What is Net.Medic?

With the explosive growth of the Internet, travel on the information highway can be slow. Net.Medic helps you recognize and avoid many of the Internet roadblocks by:

•	Optimizing your online connections

•	Identifying many Internet ailments in seconds

•	Tracing the cause of these ailments to their source

•	Offering suggestions about how to solve the problems, and whenever possible automatically fixing them.

Net.Medic is an easy-to-use browser companion that animates your online connections, and tracks the vital signs of your online activity. It also provides clear and simple reports that can help you transform your online experience.

Note

When you start up your computer, Net.Medic is automatically loaded. To check if Net.Medic is currently running, simply look for the Net.Medic system tray icon in your taskbar. Even if you close the Net.Medic display, its background monitoring component continues to record your online activity for you.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What are the reasons for the crawl on the Internet?

•	How Internet slowness can impact you

•	How Net.Medic can help you

•	How Net.Medic works with your browser

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


Vital signs of your online activity

By continuously monitoring your end-to-end connection, Net.Medic tells you exactly what is happening at every critical point. With a glance, you can now easily check the following Internet vital signs from your desktop:

•	Your current online activity (for example, “Transferring data…”)

•	Current speed

•	The health of your online connection

•	The network and server delay

•	The location of bottlenecks along your end-to-end connection

•	The traffic levels on the Intranet, ISP, Internet, and remote servers

Note

For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).


Reasons for slowness on the Internet

The information crawl on the Internet can be caused by one or more of the following problems:

•	Desktops or modems that are misconfigured and not optimized

•	Bottlenecks due to insufficient capacity

•	Web page transfers that are hung (frozen)

•	Inadequate access from your desktop to your Intranet, ISP, Internet backbone, or Web site servers

•	Poor phone lines that cause modems to hang up or underperform

•	Sluggishness of Web site servers

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Internet slowness can impact you

•	How Net.Medic can help you

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	How Net.Medic works with your browser

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


How Internet slowness can impact you

At some point, the information crawl on the Internet will impact you along with other Internet or Intranet users. On a typical day, users can be found impatiently waiting for a Web page to download, wondering why a Web server is not responding, being unexpectedly disconnected from their ISP, or getting a cryptic error message that is useless unless you are an expert in HTTP.

What’s the right corrective action?

Faced with these Internet performance problems, deciding the right corrective action is often confusing. In the past, corrective action tended to focus on resolving bandwidth and congestion issues. However, available bandwidth is just one factor effecting online performance, and quite often it’s not the key factor. For example, the enormous power of the Internet can be diminished by slow modem connections, suboptimized desktop computers, or unresponsive Web servers.

Consequently, to improve Internet performance, you need the following:

•	A way to proactively monitor and manage your online experience

•	A tool to instantly pinpoint the specific source of performance problems and a way to easily communicate with those responsible for the poor performance

•	A mechanism to improve data transfers by optimizing your online connections

Fortunately, the Net.Medic software can quickly and easily help identify and isolate many of these Internet performance issues.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic can help you

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	How Net.Medic works with your browser

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


Right corrective action

Corrective action can range from real-time actions such as stopping a hung transmission and restarting, which Net.Medic will automatically do, to purchasing a faster modem or purchasing a premium service from your ISP. Useful corrective action depends on knowing the cause of the problem.

•	Should you subscribe to a premium service from your ISP? No, not if the Internet backbone or the remote servers are responsible for the bottleneck.

•	Should you buy a faster modem? No, it won’t help if the problem is that your ISP doesn’t have enough modems in their modem bank.

•	What should you do when you are retrieving a Web page and your browser “hangs”? Waiting indefinitely for the browser to “unfreeze” won’t solve this problem, especially if it’s unclear whether the page is actually hung.


How Net.Medic can help you

Net.Medic identifies, diagnoses, and fixes many problems that negatively impact your online experience.  Now you can trace each network bottleneck to its source—desktop computers (the client), your modem,  the Intranet, your ISP, the Internet backbone, or the remote Web server.

Net.Medic identifies problems in seconds, offers suggestions about how to solve the problem and often automatically fixes them. By continuously monitoring activities along your Web path, Net.Medic tells you exactly what’s happening at every point. It reports your throughput, retrieval time, Web server load and efficiency, as well as network congestion levels. In addition, Net.Medic monitors your desktop computer and modem to ensure optimal configuration for your online connections. Net.Medic provides the information you need to make informed decisions about how to improve your online experience.

Note

•	Because Net.Medic works so closely with your browser, you can run Net.Medic as a browser inlay.

•	For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic works with your browser

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	How Net.Medic identifies and isolates bottlenecks

•	How Net.Medic remedies many Internet ailments

•	How Net.Medic recommends prescriptions for Internet ailments

•	How Net.Medic contacts an appropriate resource for assistance

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


How Net.Medic works with your browser

Net.Medic works with such standard Internet browsers as Netscape Communicator 4.0, Netscape Navigator 3.x, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, and Internet Explorer 3.x.  Because Net.Medic works so closely with your browser, you can run Net.Medic as an inlay in your browser. This feature allows you to conserve desktop space and to work primarily within one window as you “surf the Web.”

Tip

•	Net.Medic remembers the last pane you snapped onto the browser and automatically resnaps it the next time you restart your browser.

•	If you widen your browser window, the entire Net.Medic inlay can be viewed.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on snapping dashboard panes and the ticker tape onto your browser

•	How to display Net.Medic as a browser inlay

•	How to work with the Net.Medic inlay

•	Net.Medic inlay menu options

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities


To change your modem or calling location

1	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon.

2	From the displayed pop-up menu, choose Set Up Location or Set Up Modem.

•	If you choose Set Up Location,  the Windows Control Panel dialing Properties dialog box opens. You can use this dialog box to specify your calling location and dialing details.

•	If you choose Set Up Modem, the Windows Control Panel Modem Properties dialog box opens. You can use this dialog box to change your modem information.

