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Observer® 12 WEB Literature

Observer®: A network monitor and protocol analyzer for Ethernet, Wireless 802.11b/a/g, Token Ring and FDDI networks. Observer provides metrics, capture and trending for both shared and switched network environments.

Observer is a cost-effective, software-only, Microsoft Windows-based network monitor and LAN troubleshooting tool. Observer can monitor single-segment LANs/802.11 networks and with the addition of Probes, Observer can be upgraded into a full distributed product for monitoring multi-segment LANs, 802.11 networks and WANs. Observer offers both real-time monitoring and troubleshooting, as well as a complete trending and baselining collection system to view historical data collected for days, weeks, months or even years.

Observer can be upgraded to Expert Observer or Observer Suite to track multiple SNMP-enabled devices, view data from any RMON1/2 or HCRMON probe, provide expert analysis and modeling, or display Web based reports. The Observer product line can provides a complete management solution for even the most complex LAN/802.11/WAN environments.

Observer's Main Console

With Observer, a network administrator can view his or her LAN more clearly, see network traffic in real time, and with this new information, make network decisions based on facts instead of guesswork. Observer removes the mystery of what is being sent or received by LAN stations.

Convert your PC or laptop into a powerful protocol analyzer
Instantly assess the effectiveness of network changes
Switched modes see all ports on a switch gathering statistics from the entire switch or packet capture from any port or ports
Monitor and graph real-time bandwidth utilization, save historical data
Use the Efficiency History mode to baseline your LAN - check efficiency in the future using this baseline value for change determination
Collect Network Trending using advanced sampling for days, weeks, or months; graph, chart or create comparative reports
Collect statistics by user, packet size, or protocol (chart or list)
Capture, view, and decode LAN traffic in real time. Decode TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBIOS/NetBEUI, AppleTalk, DECnet and SNA, using advanced
pre- and post filtering, station, protocol and offset filtering (over 500 protocol decodes)
Chart Protocol and Subprotocol usage, including all IP services (i.e. telnet, ftp, HTTP, NNTP, LPD/LPR, NFS, etc.)
Network activity display shows at a glance critical performance information
Traffic generator and packet buffer replay for stress testing, problem duplication
Set triggers/alarms to analyze LAN traffic and pinpoint critical problems automatically
- triggers can activate message windows, captures, logs, trouble tickets or execute external programs (email or pager for example)
Vital signs display network errors as they happen, historical record saved
Router Observer displays a router's traffic patterns in real time (up to 8 routers tracked)
Show Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI errors by station
True layer 3 filtering (by IP address), and displays

Observer is the only tool that can truly and effectively stop multi-vendor fingerpointing. Once a problem has been captured, there can be no argument as to where the problem is located and which vendor is responsible.

Observer offers several modes of analysis to help you isolate specific network problems by focusing on different aspects of your network.

Packet Capture and Decode

Observer offers complete packet capture at wire speeds up to 100MB Ethernet, and Gigabit capture via a switch’s span port. Packet capture displays show total traffic, captured traffic and dropped packets (if any). Comprehensive filtering options include by MAC and/or IP address, an extensive set of included offset and protocol filters, the ability to create your own, include/exclude, error and range options.

Observer’s protocol decodes now number well over 500, and over 4000 unique frame types are identified. Once traffic is captured, extensive post filtering and auto-creation of offset filters is available.

Real-Time Network Statistics

Flow based statistics are available for all network speed up to Gigabit . Each statistics display offers multiple ways to view your data, including graph, chart (2-D, 3-D, pie), dial and listing. Network Statistics help you quickly identify trends and network abnormalities, or test throughput and verify observations. Statistics are offered in real-time for any segment or server, and using Observer’s unique switch management console, by port or ports in switched environments. Statistics include:

Bandwidth Utilization
Internet Observer
Network Activity Display
Network Errors-by-Station (Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and Frame Relay)
Network Vital Signs
Network Pair Statistics (Matrix)
Protocol Distribution
Size Distribution Statistics
Top Talkers
Utilization History
Utilization Thermometer

