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Interactive scorecard and NetResults: DWDM equipment

Network World Fusion, 04/02/01

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
Performance	20%	%
Enterprise feature set	20%	%
Mgmt. admin.	20%	%
Security	20%	%
Serviceability	10%	%
Installation	5%	%
Document- ation	5%	%

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.

Nortel Bindview Alcatel iTouch

Performance 4 4 4 4

Enterprise
feature set 5 4 4 4

Mgmt. admin. 5 4 4 4

Security 3 3 3 3

Serviceability 5 4 4 2

Install-
ation 5 3 2 5

Document-
ation 5 4 3 3

Our total 4.40 3.75 3.65 3.60

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

OPTera Metro 5200
RATING: 4.4
COMPANY: Nortel Networks, (905) 863-0000,
PRICE: $97,170 per shelf.
PROS: Flexible operation; powerful management; user-configurable cards.
CONS: Large and heavy; requires powerful PC for Web management. Pricing notes: Configuration price as tested. In all cases, price varies with options and features; contact vendor for specific pricing.

Metro 1500
RATING: 3.75
COMPANY: Cisco, (408) 526-4000,
PRICE: $71,273 per shelf.
PROS: Easily transportable; decent expandability; good management.
CONS: DWDM topology support is limited; no IOS.

Optinex 1690
RATING: 3.65
COMPANY: Alcatel, (972) 477-2555,
PRICE: $103,592 per shelf.
PROS: Easily transportable; decent expandability; good management.
CONS: Expensive; DWDM topology support is limited; vendor support weaker than competitors.

iTouch WDM44
RATING: 3.6
COMPANY: iTouch Communications, (978) 952-4700,
PRICE: $30,000 per shelf.
PROS: Small and light form factor; inexpensive.
CONS: Modules are hard-wired; maximum of four channels as configured.