Note

•	If you need more information on using these two Windows dialog boxes, refer to your Windows documentation or help system.


Net.Medic pop-up menu options

The Net.Medic inlay has a pop-up menu that allows you to quickly perform certain tasks from the inlay. Right-click on the Net.Medic inlay to display the pop-up menu, then drag right to select an option. An x in the following table indicates the menu option is available. The Snap on Browser, Snap on Dashboard, Float Over Desktop, and Preferences commands are also available from the Net.Medic ticker tape pop-up menu.

Pane										Menu  option
Activity	Throughput	Retrieval	Client	Modem	Intranet	ISP	Internet	Server	Connect Time
x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	Close Pane
x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	Float Over Desktop
x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	Snap on Browser
x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	Snap on Dashboard
x					x	x		x		Identify
x										Hide Throughput
x										Show Throughput
	x									Hide Speed Limit
	x									Show Speed Limit
	x									Speed Limit
Note

•	Except for the Hide Throughput and Show Throughput commands, which are only available from the inlay, the preceding list of menu options is available from the dashboard or inlay.

 What do you want to know more about?

•	How to work with the Net.Medic inlay

•	What is the Net.Medic ticker tape?


Snap on Browser command

The pop-up menu command that snaps the Net.Medic dashboard pane onto your browser.

Tips

•	When you display this command from the Net.Medic inlay, this command is dimmed to indicate the pane is already snapped onto the browser.

•	Net.Medic remembers the last pane you snapped onto the browser and automatically resnaps it the next time you restart your browser.


Float Over Desktop command

Besides snapping a Net.Medic dashboard pane onto your browser, you can float it over your desktop as follows:

1	Right-click on the Net.Medic dashboard pane to display its pop-up menu.

2	From the pop-up menu, choose Float Over Desktop.

Tip

To move the floating pane over your desktop, left-click on the pane and drag it to its new location on your desktop.


Close Pane command

The pop-up menu command that closes the pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.


Snap on Dashboard command

The pop-up menu command that detaches the pane from the browser inlay and snaps (opens) it onto the Net.Medic dashboard.


Identify command

This pop-up menu command displays identification information about your Intranet, ISP, or the current remote Web server. For example, if you pop up the menu from the Intranet pane and choose Identify, your Intranet is identified. The Identify command is available from the Intranet, ISP, and server panes. You can also access the Identify command from the Activity pane by right-clicking on the server icon or one of its router hop icons.


Hide Throughput command

The pop-up menu command that closes (hides) the Throughput gauge in the Activity pane. Note that this command is only available in the Activity pane’s pop-up when the pane is snapped onto the browser.


Show Throughput command

The pop-up menu command that shows (opens) the Throughput gauge in the Activity dashboard pane. Note that this command is only available in the Activity pane’s pop-up menu when the pane is snapped onto the browser.


Hide Speed Limit command

The pop-up menu command that closes (hides) the Speed Limit digital display in the Throughput dashboard pane.


Show Speed Limit command

The pop-up menu command that shows (opens) the Speed Limit digital display in the Throughput dashboard pane. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth (capacity) available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit. You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.


Speed Limit command

The pop-up menu command that displays the submenu that can be used to change the current speed limit. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth (capacity) available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit.

You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.


How Net.Medic identifies and isolates bottlenecks

Net.Medic animates your online connection by highlighting the activity across the Internet, including traffic jams and bottlenecks. The Net.Medic dashboard identifies performance problems and isolates the source of the bottlenecks. Net.Medic alerts you to problems in your Web path, and describes them in plain language. Net.Medic also provides a diagnosis and prescription for the problem in its Diagnosis window.

Monitoring your Internet vital signs

By continuously monitoring activity along your end-to-end connection, Net.Medic tells you exactly what’s happening at every critical juncture. Net.Medic is constantly monitoring the health of your online connection even when you are not transferring Web pages. Consequently, you can use the Net.Medic dashboard and inlay to scan for potential hot spots even when you’re not retrieving Web pages.

Note

For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	How Net.Medic remedies many Internet ailments

•	How Net.Medic recommends prescriptions for Internet ailments

•	How Net.Medic contacts an appropriate resource for assistance

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

Net.Medic monitors each component in your Web path. You can quickly check the vital signs of your unique Web path with Net.Medic’s animated end-to-end overview provided in its Activity pane.

Note

•	The rate of page animation reflects the current transfer rate.

•	To learn more about an icon in the Activity pane, move your pointer over it. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the icon.

•	You will see two sets of routers if you are retrieving information from an Internet Web server and are connected to the Internet through a modem. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers. If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, you will see three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first set of the three router sets.

•	If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, you will only see one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

•	For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).

What do you want to know more about?

•	What exactly are router hops?

•	Why is router hop information important?

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities

•	How to identify objects in your Web path


Path components

	Your computer, which is at the beginning of your Web path.
	Your modem, which connects your desktop computer to your ISP. (If you connected via a local area network [LAN], this component is not shown because it’s not in your Web path.)
	Each router that was traversed to connect your desktop computer to the remote server. Each router hop icon represents an Intranet router, ISP router, or Internet backbone router in your Web path.
	The remote server, which is at the end of your Web path.
All of the preceding icons are colored to indicate the current health of the component. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health of each component in your path.


Identifying objects in your Web path

Net.Medic’s Identify feature allows you to identify the following components in your Web path:

•	The company’s Intranet

•	Your ISP

•	The remote Web server

To identify the Intranet in your path (if there is one)

	Right-click on one of the Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
	Right-click anywhere in the Intranet dashboard pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
To identify the ISP in your path

	Right-click on one of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
	Right-click anywhere in the ISP dashboard pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
To identify the remote Web server in your path

	Right-click on the server icon [image] in the Activity pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
	Right-click anywhere in the Server pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.
Note

The Net.Medic inlay also supports this Identify feature. For example, to identify the remote Web server, right-click on the server icon in the Net.Medic inlay and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.


