NETWORK & SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Intelligent Protocol Analyzer: Sniffer Analyzer Family N etwork General Corp.'s Sniffer Analyzer family of network analyzers continues to excel as the best all-around network analyzer available. Its easy-to-use DOS-based software boots fast and immediately captures packets, giving analysts the ability to quickly diagnose problems with little or no configuration. The ability to identify Transport and Application layer data as missing or retransmitted is Expert Sniffer's most useful talent. This capability is sorely lacking in other analyzers. Using its ability to embed analyzers anywhere on a network, the Distributed Sniffer System (DSS) makes console access possible from a remote location. DSS is superior to Remote Monitoring (RMON)-based packet capturing becaus e DSS' captures and analysis are performed in the local Sniffer Server, requiring only small amounts of screen and keyboard data to traverse an already-overloaded network. An honorable mention in this category goes to Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Internet Advisor as the Swiss Army knife of WAN analyzers. It can connect to anything short of your cable TV outlet. Another honorable mention nod goes to Shomiti Systems' Century LAN Analyzer family. With its template-based "build-a-packet" traffic generator and full-duplex, high-speed capture, this is one to watch. Sniffer Analyzer Family , $4,995 to $14,995, Network General Corp., (800) SNIFFER, www.ngc.com Honorable Mentions: HP Internet Advisor , starts at $11,700, Hewlett-Packard Co., (800) 452-4844, www.hp.com/go/internetadvisor Century LAN Analyzer Family , $999 to $17,074, Shomiti Systems, (888) Shomiti, (800) 52 5-5645, www.shomiti.com Awards Table of Contents

Updated April 24, 1997