GigaStor Probe analyzes remote Gigabit links with ease

Probe from Network Instruments aims to ease troubleshooting, planning.

Diagnosing network problems without analyzing or even inspecting the traffic related to the problem is always an exercise in speculation and guesswork. The same goes for planning: How can you recommend network changes to accommodate growth without understanding the current traffic?

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Diagnosing network problems without analyzing or even inspecting the traffic related to the problem is always an exercise in speculation and guesswork. The same goes for planning: How can you recommend network changes to accommodate growth without understanding the current traffic?

Long-distance WAN links complicate the picture. Troubleshooting or planning network segments thousands of miles away isn't easy without some level of direct analysis of the traffic. Even worse, dealing with intermittent problem reports (someone screaming, "It happened again just five minutes ago!") is extremely frustrating.

NETWORK TRAFFIC ANALYZER GIGASTOR Network Instruments

4.3

Price: $35,000 for 4TB appliance, two links or four ports; other version include 2TB version for $20,000 (one link or two ports) and 8TB version for $50,000 (monitor two links or four ports). Pros: Captures and analyzes dense traffic without skipping a beat; frugal bandwidth use. Cons: Pricey; works only with the Observer protocol-analysis tool. The breakdown Performance 30% 5 Scoring Key: 5: Exceptional 4: Very good 3: Average 2: Below average 1: Subpar or not available Protocol support 20% 5 Ease of use 20% 3 Reports 20% 4 Documentation/Installation 10% 4 TOTAL SCORE 4.3

Click to see: NetResults: GigaStor network traffic analyzer

Network Instruments says its GigaStor probe is the answer, because it can capture gigabytes of network traffic, analyze them and forward the analysis to a central console (its Observer protocol analysis and network-monitoring software). We recently tested the 4TB version of the GigaStor appliance (Network Instruments also makes 2TB and 8TB versions).

The appliance passed our tests with flying colors. Its high price may preclude some from installing probes in every nook and cranny of the network, but the unit's processing power and capacity can offset the price by letting you place probes at strategic network intersections, even if their network connection is extremely busy. The GigaStor stored high traffic volumes without missing a beat, was frugal with bandwidth, and the Observer console made understanding and solving even difficult network problems quick and easy.