NetQoS this week will unveil the latest version of its ReporterAnalyzer application traffic analysis product that gives network managers insight into who is using which applications and when.

ReporterAnalyzer 7, software packaged as an appliance, will offer network managers more diagnostic tools to solve network problems, the company says, with new features such as Flow Forensics and customizable application definitions. The product has also been upgraded to provide a view into traffic from a single management interface, from which network managers can drill down into more comprehensive data sources to determine the cause of performance problems in real time, according to NetQoS.

By tracking flow rate, Flow Forensics will enable network managers to identify 100% of network traffic, down to the protocol, host and conversation on every link, NetQoS says. This feature will also allow network managers to specify thresholds based on flow rate to identify irregular traffic patterns, which would indicate a performance problem or a security issue. Flow Forensics also augments security tools by identifying the impact or the potential threat of worms, viruses or other security threats to network performance, the company says.

Customization enhancements allow network managers to define applications by port ranges, subnets or types of service to differentiate between multiple applications using the same protocols. The new customization feature can also help network managers monitor the volume of VoIP traffic, the company says.

NetQoS uses a data collector that sits near core network routers, a data interpreter that is connected to a hub router and server reporting software. The collectors passively monitor NetFlow traffic, compress the data and send it to the interpreter, which analyzes the information. The interpreter then sends the data to the server, from which network administrators access traffic and application data via a Web browser.

ReporterAnalyzer starts at $25,000. The cost is based on the number of monitored interfaces.

Ann Bednarz is associate news editor at Network World.