Analyze your network

• By Trudy Walsh
• Aug 06, 2008

SolarWinds has announced the release of Real-time NetFlow Analyzer software, which the company says answers the question, 'Why is the network so slow?'

Available as a free download, the software captures and analyzes network traffic data.

The two most common causes for network slowdowns are insufficient bandwidth and improper network usage, the company said. To deal with both problems, engineers need to measure exactly how the network is being used and by whom. NetFlow Analyzer helps them do this by aggregating information about IP traffic from devices on the network, according to SolarWinds. Engineers can then determine whether an application or device is clogging the network or if the cause is a systemic bandwidth problem.

The Real-time NetFlow Analyzer starter kit includes:

• NetFlow configurator tool, which enables users to configure NetFlow v5 via SNMP on supported Cisco devices.
  
• Detailed traffic analysis, which visualizes network details by isolating inbound and outbound traffic by conversation, application, domain, endpoint or protocol.
  
• Personalized traffic display, which configures NetFlow data views with settings for sample periods up to 60 minutes, display mode and refresh rate.

More information