Network General Corp is shipping its long-promised Expert Sniffer package, designed to help network managers diagnose network problems by using expert system technology. Commercially, the new software enables Network General to muscle in on the growing network management market as the company repositions its network analyser to be an everyday management tool, rather than an emergency aid. The term expert system has been subject to all sorts of criticism in the past and it has proven to be a bit of a disappointment, but for protocol analysis, it looks like an ideal application. The sheer bulk of low level information flooding through protocol analysers can be presented graphically, but when it comes to looking for a particular problem in a particular packet, the network manager is confronted by reams of print-out. It’s not that Expert Sniffer is particularly clever, but applying a little intelligence to a large amount of data does offer promise. The product has three features: the Automatic Problem Identification where Sniffer works in real time to automatically identify some common network problems from the physical to application layers; it has the ability to examine networks from the end-user applications perspective, for example determining the network throughput of particular applications; and there is a real time configuration identification feature that keeps tabs automatically on which devices are attached, and where. The combination of low level protocol analysis with rule-based alerts results in substantially reduced clear-up times in beta tests, according to the Menlo Park, California company. For example, when trying to identify the source of network retransmissions, the software can digest 5,000 packets in 10 seconds whereas Network General reckons a proficient network manager would take roughly 45 minutes. Existing Sniffer users that are members of the company’s update service will get the software free; it’s $5,000 to new users. Those starting from scratch will need to spend $15,500, which includes the appropriate adaptor board and software, but that doesn’t include the 80386-based personal computer needed to run it. Unfortunately, the Expert Sniffer cannot analyse the full set of 13 network protocols suites supported by Network General. But TCP/IP, Network File System, X Window, NetWare, DECnet Phase IV, OS/2 LAN Manager, 3+Open, and LAN Server are included, with AppleTalk promised soon.
