[comp.graphics.visualization] Need recommendations for Visualization software

sdo@cbnewsl.att.com (scott.orshan) (12/12/90)

I'm doing performance analysis of a networked OLTP system, and I think
that Visualization is the best way to do most of the analysis.

I need to select some software (within a limited budget) to run on
a 25MHz 386 using either DOS or UNIX (with X and Open Look).
It has Super VGA and Color.

I don't need to do any object modeling (shading, ray tracing), but
I do need comprehensive graphics, and I'd like to get some minimal
animation to show time flow.  I'd also like something that can
take a real-time feed, and display it in various animated forms (strip chart,
meter, bar display).  3D is a must (projected 3D - not the goggles stuff).
It's also got to be able to make Postscript files of its screens.

There's a package called Graftool that looks like it has great graphics.
There's also Systat/Sygraph, which also is a full Stat package.
I realize those aren't animated, but I can display multiple graphs
in sequence.  And of course there's apE.  I'm getting information on that
as we speak.

I'm looking for opinions - if you had to do what I have to do, what
software would you choose?  Any comments on the products I mentioned
above?  apE is so cheap that I could get it and something else, if
there are things it can't do well.

Reply by mail, and I'll summarize.

Thanks for your help.


Scott Orshan
UNIX System Labs
908-522-5063
sdo@attunix.att.com
attunix!sdo