How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

Net.Medic animates your online connections so you can easily check the vital signs of your current Web path. It continuously monitors the components and activity along your path.

Web page activity is animated as it occurs. Net.Medic also tells you exactly what’s happening at every critical juncture (for example, Net.Medic reports it is connecting to a new site and transferring data).

Note

•	The rate of page animation reflects the current transfer rate.

•	The page icon orbits your computer icon [image]  to indicate that the current Web page is being retrieved from your computer’s cache rather than from the remote server.

•	For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to interpret colors in your dashboard

•	How to identify objects in your Web path

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities

•	What exactly are router hops?

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Using router hops to obtain more detailed information


Understanding the monitored Web page activities

Net.Medic displays status messages in its Activity pane to provide you with details about your current Web page activities. The following are the possible status messages along with a description.

Browser-related status messages	Description
Opening a new site.	A new site is visited for the first time in the current session.
Attempting to get a new page.	A new Web page is being visited.
Attempting to resolve name...	The Web browser is currently trying to convert the name of the remote Web server to an IP address.
Name resolved.	The name of the remote Web server has been successfully converted to an IP address.
Unable to resolve name.	The name of the remote Web server could not be converted to an IP address.
Attempting to connect to server...	The Web browser is currently trying to establish a connection to the remote Web server.
Connected to server.	The Web browser has established a connection to the remote Web server.
Already connected to server.	An established connection already exists between the Web browser and the remote Web server.
Unable to connect to server.	The Web browser failed to establish a connection to the remote Web server.
Transferring data...	Currently the Web browser is sending data to the remote Web server or receiving data from it.
Idle	There is currently no data transmission between the Web browser and the remote Web server.
Page not found	The Web page could not be found on the remote Web server.
Page relocated	The remote Web server indicated that the Web page has been moved to another place.
Page access denied	The Web page could not be accessed due to authorization failure.
Web server has experienced problem	The remote Web server indicated that it is having a problem (for example, it is currently heavily loaded).
Modem call-related status messages	Description
Dialing	The modem is dialing for a connection.
Proceeding	The modem is proceeding to connect to a remote modem.
Connected	A connection is established with a remote modem.
No answer	There is no answer from the remote modem.
No Dialtone	There is no dial tone and the call could not be completed.
Done	The call has ended normally.
Remote Disconnect	The remote modem has terminated the connection, or the line was dropped (for example, you accidentally turned off your modem while connected).
What do you want to know more about?

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	How to identify objects in your Web path


Understanding router hops

Net.Medic tracks the number of router hops your computer (the client) traversed to connect to the remote Web server. Each router hop icon, which is shown in the Activity pane, represents one router hop along your Web path. Net.Medic counts the number of router hops and reports the total number (for example, “10 Hops”). Each router hop in your path is shown as a colored dot in the Activity pane.

Router hop groups

To help you monitor and pinpoint the source of potential bottlenecks, Net.Medic segregates the router hops in your path into different groups. These router hop groups correspond to the different demarcation points or domains (the Intranet portion, the ISP portion, and the Internet backbone portion) in your path.

•	If you are retrieving information from an Internet Web server and are connected to the Internet through a modem, there will be two sets of routers. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers.

•	If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, there will be three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first set of the three router sets.

•	If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, there will only be one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

Tips

•	To learn more about a group of router hops, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group.

•	The first router in a group is the entry router; the last router in a group is the exit or egress router.

•	To identify your Intranet or ISP, right-click on one of its icons in the Activity pane or right-click on the corresponding dashboard pane, and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	How to identify objects in your Web path

•	The different groups of router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Using router hops to obtain more detailed information


Hops when connected via a modem

If you’re connected to the Internet via a modem, there are two distinct groups of router hops in your Web path.

•	ISP routers

•	Internet backbone routers

Net.Medic calculates the health of the following router hops and then colors the router hop icons as follows:

•	ISP entry router

•	ISP egress router

•	Internet entry router

•	Internet egress router

•	The remaining ISP and Internet router hops (the routers between the entry and egress routers)

•	The entire group of Intranet routers

Note that all of router hop icons in the Intranet group are always one color (for instance, they are all gray or red at any one time).


Hops when connected via an Intranet

If you’re connected to the Internet via a LAN, there are three distinctive groups of router hops in your Web path.

•	The first hop group represents the Intranet routers

•	The second hop group represents your ISP routers

•	The third hop group represents the Internet backbone routers

For example, the following shows a connection in which the computer must traverse 13 routers (two Intranet routers, then five ISP routers, and finally six Internet backbone routers) to connect to the remote server. All Intranet, ISP, and Internet backbone routers are gray, which indicates that there are no bottlenecks in this area of your path.

Net.Medic calculates the health of the following router hops and then colors the router hop icons as follows:

•	ISP entry router

•	ISP egress router

•	Internet entry router

•	Internet egress router

•	The remaining ISP and Internet router hops (the routers between the entry and egress routers)

•	The entire group of Intranet routers

Note that all of router hop icons in the Intranet group are always one color (for instance, they are all gray or red at any one time).


Different router hop groups

Net.Medic shows the number of router hops in your current Web path. Each router hop is represented by colored dots in the Activity pane. For example, if your computer traverses ten routers to connect to a remote Web server, that Web path involves ten hops. Net.Medic segregates your path into different router hop groups. These router hop groups correspond to the various demarcation points or domains (the Intranet portion, the ISP portion, and the Internet backbone portion) in your path.

The first router in a group is called the entry router; the last router in a group is called the exit or egress router.

•	If you are retrieving information from an Internet Web server and are connected to the Internet through a modem, there will be two sets of routers. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers.

