Enterasys, 3Com and Cisco released new network management software
last week, writes Antony Adshead.
The products range in scope from high-level administration of
metropolitan and provider networks through to automated
distribution of application software across corporate
networks.
Cisco's Supervisor Engine III is aimed at those using the company's
Catalyst 4006 switches. It prioritises traffic from the backbone to
the edge of the network in metropolitan and enterprise networks.
The software caters for quality of service applications such as
voice and video streaming. It is also designed for those who need
to control high-bandwidth physical connections and regulate
bandwidth to specific connections in Ethernet-based systems.
Version 3.5 of 3Com's Network Supervisor features what the company
calls an "Advanced Package". This includes a Bulk Agent Upgrade
facility that allows network supervisors to download the latest
versions of software drivers for 3Com devices from the Web and
distribute them to networks of up to 2,500 IP devices.
Downloads are activated by a live update feature and are then
distributed throughout the network using the Bulk Agent Upgrade.
Previously, some version enhancements of software would be skipped
by administrators because of time constraints - this software
allows the work to be done with a few mouse clicks.
Network Supervisor 3.5 also includes multiple SNMP (Simple Network
Management Protocol) strings to enhance security, and a network
mapping capability which allows full visualisation of networks by
IP subnet or a flat Layer 2 view.
Netsight Atlas from Enterasys is a suite of system-level management
tools. It features plug-in applications that the company claims
will make it easier to carry out discovery, event management, alarm
logging and network mapping.
New network management tools
Research carried out by
Ingenium for Intel Landesk has found that 54% of UK network
managers believe the growing use of notebook PCs in the business
has complicated network management.
Sixty-five per cent of respondents also feel that large-scale
software distribution creates a major headache and overwhelms
network and server bandwidth. The proliferation of mobile devices
is seen by 63% of network managers as leading to higher support
costs per employee.