Interactive scorecard and NetResults: Directory administration tools

Network World Fusion, 01/29/01

Every network is unique. This calculator lets you change the weights given to scores from our review to see how this product might be best suited for your needs.

Here's how it works:
New scoring for reviews
As of Jan. 8, Network World has switched its scoring scale. We will now score products on a scale of 1 to 5, rather than 1 to 10. We feel that scoring on a 1 to 5 range would be more easily understood than previous methods. As it relates to school grades, the new scoring would establish 1=D, 2=C, 3=B, 4=A. A score of 5 would be the exceptional score - a scholastic equivalent would be scoring an A in an honors 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 score for comparison).

Percent-
o-meter

Category	Our weight	Your weight
Consolidation	20%	%
Migration	20%	%
Ease of use	20%	%
Ongoing mgmt.	10%	%
Modeling	10%	%
Undo	10%	%
Document- ation	10%	%

Results table

Below, you'll find the 1-5 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.

NetIQ Bindview FastLane Aelita

Consolidation 3 3 3 3

Migration 3 3 3 3

Ease of use 4 3 2 1

Ongoing management 3 4 4 3

Modeling 4 3 3 3

Undo 3 3 3 3

Documentation 3 3 3 1

Our total 3.30 3.10 2.90 2.40

YOUR TOTAL

Scoring key:
5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;
4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average;
3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad;
2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected;
1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed.

NetResults

Domain Migration Administrator 6.2
RATING: 3.3
COMPANY: NetIQ, (888)323-6768, (408)330-7000
COST: $9 per user.
PRO: Complete package accessible from a single interface.
CON: Offers minimal ongoing management capabilities.

DM/Manager
RATING: 2.9
COMPANY: FastLane Technologies, (800)947-6752, (613)271-2022
COST: DM/Manager - $8 per managed user.
PRO: Role-based administration of Active Directory.
CONS: Confusing, many disparate tools.

bv-Admin for Windows
2000 Migration 3.6
RATING: 3.1
COMPANY: BindView, (800)813-5869, (713)561-400
COST: $9.95 per user.
PRO: Good consolidationof migration steps, which saves time.
CON: Slowest migration software.

Controlled Migration Suite
RATING: 2.4
COMPANY: Aelita Software, (800)263-0036
COST: DMW starts at $11 per migrated user account.
PRO: Good migration tool for large enterprise networks.
CON: Confusing to use.