•	If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, you will see three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first set of the three router sets. If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, you will only see one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

Colors of the router hop icons

Net.Medic calculates the health of the following router hops and then colors the corresponding router hop icons in the Activity pane:

•	ISP entry router

•	ISP egress router

•	Internet entry router

•	Internet egress router

•	The remaining ISP and Internet router hops (the routers between the entry and egress routers)

•	The entire group of Intranet routers

Note that all of router hop icons in the Intranet group are always one color (for instance, they are all gray or red at any one time).

Tips

•	To learn more about a group of router hops, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group.

•	By clicking once on a router hop icon, you can obtain detailed performance information about that portion of your path. For example, click once on any of the ISP router hop icons to open the ISP dashboard pane.

•	You can identify your Intranet or ISP by right-clicking on one of its router hop icons in the Activity pane and choosing Identify from its pop-up menu.

•	By double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon, the Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry highlighted. This features helps you quickly pinpoint the source of a problem.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	How to identify objects in your Web path

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet

•	Working with the health log


Why router hop information is important

Because Net.Medic tracks and monitors the router hops along your Web path, you can quickly check the vital signs of your Intranet, your ISP, and the Internet backbone for your unique perspective. To monitor the health of your router hops, check their color in the Activity pane.

Identifying bottlenecks

If Net.Medic detects a problem with the Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone, it colors the corresponding router hop icons yellow or red. For example, if the Internet backbone is experiencing a problem, the group of Internet router hops is colored yellow.

Isolating the source of a bottleneck

By simply double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon in the Activity pane, you can quickly isolate the source of a bottleneck. The Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry automatically highlighted. By double-clicking on its router hop icon, you can even pinpoint the problem to a particular router within the ISP or Internet group (for example, to the ISP entry or egress router).

Tips

•	By simply moving your pointer over a router hop icon [image], you can use balloon help to display a brief description of that router hop group.

•	By clicking once on a router hop icon, you can obtain detailed performance information about that portion of your path. For example, to open the ISP pane in your dashboard click on any of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	You can use the Identify feature to identify your Intranet, your ISP, or the current remote Web server.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Using router hops to obtain more detailed information

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet

•	Identifying objects in your Web path

•	Working with the health log


How you can use router hop information

You can use the router hops displayed in the Activity pane to obtain more detailed information about your Intranet, your ISP, and the Internet backbone.

•	To learn more about a group of router hops, move your pointer over one of its icons. Net.Medic’s balloon help a displays a brief description of the router hop group.

•	To identify your Intranet or ISP, right-click on one of its router hop icons [image] in the Activity pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. (You can also right-click anywhere in the Intranet pane or ISP pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.)

•	To obtain more detailed information about the performance of your Intranet, your ISP, or the Internet backbone, left-click on any of its router hop icons [image] in the Activity pane. The corresponding pane opens in the dashboard with details about the performance of that portion of your Web path.

For instance, click any of the Internet router hop icons (the yellow dots in the following figure) to obtain more information about why the Internet backbone is experiencing problems.

The Internet pane opens in the dashboard.

To obtain more information about a health problem, double-click on a yellow or red router hop icon. The Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry highlighted. This feature helps you quickly pinpoint the source of a health problem.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Identifying objects in your Web path

•	Working with the health log

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet


How Net.Medic remedies common Internet ailments

Net.Medic helps eliminate a number of Web slowdowns so you won’t even encounter them. Sometimes after identifying a problem and describing it in clear language, Net.Medic asks if you want the problem remedied. Net.Medic’s AutoCure feature lets you choose the solution. For example,

•	If a  modem is not operating at optimal speed because it’s not taking advantage of compression, Net.Medic notifies you. It then asks if you want the connection optimized. With a simple click of a button, you can direct Net.Medic to go ahead and remedy the problem. The next time you log in, you should begin to see an improvement in your modem’s performance.

•	If you have an unresponsive remote Web server, Net.Medic re-initiates requests to fix hung connections, and thereby eliminates long waiting times, manual re-tries, and time-outs.

Sometimes after identifying a problem and describing it in clear language, Net.Medic asks if you want the problem remedied. With a click of a button, you can direct Net.Medic to fix the problem instantly.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic recommends prescriptions for Internet ailments

•	How Net.Medic contacts an appropriate resource for assistance

•	How to get started using Net.Medic


Eliminating many network slowdowns

Net.Medic helps eliminate network slowdowns such as the following:

•	If you have a slow modem because of improper configuration settings, Net.Medic automatically resets your modem’s configuration settings for compression.

•	If you have an unresponsive server, Net.Medic reloads the screen or re-initiates requests to hung connections. This capability eliminates long waiting times, manual re-tries, and time-outs.


How Net.Medic recommends prescriptions for Internet ailments

Net.Medic quickly identifies many desktop or modem slowdowns and makes recommendations about how to eliminate them. For example, if your modem is not able to connect at optimal speed (19,200 kbps vs. 33,600 kbps), Net.Medic recommends that you upgrade your modem.

To substantiate its recommendations, Net.Medic also provides the following clear and simple reports:

•	Net.Medic health log

•	Net.Medic history reports

•	Net.Medic call log

•	Session Summary window

•	Health Summary Report

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the health log

•	Working with the history reports

•	Working with the call log

•	Getting a session summary

•	Getting a monthly summary


How Net.Medic contacts an appropriate resource about an ailment

When your Internet performance requires additional assistance, Net.Medic tells you who to contact and even automates your requests for assistance.

•	For slow or unreliable ISP connections, Net.Medic recommends you contact your ISP.

•	If Web sites are performing poorly, Net.Medic suggests you contact the Webmaster. Net.Medic automatically generates an E-mail message to the appropriate party and asks for your permission to send it. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

Note

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users.

•	As part of the E-mail, Net.Medic automatically includes a record of the problem. After formatting the text for the E-mail message, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.

