The buzz is around network usage reports

All the news that's fit to print ... as long as it's about bandwidth monitoring.

By Bryan Betts, Techworld | Techworld
Published: 03:57 GMT, 17 November 05

Traffic graphing for fun and profit
Monitoring network and resource usage long term, as well as short, allows administrators to plan ahead and bill for usage, not merely respond to problems, said Paessler as it announced version 5 of its PRTG Traffic Grapher software. The company said that it has added network protocol analysis in this version, enabling the program to compile lists of the top talkers, top connections and top protocols by scanning packets for the protcol and the source and target address.

PRTG Traffic Grapher runs on Windows and can collect data via SNMP, packet sniffing, and NetFlow. Other new features in v5 include a user interface redesigned for large network use, and a reporting system that includes a billing system. The software is available as freeware for up to three sensors, or in commercial form for larger networks from $50.

Stay alert to excess bandwidth
Avoid paying over-bandwidth fees and make sure you have the documentation needed for compliance and auditing by tracking your network throughput, said Neon Software, the developer of CyberGauge for Windows. It added that CyberGauge 6.5 can automatically create real-time utilisation graphs as well as regular quality of service (QoS) and billing reports.

Neon said that in version 6.5 it has added features to send and log alerts when significant network events occur, such as traffic exceeding predefined limits, a device going offline or the data transfer rate going out of specification. CyberGauge costs from $395 for five devices with any number of interfaces, and a single copy of the software can be upgraded to monitor up to 50 different pieces of network equipment.

Tracking net usage for free via NetFlow
NetFlow data from Cisco routers and switches can provide organisations with a wide range of usage reports, including top hosts, top applications, top protocols and top conversations, traffic patterns and bandwidth usage details across interfaces and IP addresses, claimed AdventNet as it released a free edition of its NetFlow Analyzer software for Windows and Linux.

The free edition can collect and report on NetFlow data from a maximum of two interfaces, which should satisfy the needs of smaller organisations, according to AdventNet. It added that the latest version includes reports on autonomous systems and support for NetFlow version 7, and that the free edition can be upgraded to its more capable professional edition.

What are your views on this subject? Use the form below to post a comment on this article up to 500 characters.

Characters remaining: 500

Related Networking news

Cisco free iPhone app grabs security feeds

Cisco SIO To Go iPhone application for IT managers on the road

20 November 2009

Queen's speech promises action on pirates

Government sticks to plans to disconnect illegal file sharers

Ombudsman faults EC's Intel antitrust ruling

European Commission accused of "maladministration"

Blue Coat unveils faster network security appliances

Web security gateways acheive 1Gbps performance

Related Networking reviews

Western Digital WD TV Live media player

Opera 10 browser

Internet Explorer 8 review

SANs tuned for virtualisation

Whether you're using virtualisation to make large applications more manageable or to consolidate many small applications, a SAN packed with features that ease the management of storage for virtual machines is a good thing.

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

Techworld White Papers

Database security: Preventing enterprise data leaks at the source

IDC discusses the growing internal threats to business information, the impact of government regulations on the protection of data, and how enterprises must adopt database security best practices...

Download Whitepaper

Service-oriented security

SOA has become an integral part of enterprise software by providing a framework to efficiently develop software as services that is easily sharable, reusable, and integrated. No where is the need more apparent than in the Identity Management space. Welcome to the age of Service-Oriented Security (SOS).

Download Whitepaper

Data protection prospective vendor checklist

Organisations need a way to map business needs against all these challenges in procuring a technical solution. To help, SANS has developed the following Prospective Vendor Checklist.

Download Whitepaper

Unlock the power of the mainframe

This whitepaper presents the notion of CICS as an integration hub based on a component-based, service-oriented architecture supporting Web services. Highlights will review the challenges and contrasted support for Web services natively in CICS.

Download Whitepaper

Techworld UK - Technology - Business

COLT White Paper

Are all VoIP services the same?

Questions to ask your service provider to ensure you get the VoIP service you need
With careful choice of partner, your business can have all the advantages of VoIP access - reduced costs, flexibility and simplicity - without the drawbacks.
This white paper is your guide to ensure you get right the VoIP service and details the pitfalls which businesses would do well to avoid.

Download white paper
BMC

Ride the express lane in the journey to speed ITIL adoption

Explore the challenges in making the journey to ITIL and the criteria for selecting consulting services
By following ITIL practices, your IT organisation will become more closely integrated with the business. We recommend making the journey to ITIL in a sequence of six incremental steps, the phases of which are driven through execution of a strategic transformational roadmap.

Download white paper

Webcast: IT Financial Management: Cost Optimisation for Efficiency and Agility.
On Demand Webcast
Join this webcast to learn about the techniques and technologies that can help you prove the value of IT to the business by understanding the true cost of today's IT services and those that will be necessary to deliver future success.

Register Today

Site Map

IDG Network

* *