Network Instruments improves performance monitoring

Network Instruments upgrades will make it easier for IT staff to monitor cloud applications

Network Instruments has added new features to its Observer software designed to offer improved performance monitoring and a simplified display.

The Observer platform now allows IT staff to track and monitor the performance of any cloud-based software to detect issues occurring on the network.

Stephen Brown, product manager at Network Instruments, explained that Observer had also been given a new dashboard layout to provide information in a more simplified manner and give IT staff a better understanding of network information.

"With the rise of cloud software it's important for firms to be able to work out if any issues on the software are being caused by their network, the internet service provider or the company hosting the software," he said.

"By improving and simplifying the monitoring of network performance we can give IT staff a much clearer picture of what is going on, from high-level network monitoring to packet-detail data for problem sharing."

The Observer software has also been upgraded with improved storage compliance for packet-level data, improved baseline accuracy, and enhanced support for financial firms.

The new Selective GigaStor Storage software will allow firms to carry out retrospective network analysis by providing storage capabilities that meet data compliance and security requirements.

"Recording and storing information is very useful but, for example, a VoIP call can be considered a form of illegal tapping. However, we've now made it a lot simpler for staff to tell the system what type of information it should record and what to ignore," said Brown.

"This means that the system can still record the packet information of the call to provide network management and look back over any issues, but no voice information will be held to help overcome compliance issues."

Network Instruments has also doubled the amount of information its GigaStor product can hold from 288TB to 576TB to meet the growing storage demands of large firms.

The company has added a new Baseline Drift Elimination tool to improve baseline accuracy and avoid issues on the network from being hidden if server quality declines.

"By being able to lock the network baseline, IT staff can be alerted far earlier to any drops in performance than was previously possible. They can even set an alarm to warn them when metrics reach marginal or critical levels," Brown said.

Finally, Network Instruments has improved its FIX analysis software within GigaStor components to help financial organisations meet the detailed monitoring and analytical requirements for trades taking place on their networks.