dave@westmark.UUCP (Dave Levenson) (03/03/88)
I'm installing AT&T personal computer systems (6300, 6300PLUS,
and 6310) connected by Starlan, and running MS-DOS. To help
me verify that my networks are optimally tuned, and that my
applications are using the networks correctly, I'd really like
to know what's going on on the net.
I've heard of test equipment that monitors a lan and records or
displays the traffic, and performs analysis, etc. They tend to
be rather expensive, given that I'll probably only need it once.
I can probably monitor the net from one of the workstations, using
the Starlan board already provided, and some software that listens
and records what it hears without transmitting. Does anyone know
of any software for this purpose? Does anyone have any suggestions
on this? Am I crazy to even think of doing such a thing? Is it
worth the effort?
Thanks
--
Dave Levenson
Westmark, Inc. A node for news.
Warren, NJ USA
{rutgers | clyde | mtune | ihnp4}!westmark!daverwhite@nusdhub.UUCP (Robert C. White Jr.) (03/11/88)
In article <120@westmark.UUCP>, dave@westmark.UUCP (Dave Levenson) writes: > ... connected by Starlan, and running MS-DOS. ... > I've heard of test equipment that monitors a lan and records or > displays the traffic, and performs analysis, etc. They tend to > be rather expensive, given that I'll probably only need it once. I am using Starlan quite extensively, and had the same intrest some months back. Being a member of TCA [Telecommunications Association] I ravaged the convention looking for someone who was selling a starlan protocol analizer. The most positive response I got is "We are planning to develop one for the faster implementation [due in june] when it comes out." > I can probably monitor the net from one of the workstations, using > the Starlan board already provided, and some software that listens > and records what it hears without transmitting. Does anyone know > of any software for this purpose? Does anyone have any suggestions > on this? Am I crazy to even think of doing such a thing? Is it > worth the effort? I never found any software which could monitor the network reasonably. It would seem doable, byt I don't think anybody has bothered to try it. I think you will find that the network is very binary, that is it either all works, or none of it does. The only problem I have had to date happened when someone went and re-aranged one of our labs. The plugged a long "leash to nowhere" into the system which scrabled everything. [Long wires act like an antena sometimes, which can introduce unaccptable noise on the LAN making it look "always busy"] Other than this catstrophic type of failure I havn't had any problems, and a protocol analizer wouldn't have helped at all. Working with Starlan, the most useful accessory is a map of the physical routing. The second most useful accessory is a server implemented under UNIX, as you can often find things out from the unix behavior, while the MS-DOS systems mostly go " 't don work.. " which is of little help. Durring instalation "netstat /name=<remote name> /cont" will be your best friend. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< << All the STREAM is but a page,<<|>> Robert C. White Jr. << << and we are merely layers, <<|>> nusdhub!rwhite nusdhub!usenet << << port owners and port payers, <<|>>>>>>>>"The Avitar of Chaos"<<<<<<<<<<<< << each an others audit fence, <<|>> Network tech, Gamer, Anti-christ, << << approaching the sum reel. <<|>> Voter, and General bad influence. << <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ## Disclaimer: You thought I was serious???...... Really???? ## ## Interogative: So... what _is_ your point? ;-) ## ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ninja@bradley.UUCP (03/16/88)
You might want to give Vartech, Inc. a call. They have something called a "Performance Monitoring Tool" (or similar name) that gives a very accurate picture of what's going on on the StarLAN. I've only seen it on Unix boxes but I think it's a good bet that they have a DOS version too. It's not a protocol analyzer, but I think it would be very usefull for anyone with medium to large StarLAN applications. If we had the $$ I would love to have it, but our application size doesn't justify it. Frank McGee Bradley University ihnp4!bradley!ninja Vartech : Vartech Inc. 600 North Commons Drive Suite 104 Aurora, Il. 60504 (312) 851 - 0321