* The Reviewmeister looks at a network modeling tool from Analytical Engines, NetRule
Analytical Engines’ NetRule Version 6.0 was very easy to configure and learn, providing good modeling tools especially for LANs.
The NetRule library contains a reasonably large selection of vendors and products. However, it does allow customization of any network models, such as changing the CPU processing power, interfaces, etc. The tool does not check for configuration errors or device inconsistency. Nor does it check for IP address conflicts, or protocol errors. It seemed to us that the model assumes that no input errors have been introduced by users. That is a large, and probably unreasonable, assumption.
NetRule provided a palette consisting of Cisco-specific and generic network devices. Model creation is very straightforward. Simply drag and drop devices from the NetRule library to create the network, adding the appropriate links and routing protocol information. Next, define the source and destination, the required resources such as priority, message bytes, delay and the traffic type.
Unfortunately, NetRule does not interface with management packages such as OpenView or CiscoWorks. NetRule can read a CiscoWorks text file, but not as directly as IT Guru. The text file has to be in the predefined format that NetRule expects. This made the replication of our large-scale production environment a labor-intensive process. As a result, we could not easily import our 120-device network topology into the product. Instead, we manually created a 12-router subset of our production network.
Once the model was completed, we could create reports based on configuration changes to the devices and links. The NetRule reporting feature was very good, providing a graphical display of network utilization, delay, traffic flow, etc.
We found NetRule’s performance to be acceptable. It takes quite a bit longer than we expected for the application to launch, but once it started NetRule seemed to operate relatively quickly in displaying the result whenever we implemented changes to the model.
NetRule’s printed documentation appeared to come right from a color laser printer. We would have preferred documentation more professional in appearance, although the necessary information was included.
NetRule doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of IT Guru. But what it lacks in muscle power it makes up for in user friendliness. After attending a one-day training session, we could create network models without problem. This easy-to-learn package does a decent job modeling smaller sized networks, making it ideal for modeling building or departmental LANs.
For the full report, go to https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/1018review.html
