Network monitoring tools

Some handy information on the products we reviewed.

Network World, 09/04/00

ipMonitor
AppManager
RoboMon
Guardian
System Sentinel
LogCaster
MonitorIT
WhatsUp Gold
InterMapper

Product: ipMonitor

Monitors:
Collects Windows NT performance data (via Performance Monitor data), notes failed NT services and specific event log entries; pings IP-addressable network devices to check for availability and polls them via SNMP to discover their status Applications monitored:
Oracle, SQL Server, Exchange, Notes

Notification:
E-mail; pager, issue a network broadcast message, insert entry into Windows NT event log; alert ICQ chat client; SNMP alert

Corrective Action:
Reboot a server, restart an NT service or launching a customized program or batch file

Price:
$695 per server

Product: AppManager

Monitors:
Windows NT performance parameters; event logs; registry; services; can monitor network devices and non-Windows computers

Applications monitored:
Oracle, SQL Server, Exchange, Lotus Domino, Citrix MetaFrame, Citrix WinFrame, SAP R/3

Notification:
E-mail; pager; SNMP alerts

Corrective Action:
Launch a program; restart an NT service or application; update database via ODBC

Price:
$600 per server

Product: RoboMon

Monitors:
Windows NT performance; event log entries; application log file entries; COM object changes; Windows Management Interface events; Cisco devices

Applications monitored:
Oracle, SQL Server, Exchange, WinFrame, Lotus Notes, Lotus Domino

Notification:
E-mail; pager, SNMP alerts

Corrective Action:
Launch a program; make network configuration changes; update database with SQL statements; copy a file or restart application or NT service

Price:
$595 per server

Product: Guardian

Monitors:
Windows NT event logs, NT services, Performance Monitor data; can also monitor Linux; can send IP pings and SNMP polling requests to network devices

Applications monitored:
SQL Server, IIS, Exchange

Notification:
E-mail; pager; SNMP alerts; send network message

Corrective Action:
Restart Windows NT service; reboot server; launch program or batch file

Price:
Starts at $9,000 for 10 servers

Product: System Sentinel

Monitors:
Windows NT event logs, NT services, Performance Monitor; can ping network devices and check accessibility via automated logons

Applications monitored:
Citrix MetaFrame, Exchange, SQL Server

Notification:
E-mail; pager; update database via ODBC; SNMP alert

Corrective Action:
Launch program or batch file; restart NT service; start or stop remote services; reboot computer

Price:
$1,495 per server and $125 per client

Product: LogCaster

Monitors:
Windows NT event logs, NT performance data, IP-based devices, certain NT services; Unix and Linux log files

Applications monitored:
Citrix MetaFrame servers and CheckPoint Firewall-1 servers; Exchange 5.5; Proxy Server 2.0; SQL Server 7.0

Notification:
E-mail; pager; SNMP alert; database via ODBC

Corrective Action:
Launch a program or batch file

Price:
$795 per server, $95 per client

Product: MonitorIT

Monitors:
Windows-based computers and IP-addressable network devices

Applications monitored:
Not applicable

Notification:
E-mail; pager

Corrective Action:
Launch program or batch file

Price:
$195 for one server and 15 clients; $99 each 10 additional clients

Product: WhatsUp Gold

Monitors:
Network traffic (SMTP, HTTP, DNS, FTP, POP3, IMAP, telnet and other common services); ping, port scanning and throughput capabilities

Applications monitored:
N/A: monitors network

Notification:
E-mail; pager

Corrective Action:
None

Price:
$695 per copy

Product: InterMapper

Monitors:
SNMP polls, IP pings, AppleTalk echo packets, DNS and NBP queries; SNMP requests include DNS server, UDP Listener, RTSP, LDAP, RADIUS, KeyServer, DHCP, APC UPS, NTP, HTTP Proxy, HTTP Post, 4D Server and FileMaker Pro

Applications monitored:
N/A: monitors network

E-mail; pager; AppleEvent or SNMP alert

Corrective Action:
Cycle power through PowerKey Pro unit to force a server reboot

Price:
Starts at $295 for 10-node network