Interactive scorecard and NetResults: Network monitoring

Network World Fusion, 09/04/00

Every network is unique. This calculator lets you change the weights given to scores from our review to see which product might be best suited for your needs. Here's how it works: In each category, our reviewers rated the apps on a 1-10 basis. These ratings are then multiplied by the percentage weighting, and then added up to give an overall product score. Any score above 9 is considered "world class."

For each category below, assign the percentage weight you think is most appropriate. The percent-o-meter box on the right will keep track of your weightings to let you know when you've reached 100%. When you fill in the last box, hit your enter key, and you'll see how the apps rate (along with our final scores for comparison).

Percent-
o-meter

Category	Our weight	Your weight
Monitoring	20%	%
Notification	20%	%
Corrective action	20%	%
Reporting	15%	%
Manage- ment	15%	%
Install- ation	5%	%
Document- ation	5%	%

Results table

Below, you'll find the 1-10 score given to each app by our reviewers. To obtain the final score: Multiply each individual score by the weighting given that category, then add up all those resulting numbers.

Ip-
Mon-
itor 6.0 App-
Man-
ager 3.4 Robo-
Man NT 7.5 Guard-
ian 4.1A Sys-
tem Sen-
tinel 2000 Log-
Caster 2.6 Moni-
tor-
IT 2.0

Monitor-
ing 9 9 7 9 7 6 8

Notifi-
cation 9 7 9 9 8 8 7

Cor-
rective action 9 9 9 7 8 6 6

Report-
ing 9 9 8 6 8 6 9

Manage-
ment 9 9 9 7 7 8 5

Install-
ation 9 5 9 8 9 9 7

Doc. 9 7 5 6 6 8 6

Our total 9.00 8.30 8.25 7.65 7.60 6.95 6.95

YOUR TOTAL

Individual category scores are based on a scale of 1 to 10. Percentages are the weight given each category in determining the total score. Scoring key: 10 - Can't be better; 9-8 - Excellent; 7 - Very good; 6-5 - Average; 4-2 - Needs improvement; 1 - Not supported or doesn't work.

NetResults

IpMonitor 6.0
RATING: 9.00
COMPANY: MediaHouse Software (888) 956-9559
COST: $695 per server.
PROS: Monitors Windows and IP-addressable network devices; excellent user interface; useful reports.
CONS: Should include more application-specific corrective actions.

AppManager 3.4
RATING: 8.30
COMPANY: NetIQ, (408) 330-7000
COST: $600 per server.
PROS: Supported the most applications out of the box; superior script language.
CONS: Requires purchase of SQL Server 6.5 or 7.0.

RoboMon NT 7.5
RATING: 8.25
COMPANY: Heroix, (800) 229-6500
COST: $595 per server.
PROS: Clear, unambiguous notification messages; comes with a lot of default notification rules.
CONS: Weak and unsophisticated scripting language.

Guardian 4.1A
RATING: 7.65
COMPANY: Argent Software, (860) 674-1700
COST: Starts at $9,000 for 10 servers.
PROS: Monitors Windows and network devices.
CONS: Expensive; needs Crystal Reports for useful reporting.

System Sentinel 2000
RATING: 7.60
COMPANY: NTP Software, (800) 226-2755
COST: $1,495 per server and $125 per client.
PROS: Checks accessibility by logging on to a server.
CONS: Doesn't track specific applications or nonserver IP-address-able devices.

LogCaster 2.6
RATING: 6.95
COMPANY: Ripple Technologies, (215) 321-9600
COST: $795 per server; $95 per client.
PROS: Easy setup of filters and rules.
CONS: Narrow focus - only monitors certain versions of applications.

MonitorIT 2.0
RATING: 6.95
COMPANY: Breakout Technologies, (908) 561-5210
COST: $195 for one server and 15 clients; $99 each 10 additional clients.
PROS: Monitors Windows NT and IP-based devices.
CONS: Doesn't use SNMP alerts.