Network Instruments Network Analysis - Manual (Page 2)

Every member of the gigabit product family is designed with Network Instruments’
unique Distributed Network Analysis (NI-DNA™) architecture. This award-winning
analysis technology delivers investment flexibility, prompt problem resolution, proactive
network management, complete application analysis, and integrated visibility. Below
are a few examples of the powerful functionality found throughout the gigabit and
10 Gb product line.
Statistics – Observer offers over 30 real-time statistics for gigabit and 10 Gb analysis,
including Network Summary, Bandwidth Utilization, (DCE and DTE displays), Top Talkers,
VLAN Metrics, IP Pairs, Protocol Distribution, and Network Activity.
Link Utilization – Observer provides granular analysis on gigabit links so
communication can be viewed on a conversation-by-conversation basis or in
aggregation. Monitor up to eight ports for any simultaneous combination of SPAN
sessions, full-duplex connections, and trunked gigabit links.
Application Analysis – Monitor the application layer in real time and post capture
through Observer’s Application Analysis. Track application session flows and failed
transactions, gather statistics on errors, monitor response times, and perform network
forensics for gigabit and 10 Gb links.
Distributed Expert Analysis – Regardless of location, Observer ensures rapid diagnosis
and resolution of network problems for over 570 Expert conditions. Observer’s Expert
Analysis offers real-time and post-capture Expert event identification, modeling, and
analysis for gigabit and 10 Gb networks. View network conditions in a single, concise
display. All analysis is done remotely at the probe delivering only screen updates to the
Observer console, minimizing impact to the network.
VoIP Expert – Monitor VoIP connections and improve VoIP performance across the
organization with VoIP Expert. See VoIP traffic statistics and track call quality with over 20
metrics. Observer offers complete decode of VoIP protocols including SIP, H.323, MGCP,
and SCCP. Save or play voice conversations or streaming video. Track jitter or lost packets
(in each direction) and total VoIP utilization.
VLAN Statistics – Determine if VLANs are overloaded and verify VLAN setups on
gigabit and 10 Gb links. Observer displays real-time VLAN statistics in aggregation or by
individual load per station.
Connection Dynamics – Observer provides a graphical view of network conversations
down to the application layer. Conversations are displayed packet-by-packet with Expert
Analysis, allowing for instant identification of latency. Drill down on a conversation for
granular analysis and to pinpoint problems immediately.
Filtering – Observer offers an extensive range of filtering capabilities for both real-time
and post-capture analysis. For data mining tasks, Observer pre-filters capture buffers,
resulting in quicker analysis. This feature is vital for sifting through large volumes of data
(gigabit and/or long-term captures). Observer can also execute filters concurrently and
share filter libraries among users.
Trending and Reporting – Observer allows users to collect, store, view, and analyze
gigabit traffic over days, weeks, months, and even years. Use this data to perform
historical analysis and determine if capacity upgrades are needed. Observer also includes
over 20 Ready-Made Reports for instant snapshots of network health as well as the
ability to create custom reports. Reports can be sent via e-mail or published over the
web to share with management.
In-Depth Analysis for Gigabit and 10 Gb Networks
SQL Application Analysis
VoIP Summary
Expert Summary
VLAN Stations Report