How we did it

We evaluated each product's ability to manage, administer, update, monitor, report on, diagnose, troubleshoot, reset, reconfigure, audit (inventory) and secure network devices, server computers and client computers. Virtually all our testing took place across WAN links.

In our management tests, we administered users, groups, servers, clients, routers, switches, remote storage and DSU/CSUs. Our servers included Web, file, application and database servers.

The ability to resolve a problem automatically was a plus. We tested the sending of SNMP alerts and the processing of incoming alerts. We produced reports to show device and computer status information, inventory results, network usage trends, security breaches, availability and uptime information, network baseline information and graphical maps of the network. We also tested any special features the product offered.

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We evaluated each product's ability to manage, administer, update, monitor, report on, diagnose, troubleshoot, reset, reconfigure, audit (inventory) and secure network devices, server computers and client computers. Virtually all our testing took place across WAN links.

In our management tests, we administered users, groups, servers, clients, routers, switches, remote storage and DSU/CSUs. Our servers included Web, file, application and database servers.

The ability to resolve a problem automatically was a plus. We tested the sending of SNMP alerts and the processing of incoming alerts. We produced reports to show device and computer status information, inventory results, network usage trends, security breaches, availability and uptime information, network baseline information and graphical maps of the network. We also tested any special features the product offered.

Our lab's various computing environments included Windows NT/98/2000/ME, Solaris 8.0, Macintosh System 8 and OS/2 Warp 4.0. Relational databases on the network were Oracle 8i, IBM DB2 Universal Database, Sybase Adaptive Server 12.5 and Microsoft SQL Server 2000. The transport protocols on the network were TCP/IP, IPX, AppleTalk and SNA. An Agilent Advisor protocol analyzer eavesdropped on the network traffic to reveal overall utilization and detailed dialog messages.

We ran each network management product's server component on Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

Back to main review: Network management systems

Read more about infrastructure management in Network World's Infrastructure Management section.