•	You can use Net.Medic’s Identify feature to identify your Intranet, ISP, or the current remote Web server.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic helps you notify the appropriate resource about a problem

•	Identifying objects in your Web path

•	Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications (for E-mail recipients)


How Net.Medic helps you notify the appropriate resource about a problem

If the prescription for an Internet ailment is to notify an appropriate resource (for example, your ISP or Webmaster), Net.Medic tells you this, creates the E-mail message that contains detailed information about the problem, and asks you for permission to send it. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

Note

•	If the remedy is to send an E-mail, Net.Medic notes this in the Prescription portion of its Diagnosis window. As part of the E-mail, Net.Medic automatically includes a record of the trouble. If it is inappropriate to send E-mail due to the nature of the problem, the Notify button is grayed out (disabled).

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users.

•	After formatting the text for the E-mail message, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.

To use Net.Medic to send an E-mail to an appropriate resource

1	Open the health log.

2	In the health log, locate the problem you want more information about and double-click on it.

3	The Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescription for the problem. In the Diagnosis window, click Notify. An E-mail message opens with details about the problem along with the probable cause. Net.Medic also fills in the subject of the E-mail message and its recipient (for example, your ISP or Webmaster).

4	Click the envelope button to send the E-mail to the specified resource. Net.Medic notifies you that it has sent the E-mail.

Tip

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users.

•	To keep a record of the reported problems, you can print the E-mail messages.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the health log

•	Working with the Diagnosis window

•	Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications (for E-mail recipients)


Opening the health log
To open the health log, use any of the following methods

	Double-click on a hot spot (a yellow or red icon) in the Activity pane.
	Click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.
	Choose Health Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic icon in the system tray area of your taskbar.  (Note that the Net.Medic icon can be gray, yellow, or red depending on your current overall online health.) Choose Health Log from the Net.Medic pop-up menu.
Tip

•	You can also open the health log by double-clicking on certain objects in panes other than the Activity pane (for example, the bank of health lights in the Modem pane). To check if the object supports double-clicking, move your pointer over it. If a magnifying glass appears, double-click on the object to open the health log.

•	When you open the health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Net.Medic icon, Net.Medic automatically highlights the matching entry in the log. This feature helps you quickly pinpoint the source of the problem without manually searching through the log.


Chronic problem

The last column of the health log reports the number of times Net.Medic has encountered the same problem during the past 30 minutes. Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users.

After formatting the text for the E-mail message, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.


To get started using Net.Medic

•	Start Net.Medic for the first time by double-clicking the Net.Medic icon on your desktop.

The Net.Medic dashboard automatically opens on your desktop. The dashboard initially reports your connection is “Idle” if you are using a modem. The Net.Medic system tray icon appears in your taskbar.

•	If you’re not already connected to the Internet, connect to it now.

•	Use your Internet browser to visit one of your favorite Web sites and watch Net.Medic animate this online connection.

•	Snap the Net.Medic Activity pane onto your browser.

Right-click on the Activity pane in the Net.Medic dashboard and choose Snap On Browser from the pop-up menu. The Activity pane snaps onto your browser as an inlay.

•	Minimize the Net.Medic dashboard by clicking [image] in the Net.Medic title bar. This lets you conserve desktop space and monitor your online session from your browser.

•	Use the Net.Medic inlay to monitor your current Web path while you surf the Web with your browser.  Net.Medic reports your current status (for example, “Transferring data…”).

•	Check the inlay for hot spots.

The color of the inlay objects indicates the health of the different components of your Web path. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. A hot spot is indicated when an object turns yellow or red. For example, a yellow modem icon indicates a health problem with your modem. The yellow dots, which represent your ISP router hops, indicate there is a health problem with the ISP portion of your path.

•	When an icon turns yellow or red, double-click on it to pinpoint the cause of the health problem.

For example, double-click on the yellow modem icon to learn more about the modem problem. The Net.Medic health log opens with more information about the hot spot.

•	Obtain a diagnosis and prescription for the problem by double-clicking on an entry in the health log.

The Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescription for the problem.

•	Follow the prescribed remedy for the problem.

•	If Net.Medic can fix the problem, then it lets you know. In this case, click AutoCure in the Diagnosis window to have Net.Medic fix the problem. The AutoCure Wizard dialog box opens and explains how Net.Medic plans to fix the problem. Click OK to have Net.Medic fix the problem. Note that if the prescription is to send E-mail to the appropriate resource (for example, your ISP or Webmaster) and it is a chronic problem, click Notify to have Net.Medic generate a detailed E-mail message to the appropriate company or individual. After formatting the text for an E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent. The E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	Click OK to close the AutoCure Wizard dialog box.

•	Click Close to shut the Diagnosis window.

•	Continue to use the Activity pane to monitor your online activities.

•	Get a summary of the session by clicking [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.

The Session Summary window opens and reports the source of bottlenecks in your current online session.

•	Click [image] to close the Session Summary window.

•	Shut down Net.Medic.

Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon. The Net.Medic inlay and dashboard close and the Net.Medic program shuts down. The Net.Medic icon is removed from the system tray to indicate that the Net.Medic program and its background monitoring process are no longer running. When you restart your computer, Net.Medic will be automatically restarted and its icon will appear in your system tray.

Note

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	To reopen the Net.Medic dashboard, left-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon.

•	To identify the server, your Intranet, or your ISP, right-click on the server icon [image] or one of the Intranet router hop icons or ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Another example of how to use Net.Medic

•	How to work with the Net.Medic dashboard

•	How to work with the Net.Medic inlay

•	How to identify objects in your Web path

•	How to monitor the health of your online connections

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections

•	How to identify and isolate the cause of the problem

•	How to get a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

•	How to remedy a problem

•	Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications (for E-mail recipients)


Sample session

This example entails Net.Medic detecting a user’s 28.8 kbps modem operating suboptimally because compression has not been enabled. Compression allows you to speed up your downloads from remote Web servers. This example assumes you have started Net.Medic for the first time and the Net.Medic dashboard is open on your desktop.

