Observer Family

Superior Packet Capture and Decode

Top Talkers

• Decode over 610 protocols and countless sub-protocols (including wireless)
• Nanosecond resolution provides precise analysis
• Schedule automated packet captures to solve recurring issues

Network Reporting and Trending

• Collect and store data for long-term reporting and analysis
• View and analyze Internet traffic over time
• Justify capacity upgrades with Comparison Analysis Reports

Complete Vital Signs Display

• Comprehensive snapshot of error conditions ranked by severity
• Wireless-specific errors (e.g. retries, CRC, short PLCP, transmit errors)

Powerful Packet Filtering Features

• Include/exclude packets by address, address range, protocol offsets and presets; use Boolean logic to create complex filters
• Design filters visually with enhanced graphical interface
• Instantly create protocol filters selected from Protocol Distribution list
• Execute multiple filters concurrently
• Share complete filter libraries with other Observer users
• Utilize data mining capabilities to search multiple files for any user-defined filter

Over 30 Real-Time Statistics for Deeper Understanding

Alarms

• View comprehensive snapshot of network health with Network Summary
• Use Internet Observer to track conversations of interest
• View access point utilization with Wireless Access Point Load Monitor
• See all protocols and applications with Protocol Distribution
• Predict imminent slowdowns with Network Activity Display
• Scan wireless channels continuously with Wireless Site Survey
• Use Router Observer to display utilization rates
• See bandwidth usage by host with Top Talkers

• Real-time and post-capture analysis, trending
• Receive statistics on errors and monitor response time
• Track HTTP by URL
• Gain in-depth metrics on common applications such as:
• Citrix
• E-mail
• UC/VoIP
• Financial
• Web
• Oracle
• SQL

VoIP and Unified Communications Performance

• Monitor calls in-depth with over 70 VoIP metrics
• Measure call quality based on industry standards
• Acquire relevant, actionable detail and diagnostics
• Save or play voice conversations or streaming video

Connection Dynamics

• Provide a graphical view of conversations up to the application layer
• Show packet-to-packet delay times, allowing instant identification of long latency and response times
• Flag retransmissions, lost packets, and packets out of order

Expert Summary Problem Analysis

Unified Communications

• Error events shown in single, concise display in real-time
• For connection-oriented problems, double-click for further analysis

TCP/UDP/ICMP Events

• Common services responses sorted and flagged by severity
• TCP expert tracks port-based protocols for connection issues
• See all conversations
• View volume, response time, network delay, etc.

Extra-Large Memory Buffer

• Allows for increased packet capture size and extended time frames for Expert Analysis
• User-defined memory model lets each administrator fine tune Observer’s individual memory mode usage

Multi-Instance Support

• Access multiple simultaneous workspaces
• Allow several users to troubleshoot same link
• Monitor multiple topologies at once

MultiHop Analysis

• Track conversations through multiple segments
• Pinpoint and eliminate transaction delay

NetFlow and sFlow®

• Collect data from many devices to one console
• Analyze traffic statistics over weeks or months
• Up to 512 NetFlow devices per instance

Stream Reconstruction

Application Performance

• Recreate communications from captured traffic
• Rebuild web pages, e-mails and VoIP calls
• Document policy violations, investigate network problems, identify unauthorized activities

Expert Wireless Events (802.11 a, b, g, n)

• Track wireless conversations, logging errors, rogue access points, and other events of interest

“What-If ” Modeling Analysis

• Track bandwidth capacity changes (e.g. 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps)
• Review variable changes (e.g. packet size, latency, server load, number of users)
• Measure based on actual client, server, or peer-to-peer conversations
• Plot possible response time, bandwidth utilization, and packet flow

Server Analysis

• Display server response times charted against the number of simultaneous requests
• Chart response times for recorded request sets, and as request loads increase

Time Interval Analysis

• Display network errors by time frequency to learn whether a problem is sporadic or consistent
• Show if slow response is due to network load

Web Publishing and Reporting

SNMP & RMON Devices Monitor

• Share reports with non-Observer users
• Generate reports dynamically
• Configure reports based on time, station or SNMP data
• Obtain current and historical trends
• Define different access permissions for users

Complete SNMP Device Management

A single solution for multi-vendor hardware networks, including a remote  
console for SNMP-compliant devices on your LAN/WAN or the Internet.

• Obtain multiple views of device data
• Review readable and writable SNMP objects through Observer or the web
• Monitor notifications delivered by SNMP traps
• Maintain compatibility with all SNMP versions
• Configure Triggers and Alarms for SNMP data

Extensive Reporting and Trending

Advanced Reporting

• Report SNMP data in real time
• Collect data for baseline comparisons later
• Share findings with custom charts, tables, lists, and graphical objects (forms)

RMON Device Management

• Fully compliant with RMON and HCRMON standards
• Configurable alarms to warn of impending problems
• Monitor and control any RMON device

Other Great Features

• Full XML/SOAP support
• Custom decode kit for additional/proprietary protocols