Observer 13 Released

Network Instruments is proud to announce Observer 13. From customizable, high-level reporting features in the Observer Reporting Server and increased performance of GigaStor to expanded wireless and topology support, the latest release provides major new features that will excite new users and Observer pros alike.

New in Observer 13:

  • Real-time TopN enterprise-wide visibility through ORS NetLive
  • Single-click root cause analysis from application-level ORS reports
  • GigaStor file structure optimized for faster data mining and RNA
  • GigaStor active reporting speeds problem resolution through immediate processing and extensive drill-down capabilities
  • Unparalleled NetFlow scalability with new NetFlow Trending instance
  • Support for 802.11n wireless standard and OC-3/12

Learn more.

     
   
  Top 5 Observer 13 Features
Network Instruments has a history of developing features around customer requests. For example, the introduction of Observer Reporting Server (ORS) was driven by customer need to aggregate Observer views. Upon using ORS, many asked for greater troubleshooting capabilities. As shown below, Network Instruments has met those customer requests by adding real-time analysis in ORS.


Given all of the new functionality added to our solutions compared with the limited space of the newsletter, this article focuses on a few primary features originated by Observer users.

Real-Time Performance Reports
NetLive, a newly released ORS component, provides engineers with high-level network operation center (NOC) views of network and application performance in real-time, allowing them to simultaneously monitor current network conditions while pinpointing concerns. From these business-wide views, engineers can drill down and isolate network problems.

Application Response Time Analysis
Many of the new features within ORS address user demand for root-cause analysis of high-level problems. ORS now auto-baselines application performance, establishing benchmarks for normal application performance. In monitoring this, engineers can drill from the application level down to specific host servers as well as compare day-by-day performance.

GigaStor Interface and Active Reports
We upgraded the GigaStor navigation interface and made additional enhancements to facilitate easier problem isolation and troubleshooting. The interface presents network activity within macro and micro timeline views, providing users a big-picture view and a micro view to quickly pinpoint problems.

One of the most exciting Observer 13 additions is GigaStor Active Reports, which speeds the problem identification process. Active Reports allow organizations to immediately view customizable reports without having to process mined data. The reports offer extensive drill-down capabilities for quick investigations.

Unparalleled NetFlow Scalability
Using our Advanced Expert Probe as a NetFlow collector, organizations can aggregate and monitor NetFlow data. The new NetFlow Trending Instance offers unparalleled scalability by allowing engineers to configure up to 512 NetFlow devices per collection device.

Expanded Topology Support
Observer 13 provides support and monitoring for new topologies.

  • Expanded Wireless Offering — Observer supports the emerging wireless standard 802.11n
  • OC-3 and OC-12 Support — Monitor and analyze OC-3c and OC-12c traffic and decode OC-related protocols. Observer offers Packet over SONET (POS) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) over SONET support.

Although the new capabilities discussed above are quite extensive, they only represent a small portion of the features added to Observer 13. To learn more about Observer 13, check out the website or read the press release.
     
   
  URL-Based Tracking
As the number of web services explodes, managing HTTP servers has become, well, unmanageable. New with version 13 is the ability to track individual URL performance, which includes statistics such as response times, volumes, utilization, and site-specific statistics. This feature is available with Observer Expert and Observer Suite.

To setup URL Tracking, follow these steps.
  1. Under the Trending and Analysis Menu inside Observer Expert or Observer Suite, click on Application Transaction Analysis. This will bring up the main URL tracking screen.

  2. Go to the Settings tab.

  3. Click Add > or Discover > to add a new server.

  4. Under the “Add/Edit Application Transaction Analysis Server” window select HTTP(TCP) as the application.

  5. In that same window ensure “Track by URL” is checked

  6. Next, select Configure…


  7. Inside the “Configure URL Tracking” window you can set
    • Limit to URL level — here set how many URL levels to track: /FirstLevel or /FirstLevel/SecondLevel
    • Track by listed URL — define specific URL levels by name
    • Track by content type — select from a list of options




     
 
october 2008  


Last Month's Answer
The acronym DLCI (related to frame relay data frames) stands for Data Link Connection Identifier.

Congrats to last month's winner, Kay Klasen of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This month's question: During the 1970s, computer engineers at various institutions began to use telecommunication technologies to link their computers. By what name was the forefather of the modern Internet known?

Submit your answer and be entered to win a Network Instruments® polo shirt.

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