•	Check that you are connected to the Internet.

•	Visit one of your favorite Web sites.

•	Snap the Net.Medic Activity pane onto your browser.

Right-click on the Activity pane in the Net.Medic dashboard and choose Snap On Browser from the pop-up menu. The Activity pane snaps onto your browser as an inlay.

•	Watch the Net.Medic inlay animate this online connection.

Net.Medic reports how many router hops your computer (the client) traversed to connect to the remote Web server. Each router hop icon [image] represents a router hop in your Web path. Net.Medic segregates the router hops into different groups. The router hop groups correspond to the distinct regions or domains (the Intranet portion, ISP portion, and Internet backbone portion) in your path.

•	Check the Net.Medic inlay for hot spots.

The color of icons in the Net.Medic inlay indicate if there are any problems with your current path. For example, because the PC and modem icons are yellow, this indicates your desktop computer and modem are experiencing some health problems.

•	Get more information about the problem.

Check the Modem pane for more information about the modem problem. (If the pane is not already opened, click once on the yellow modem icon on your desktop in the Net.Medic inlay.)

•	Use Net.Medic to obtain a diagnosis and possible cure for the modem problem.

Double-click on the modem icon in the Net.Medic inlay to display the Net.Medic health log.

In the health log, double-click the “Modem speed suboptimized” entry to obtain a diagnosis and prescription for the problem. The Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescription for the modem problem.

In the Diagnosis window, click AutoCure. The AutoCure Wizard dialog box opens and notifies you when it has fixed the problem. Net.Medic cures the problem by enabling compression and tuning your modem and desktop configuration. If the prescription is to send E-mail to the appropriate resource (for example, your ISP or Webmaster), click Notify to have Net.Medic automatically send an E-mail notification. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	In the AutoCure Wizard dialog box, click OK to close the dialog box.

•	In the Diagnosis window, click Close to shut it.

•	Click [image] in the Net.Medic health log window to close it.

•	Before ending the session, obtain a summary of the session.

Click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar. The Session Summary window opens and reports the source of bottlenecks in your current online session.

•	Click [image] to close the Session Summary window.

•	Reconnect to your ISP and the server so your modem can begin to take advantage of its built-in compression to speed up your downloads.

•	Visit some of your favorite sites and then get another summary of your current session by clicking [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.

•	Shut down Net.Medic.

Shut down the Net.Medic program and its background monitoring process by right-clicking on the Net.Medic system tray icon.

The Net.Medic inlay and dashboard close and the Net.Medic icon is removed from the system tray. Note that the Net.Medic background monitoring process is also shut down. When you restart your computer, Net.Medic will be automatically restarted and its icon appears in your system tray.

Note

•	To reopen the Net.Medic dashboard, left-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon.

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users.

•	For detailed information about how to interpret Net.Medic results, please refer to the “Interpreting Net.Medic Results” Web page. This Web page is located on the technical support section of the VitalSigns Web site (www.vitalsigns.com).

What do you want to know more about?

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities

•	How to work with the dashboard

•	How to work with the inlay

•	How to identify objects in your Web path

•	How to monitor the health of your online connections

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections

•	How to identify and isolate the cause of the problem

•	How to get a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

•	How to remedy a problem

•	Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications (for E-mail recipients)


Health Log

This health log describes the problems Net.Medic has encountered. The last column reports the number of times Net.Medic has encountered the same problem over the past 30 minutes. Net.Medic helps you pinpoint the problem by automatically highlighting the matching entry in the log when you open it by double-clicking on a hot spot. For instance, by double-clicking on the yellow modem icon you are immediately notified that the problem is related to the configuration of the serial port.


AutoCure Wizard dialog box

A gauge at the top of this dialog box is incremented as Net.Medic works to cure the problem. After it fixes the problem, it informs you “Cure Complete.”


Diagnosis window

In this case, Net.Medic can cure the problem and prompts you to click AutoCure to have the problem fixed. If the cure had been to notify your ISP, by clicking Notify you can have Net.Medic generate a detailed E-mail message to the appropriate company or individual. After formatting the text for an E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.


Sample problem

This is a problem which you would probably not be aware of or able to pinpoint without Net.Medic. In addition, Net.Medic is able to automatically fix the problem after prompting you to click AutoCure. Without Net.Medic, you would manually have to fix the problem. Net.Medic’s robust capability to remedy slow online connections ultimately saves you time and money.


Tips

Here are some tips to help you deal with the various types of online communications problems. A tip on how to understand and interpret Net.Medic E-mail notifications is also included for E-mail recipients (Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs). Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

What do you want tips on?

•	Tips on accessing missing Web sites

•	Tips on balloon help

•	Tips on busy signals

•	Tips on dropped connections

•	Tips on modem and phone line problems

•	Tips on modem problems

•	Tips on saving hard disk space to speed up Web page transfers

•	Tips on snapping dashboard panes and the ticker tape onto the browser

•	Tips on unanswered calls

•	Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications


Tips on interpreting Net.Medic E-mail notifications

Net.Medic automatically generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems and severe warnings. In order to help the E-mail recipient (for example, Webmasters, system administrators, or ISPs), understand and interpret the contents of a Net.Medic E-mail notification, the E-mail notification now includes an event number. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

This event number is a link to the VitalSigns Web site. E-mail recipients can click on the link to open a Web page that contains more detailed information about the specific problem reported by the Net.Medic user.


Tips on balloon help

Balloon help is available for certain objects in the Net.Medic dashboard. Move your pointer over an object. If balloon help is available, a magnifying glass appears and the Net.Medic displays a brief description of the object. For example, if you’re connected via a modem, move the pointer over the first or second group of router hop icons. As the following figures show, Net.Medic displays a brief description of the router hop group.

If you are having problems displaying Net.Medic’s balloon help, try the following:

•	Reselect the Net.Medic dashboard window and then move the pointer over the object you want balloon help on.

