Novell Inc, Provo, Utah, has announced a new network analyser claimed to isolate problems quickly and accurately on any combination of Ethernet, Starlan and token ring networks. The LANalyzer can be set to run either a pre-defined testing routine, or customised to perform more complex tests – depending on whether it is used by a novice or experienced network manager. Novices can run through the spreadsheet-based test routine and input the criteria for the test – for example svrview to check the servers – and the test is carried out; around 40 of these preprogrammed applications for network troubleshooting and performance management characterisations including NetWare, TCP/IP, AppleTalk and DECnet are included. In addition to the preprogrammed tests, the product enables network managers to develop customised tests. A menu-driven troubleshooting guide directs users through the testing process by suggesting probable causes for network disruptions and recommending the next testing procedures to confirm diagnosis. The user can also simultaneously transmit and receive packets, so that traffic can be simulated and its impact monitored at the same time. A general network overview is given, displaying a number of network characteristics such as collisions, bad packets and token rotation time. More detailed information can be collected according to nine sets of conditions for categorising network traffic in real time. These sets come configured for specific types of data, such as good packets, bad packets or Ethernet packets: if desired, the user can re-configure eight of the sets using 16 distinct criteria – for example, network managers might set filters to analyse traffic through a gateway. Data coming from the nine sets can either be displayed in real time or captured for later analysis and report generation. A number of alarms can be set to notify the user of specific events, for example when a threshold of acceptable activity is exceeded, or when an unauthorised user is found on the network. The LANalyzer operates at all protocol layers of the OSI seven-layer model for NetWare, Novell NetBIOS, TCP/IP, SNMP, AppleTalk Phase I and II, DECnet and XNS protocols. Available in the US now, the kit form has a list price of $10,000. The price of the complete system, installed in any of several portable 80386-based computers, varies by system. A free upgrade kit may be obtained through Novell’s LANalyzer Assurance Program or under the standard one-year LANalyzer product warranty. Separately, Novell also gave details of a new release of its NetWare for Macintosh software, which adds support for Apple Computer’s AppleTalk Phase 2, AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP) v2.0 and TokenTalk, and providing Macintosh users with transparent access to NetWare 2.15 files and services. NetWare for Macintosh 2.0 will be available this September.
