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Fluke recently released the latest version of the OptiView Integrated Network Analyser, adding new features to what was already a highly functional network troubleshooting tool aimed at professional users.
The unit itself has not changed in physical format - it uses the same tablet form factor with a touch sensitive display, although this now operates at a higher resolution. But its base operating system has been upgraded to run a customised and locked down version of Windows XP.
The real work is done using a custom network analysis board, which provides analyses at full wire speed, and is capable of coping with gigabit network speeds.
A wide range of testing tools are available including protocol analysis, SNMP discovery and mapping tools, RMON2 probe and a UTP cable tester. It's also possible to troubleshoot wireless LANs in tri-band - although this is an add-on option and requires a proprietary wireless card from Fluke costing £2,866 (all prices ex VAT).
The basic OptiView comes with a single 10/100Mbit/s wired interface. A 100Base-FX fibre connector is available on the OptiView Pro (£11,473), while the top of the range OptiView Pro Gigabit has a hot pluggable 1000Base-X interface card (£15,936).
Once connected to a network, automatic discovery is triggered and it instigates a search for manageable devices. There is now an estimated time for completion, which was previously lacking, again a minor but useful update. The summarised data is then presented.
Detailed analysis on WAN environments and on VLANs can be carried out, although some of this is dependant on the model of switch. and both are extra cost features (WAN £1,116, VLAN £1,909).
The usual cable testing facilities are included, and it's also possible to create different traffic loads to assist with stress-testing the network. Capturing and decoding network packets for troubleshooting is done using the Expert viewer application. This automatically decodes and categorises problems throughout the OSI layer.
Reports can be generated using the OptiView Reporter software in a variety of formats including HTML. It can be deployed as a semi-permanent monitoring station, accessible via a web browser.
The OptiView Series II is a rounded tool to help supervise and keep a network in optimum condition. Although it's portable, the limited internal battery life makes it more of a desktop than a handheld tool. Even though the pricing has dropped it's still really only an option for the enterprise market.
Contact: Fluke (01923) 281300
www.fluke-networks.com
Specifications:
- Wireless standards supported 802.11b/g/a
- Weight 2.1Kg without external battery
- Battery life 1 hour (internal)
- Interfaces 1xVGA 2 USB
- Connectivity RJ-45 10/100Base-T Ethernet, 100Base-FX (OptiView Pro), 1000Base-X (OptiView Pro Gigabit)
- Warranty 2 years RTB
See also:
All Routers
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