Full 802.11b/a/g Wireless Support

Because Observer includes complete decode, statistics, error tracking and trending for your 802.11b/a/g WLAN, there is no need to purchase additional software to manage your complete network. All versions of Observer include wireless support, and when running Observer switching between monitoring your WLAN and your LAN is two mouse clicks away. In addition to complete integration throughout all Observer modes, specific wireless modes include displays for:

Wireless Site Survey
Wireless Network Vital Signs
Wireless AP Statistics
Wireless Types by Station
Wireless Speeds by Station (cumulative)
Wireless Latest Statistics
Wireless Errors by Station
Wireless Channel Scan
Wireless Triggers and Alarms (to detect errors and intrusions)

Utilities to Help You Get Your Job Done

Observer includes many utilities and “One Button” solutions that let you get to the root of the problem - quickly and efficiently. From router tracking and reporting to automatic discovery of network names, Observer streamlines the job of troubleshooting. Each utility is designed to minimize the amount of work required to isolate a specific problem or trend, and quickly display the required information to solve the problem at hand. Click on the “learn more” icon above to read in detail about:

Efficiency History
Router Observer
Web Observer
Traffic Generator
Replay Packet Buffer
Discover Network Names
Ping/Trace Route
SNMP MIB Walker

Long Term Network Trending and Reporting

Observer’ trending facility collects and stores network, Internet and switch data for days, week, months or even years. View a single time period (i.e. a day or month), or create a period to period comparison reports. The graphical viewer offers text-based, graphical or Web-based reports. Statistical data is optimized for feedback without being forced to maintain volumes of unnecessary data.

Switch Management

Observer bridges the gap between switches and protocol analyzers by offer a number of methods to manage your switched LAN/WAN. The standard Observer product offers two methodologies for protocol analysis of switched devices - port based mirroring to view a specific devices traffic or to do packet capture (all managed from within the Observer console), or port looping to build a statistical view of all ports on a switch to judge switch performance and see aggregate problems as they develop.

Other Observer Features
Read/write Sniffer® Formatted Packet Buffers - Observer can be used as a capture facility to collect and save packet captures in NAI Sniffer® format (*.enc and *.cap formats).

Observer Station Hardware/Software Requirements:
Minimum: Windows 2000, a supported network adapter, a mouse, and a VGA color monitor running in 800x600 mode

Recommended: Windows XP, Network Instruments' ErrorTrak 16 bit network adapter, a fast 16 bit VGA adapter, and a color monitor running in at least 1024x768 resolution

Network Interface Cards Supported: Any network adapter card with a NDIS 3.0/3.1 (or greater) driver that supports promiscuous mode (PCI cards recommended for Fast Ethernet). For Wireless 802.11b Cisco Aironet 340-350, Symbol Spectrum24-41x1, Intel 2011b and Nortel 41x1 adapters or compatible, for 802.11a - Proxim adapters or compatable. For 802.11 b/a - Atheros compatable. For 802.11a/b/g - Atheros compatable including Linksys and Netgear.

Switch Requirements: For using Observerþs looping Probe option, your switch must support port mirroring and have a SNMP (preferred) or telnet management interface.

For Using Observer's Ethernet Station Error Statistics: Network Instruments provides a driver for the Intel/DEC 21143 chip set adapters (PCMCIA, ISA or PCI). Network Instruments manufactures and offers NICs in both PCI and PCMCIA CardBus formats.

Operating Systems Supported: Microsoft Windows 2000/XP.

Topologies: Ethernet (10/100/Gigabit), Wireless 802.11b/a/g, Token Ring (4/16Mb), FDDI, and WAN (T1, E1, DS3, HSSI, E3).

Licensing: Observer's license is for one PC on one LAN on one site. If Observer is to be installed on a laptop, each laptop must have a separate Observer license.

Observer may run on systems with less power and RAM than those listed above, but Network Instruments does not support configurations with less than the minimum stated requirements.

Observer® is a registered trademark of Network Instruments, LLC