Fluke Analyzers Now Deliver Enhanced Support of VLANs, Multiple Subnets
OptiView VLAN Vision arms network managers with vital VLAN information from a single point on the network
Everett, WA -- Fluke Networks has announced the latest enhancement for the OptiView Integrated Network Analyzer and the OptiView Workgroup Analyzer, providing network managers with the ability to discover and characterize devices that are connected to remote subnets on a virtual local area network (VLAN). The new VLAN Vision option complements OptiView's other powerful subnet troubleshooting features -- Trace SwitchRoute, and MultiPort Statistics -- speeding the deployment and maintenance of VLAN networks.
In the past, network engineers were forced to monitor each switch port separately with a protocol analyzer or equip each segment with a dedicated network analyzer to identify configuration errors or connectivity problems commonly associated with VLAN usage. OptiView with VLAN Vision eliminates the need to equip each network segment or separately test from multiple locations so equipment costs and troubleshooting times are drastically reduced.
"No other network management or analysis solution has the ability to penetrate subnet boundaries and deliver visibility into multiple VLANs on one screen from one point in the network like OptiView," said Mark Mullins, marketing manager, Distributed Network Analysis, Fluke Networks. "VLAN Vision widens the scope of OptiView's proprietary discovery engine to gather all VLAN-specific information and deliver it to network managers in a single, complete view unlike anything they could ever create using multiple tools."
Using OptiView with VLAN Vision, network troubleshooters are able to identify incorrectly configured devices all over the network from a single point of connection. This extension of network visibility eliminates the need of configuring mirror ports or installing taps in order to acquire the common network information critical to troubleshooting.
In addition to displaying associated MAC, IP, NetBIOS, and services for a device, OptiView with VLAN Vision indicates switch, slot, port and speed. VLAN-related switch configuration information is presented in easy-to-use views for the quick diagnosis of network infrastructure issues. Within minutes, network managers can identify the source of connectivity problems caused by incorrect VLAN membership assignments and inappropriate trunk port configurations.
Better and better
"OptiView continues to prove itself as an expandable platform, finding new ways to help network managers solve existing and new problems with unmatched ease and speed," adds Mullins. "The analyzer's ability to discover switches and report VLAN, port/slot, and device list information is no longer limited to one VLAN at a time. Once again, OptiView overcomes both the limitations of traditional protocol analyzers and the sizeable costs associates with many distributed network analyzers."
VLAN Vision is the latest in a series of advanced discovery techniques Fluke Networks has added to its OptiView Series. Trace SwitchRoute™ shows how data flows through the switch fabric between any two devices on the network to identify bottlenecks and performance problems. MultiPort Statistics further speeds troubleshooting in hard to analyze subnets by allowing users to see activity on numerous locations simultaneously.
Pricing and Availability
The VLAN Vision option is available beginning January 12, 2004, from select Fluke Networks' sales channel partners worldwide. The new option is priced at $2,995 (U.S. list).
Source: Fluke Networks