendor now is providing console network management applications; they are making more happen when their products come out of the box.
Peregrine's InfraTools Network Discovery 4.0 is a network management appliance with the best Layer 2 discovery going. Network management products claiming Layer 2 discovery abound, but InfraTool does it better and faster, with accurate network connectivity and inventory, something many vendors have tried and tried and tried.
Award: Software Delivery & Desktop Management Systems
Winner: Novell: ZENworks for Desktops 3
Since the dawn of personal computers, desktop management has been a major pain -- as well as a black hole of time and money. Many vendors have gone down trying to make a useful enterprise system. Novell, on the other hand, has succeeded with ZENworks for Desktops 3, and it continues to make this category better and better.
ZENworks for Desktops may be the best use of a directory outside of user access. The package leverages the directory to prevent helpdesk and departmental administrators from shooting their users and themselves in the foot. Placing configuration in the directory along with implementing standards and flexible support for various operating systems makes it a winner.
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Winner:
NetRule 2.3, now shipping 4.0, Analytical Engines, (866) 4NetRule, (703) 287-8720
www.analyticalengines.com
Finalists:
EcoPREDICTOR 3.0, Compuware Corp., (800) 521-9353, (248) 737-7300
www.compuware.com
IT Decision Guru 6.0, now shipping 7.0, OPNET Technologies, (202) 364-4700
www.opnet.com
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Award: Network Simulation Tool
Winner: Analytical Engines: NetRule 2.3, now shipping version 4.0
Building complex networks is a difficult proposition, without mentioning the expense, especially if you get it wrong. Simulating that network is a much better approach, and with the release of NetRule by Analytical Engines, it's a cost effective, easy-to-use approach.
It has been difficult to make the discrete simulation engines of the past work in a timely fashion without a Ph.D. NetRule, a completely Java-based application, not only measures network traffic but also its impact on users, servers and applications. This gem of simulation seems too easy to be true, but it proves that useful and difficult don't necessarily have to go together.
Award: Web Site Performance Monitoring Solution
Winner: Holistix: Holistix Remote Monitor
Growth in the Web site performance monitoring market exploded this past year, especially in the number of new online-based services. Companies quickly realized that it was not only important for their Web sites to be available; sites also must be available worldwide and respond in an acceptable manner. A slew of product releases ensued, all designed to monitor a Web site's availability and overall performance from sites located around the world. With its robust set of features and depth of analytical data, Holistix' self-named Remote Monitor takes our Well-Connected Award. It provides users with a view of how remote performance monitoring should be done.
Holistix Remote Monitor offers insight into a site's performance from the customer's point of view. It also provides enough detailed information to perform root-cause analysis of performance degradations. Breaking down "response time" into DNS time and network transfer time offers a better view of how important the network services upon which the Web servers rely are to the end-user experience. By coupling a robust reporting engine with detailed performance statistics and an easy-to-navigate Web interface, Holistix Remote Monitor proves that a performance monitoring application offered via the Web needn't be limited in its features or capabilities.
Award: Network Protocol Analyzer
Winner: Sniffer Technologies, a Network Associates business: Sniffer Distributed Sniffer System (DSS) with RMON 4.0
Networks just keep getting bigger and more complex, which makes it harder to keep them running smoothly. At the same time, expectations keep increasing that networks will run reliably. Fortunately, Sniffer Technologies' Sniffer DSS (Distributed Sniffer System) continues to rise to the challenge. The Sniffer product line always has had some of the best decodes and "expert analysis" features in the business, and the latest DSS product can apply these features at up to gigabit wire speeds. In addition, it is designed to focus the highly prized skills of network engineers on resolving problems as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Up to five network engineers can collaborate on a capture session. The GUI client, which has the exact look and feel of the Sniffer Pro desktop product, also can be used to set up port mirroring on a switch. It can take things a step further, too, and view the switch via SNMP as well as dynamically determine which port will be monitored based on preset thresholds. Tapping directly into a full duplex connection also is a cinch. Furthermore, its built-in RMON1/RMON2 support gives you the ability to collect data from RMON2-compliant network management software.
Award: Small to Medium Business Network Management Solution
Winner: Ipswitch: Whatsup Gold
When you're in a small shop, you have more hats to wear than time to make sure they fit. As a result, there is no room for management overhead. Your investments in time and money must be rewarded immediately with easy control and clear insight. Ipswitch's Whatsup Gold delivers this, exactly.
Whatsup Gold provides out-of-the-box network and systems management using a Web-based interface. It will page you when there is a problem, give you an inventory and track performance overtime. It's a powerful management application for small businesses with a likewise small price. But don't be fooled. Nothing about Whatsup Gold is cheap; it delivers serious management.
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