•	Snap the Net.Medic pane or inlay back onto the dashboard and then move the pointer over the object you want balloon help on.


Tips on snapping dashboard panes and the ticker tape onto your browser

Here are some tips if you are experiencing browser-related problems.

•	Check that you are running Netscape Communicator 4.0, Netscape Navigator 3.x, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, or Internet Explorer 3.x.

•	if you are having problems snapping a Net.Medic dashboard pane onto your browser, check that your browser’s toolbar preferences are set to support pictures and text. For example, with Netscape Navigator 3.0 choose General Preferences from the Options menu. The Preferences window opens with the Appearance panel displayed. In the Toolbars section of the Appearance panel, verify that the Pictures and Text option is selected, and then click OK.

•	In addition to snapping a dashboard pane onto your browser, you can snap and detach the Net.Medic ticker tape onto your browser.  With Netscape Navigator, you can snap a dashboard pane and the ticker tape concurrently. With Internet Explorer, you can only snap a dashboard pane or the ticker tape.

•	If the Net.Medic dashboard pane or ticker tape not snap onto the Internet Explorer window, check that the browser window is wide enough to display the Net.Medic inlay. If it is not, widen the browser window.

•	If the dashboard pane or ticker tape does not snap onto your browser, check that your browser window is not minimized (closed) on your desktop.

•	Net.Medic remembers the last pane snapped onto the browser and will automatically resnap it the next time you start the browser.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on balloon help

•	List of dashboard panes

•	Working with the Net.Medic inlay


Tips on modem and phone line problems

Here are some tips if you are experiencing problems with your modem or phone line(s).

•	If your phone line has call waiting and you’re using a modem to connect to the Internet, then you must turn off call waiting. If you need more information about how to turn off call waiting, contact your phone company.

•	If you’re dialing your ISP from a business that requires a “9” for an outside phone line, you must add a “9” prefix to your dial-in string. To change the dial-in string, use the set-up dialog box provided by your ISP. If you need more information about modifying your dial-in string, contact your ISP.

•	If you’re not getting maximum modem performance after installing a modem and drivers, verify that your browser is correctly configured. If the problem persists, then contact your phone company to check if your phone line is wired for an Internet connection. If your phone line is wired for an Internet connection and the problem persists, then you should consider buying a teleprotector.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on busy signals

•	Tips on dropped connections

•	Tips on modem problems

•	Tips on unanswered calls

•	Working with the Net.Medic call log

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem


Tips on modem problems

Here are some tips if you are experiencing modem problems.

•	Verify that your modem is plugged in and turned on.

•	Check that your modem’s phone cord is securely inserted at both ends of the connection.

•	If you have an external modem, check that the phone line is securely plugged into the proper modem socket.

•	If you have an internal modem, check that the phone line is securely plugged into your computer’s modem socket.

•	Check that you are using the correct dial-in string.

•	If you’re dialing your ISP from a business that requires a “9” for an outside phone line, you must add a “9” prefix to your dial-in string. To change the dial-in string, use the set-up dialog box provided by your ISP. If you need more information about modifying your dial-in string, contact your ISP.

•	Your computer’s ability to use its modem port may be hampered if you are running telephony or communications software (for example, fax software). If you’re using such software, try the following:

1.	Close the telephony or communications software.

2.	Move the telephony or communications software from the Startup program group to another Windows group.

3.	Restart your computer and then reconnect to the Internet.

•	Use the Net.Medic’s call log to obtain more information about your modem calls made over the past month.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on busy signals

•	Tips on dropped connections

•	Tips on modem and phone line problems

•	Tips on unanswered calls

•	Working with the Net.Medic call log

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem


Tips on busy signals

Net.Medic’s call log tracks the number of busy signals your modem encountered over the past month. Busy signals are caused by your ISP’s inability to handle customer demand. For example, if your ISP does not have enough modems in their dial-in modem bank, your modem will routinely encounter busy signals.

Before switching to another ISP, contact your ISP and ask them the following questions:

1.	How many users are there currently in your geographical area?

2.	Do they have a local newsgroup that provides information and tips about their services?

3.	How many dial-in phone numbers are there for your geographical area?

4.	What is the ratio of users to dial-in phone numbers?

When evaluating the ratio of users to dial-in phone numbers, use the following guidelines. ISPs should have no more than 10 to 15 users per dial-in phone number in an area. If an ISP has more than 20 users per dial-in phone number, it usually means you’ll routinely get a busy signal.

Before switching to another ISP, ask the prospective ISP these same questions.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on dropped connections

•	Tips on modem and phone line problems

•	Tips on modem problems

•	Tips on unanswered calls

•	Working with the Net.Medic call log

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem


Tips on unanswered calls

If you have dialed your ISP and your call rings endlessly, here is some information that could help:

•	Unanswered calls are usually caused by your phone company, which provides the dial-in lines, and not your ISP.

•	Most ISPs use groups of dial-in lines called hunt groups. Problems related to hunt groups are difficult to detect and troubleshoot. Consequently, to protect yourself against such problems, ask your ISP for a list of your hunt group’s phone numbers. If you have this list of phone numbers, you can dial any of these direct phone numbers to connect to your ISP rather than dialing the hunt group’s dial-in string.

•	Ask your current or prospective ISP if they use hunt groups. If they do, then ask for a list of hunt group phone numbers.

•	Use the Net.Medic’s call log to obtain more information about your past month’s modem calls.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Tips on busy signals

•	Tips on dropped connections

•	Tips on modem and phone line problems

•	Tips on modem problems

•	Working with the Net.Medic call log

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem


Tips on dropped connections

When you’re connected to the Internet and unexpectedly disconnected, this is called a “dropped connection.” The following information may help you deal with this situation:

•	The cause for dropped connections are difficult to pinpoint and fix. Net.Medic, however, tracks dropped connections. Along with its diagnosis, if possible, it provides a prescription in its health log.

