* Netcordia adds capabilities for monitoring wireless and VoIP
Netcordia this quarter plans to revise its flagship appliance so that it can monitor wireless traffic, and by year-end it plans introduce an add-on module to let customers watch voice traffic on IP nets.
Netcordia NetMRI appliances will be able to monitor wireless traffic and spot wireless access points and devices. The company is also loading the appliances with more than 90 best practices for IP nets, 20 more than in the previous release.
“Each issue is a network exception that we identify on the network by collecting data via SNMP from routers and switches,” says Terry Slattery, Netcordia founder and CEO.
NetMRI comes in three sizes to monitor small, midsize and large networks and show network managers where and how they can better configure their network gear and make changes to optimize network performance. NetMRI installs on a switch port or router interface and identifies network devices and the ports, or interfaces, being used to route traffic across a network. Network managers input blocks of IP addresses for the appliance to monitor, and the appliance begins collecting data such as CPU utilization, routing table information, virtual LAN activities, MAC addresses and port connections.
With the add-on, Netcordia also includes support for Cisco’s Service Assurance Agent, which will enable the appliances to perform active testing on the network. For example, it would help network managers determine if their network could handle VoIP traffic. The add-on also supports Cisco CallManager.
“A lot of people don’t have visibility into their VoIP networks, but we can identify the components on the path and perform testing,” Slattery says. Netcordia competes with the likes of Network Physics, but Slattery argues his tools are not used for real-time detection or deep packet inspection. He says NetMRI does a broad scan of the network to find known issues and help companies reconfigure routers, switches and more to an optimal state.
NetMRI Campus model covers 200 routers and switches, or 5,000 interfaces, and pricing starts around $25,000. NetMRI Enterprise 500 handles 500 routers and switches, or 15,000 interfaces, and pricing starts around $50,000. And NetMRI Enterprise 1000 can manage 1,000 routers and switches or 30,000 interfaces, and pricing starts at $85,000. Version 1.3 of all three will be generally available by the end of this quarter. The VoIP add-on module will be available in the fourth quarter.