•	If you’re experiencing dropped connections, you may want to contact your phone company. If Net.Medic detects this problem, it automatically creates an E-mail that you can send to your phone company. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	Most modems sold today sense and adapt to the quality of the phone line. For example, a 28.8 kbps modem adapts to the quality of the phone line. Because of this adaptive behavior, the modem’s speed can fluctuate between 19.2 kbps and 28.8 kbps. Check the Net.Medic Modem pane for details on your modem’s performance.

•	Because the average phone line was not originally designed to transfer data, such techniques as data compression are used to increase the amount of data that can be transferred over phone lines. If your modem is connected at a speed greater than 9.6 kbps, the modem connection speed may be faster than 9.6 kbps at certain times.

•	The various brands and models of modems vary significantly in their ability to adapt to poor-quality phone lines and to the wide range of modems used by ISPs. For more information about a specific modem, check for newsgroups that discuss modems (for example, the UseNet newsgroup named comp.dcom.modems).

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic Modem pane

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

•	Working with the Net.Medic call log

•	Working with the Net.Medic health log


Tips on accessing missing Web sites

If you’ve tried to revisit a remote Web site and encountered such error messages as “…unable to find server,” this is a DNS-related problem. Such problems occur if:

•	You’ve incorrectly entered the site’s URL in your browser.

•	Your ISP’s DNS server is overloaded.

Unfortunately, DNS servers display the same error message in both of these cases. Consequently, you don’t know which condition caused the error message. Net.Medic, however, can help you pinpoint the cause and in some cases fix the problem.

When it’s your primary DNS server, Net.Medic reports this situation in its health log, and asks if you want it to fix the problem. If you decide to have Net.Medic fix the problem, it provides you with a secondary DNS server to access the Internet. If your secondary DNS server is also down, Net.Medic provides you with an alternative backup DNS server. If this is a chronic problem, Net.Medic automatically generates an E-mail notification. If it is a chronic problem, chick the Notify button in the Diagnosis window to generate an E-mail your ISP. After formatting the text for an E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.

Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the Net.Medic health log

•	Getting a diagnosis and prescription for a problem


Tips on saving space on your hard disk

Here are some tips to save hard disk space on your computer.

•	When using Internet Explorer 3.0, regularly empty its trash by completing the following steps:

1	On your desktop, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon (by default, this icon is named “The Internet”) and choose Properties.

2	In the displayed Properties window, click the Advanced tab.

3	In the Temporary Internet file section of the Advanced panel, click Settings then click Empty Folder.

4	Click Yes when asked if you want to delete all the empty folders.

5	Click OK to close the Properties window.

•	Regularly empty your desktop’s trash too. By default, the trash icon is named “Recycle Bin.” To empty this trash, right-click on the trash icon and choose Empty Recycle Bin from the pop-up menu.

•	Clean out your cache or increase its size. By increasing your computer’s cache, you can retrieve Web pages faster.

•	With Netscape Navigator 3.0, increase your computer’s cache size by choosing Options and then Network Preferences. In the displayed Preferences window, check that the Cache tab is selected and then use it to empty your cache or increase the size of your cache.

•	With Internet Explorer 3.0, choose View and then Options. Click the Advanced tab and select the Settings button. Either purge the folder by selecting Empty folder or change the percentage of disk space Internet Explorer uses.

Note

•	You can get a quick checkup of your computer’s health by checking the color of its icon [image] in the Net.Medic Activity pane. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	Check the Net.Medic Client pane for more detailed information about your computer’s online performance.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic Activity pane

•	Net.Medic Activity pane icons

•	Net.Medic Client pane


Starting Net.Medic
To start Net.Medic

	On your desktop, open the folder that contains the Net.Medic icon and double-click on it.
	In your taskbar, select the Net.Medic menu option from the Start/Programs submenu. By default, Net.Medic is installed into the StartUp programs group. For instance, if you’ve installed Net.Medic into the StartUp programs group, then you would click the Start bar, choose Programs, StartUp, and Net.Medic.
Tips

•	By default, Net.Medic is placed in the Startup folder under Programs accessible through the Start menu on your taskbar. If Net.Medic is installed in your StartUp folder (the recommended configuration), it will automatically start every time you reboot your computer.

•	When you restart your computer, the Net.Medic icon appears in your system tray. To open the Net.Medic dashboard, left-click once on the Net.Medic system tray icon.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to exit (shut down) Net.Medic


To exit (shut down) Net.Medic

Net.Medic’s background monitoring process continues to track your online activity even when the Net.Medic program is closed (minimized) on your desktop. To shut down the Net.Medic program and its background processing, you must exit Net.Medic.

To exit (shut down) Net.Medic

1	In the taskbar, right-click on the Net.Medic icon [image] in the system tray.

2	From the pop-up menu, choose Exit.

Net.Medic’s background monitoring processes stops and its icon [image] is removed from your system tray. When you restart your computer, the Net.Medic icon reappears because Net.Medic is automatically reloaded when you start Windows.

Tips

•	By default, Net.Medic is placed in the Startup folder under Programs accessible through the Start menu on your taskbar. If Net.Medic is installed in your StartUp folder (the recommended configuration), it will automatically start every time you reboot your computer.


Net.Medic icon in your taskbar
icon in your taskbar

To reopen the dashboard, click once on the Net.Medic icon in your taskbar:

or

right-click on the Net.Medic icon in your system tray.


To open the dashboard

	Left-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon and choose Dashboard from the pop-up menu.
Note

The color of the Net.Medic system tray icon [image] varies depending on the overall health of your current online session.


Color of the Net.Medic system tray icon

Color	Meaning
Gray	Your overall online health is good.
Yellow	Your overall online health is fair.
Red	Your overall online health is poor.


To close the dashboard

	In the Net.Medic title bar, click [image] to minimize the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop.
	In the Net.Medic title bar, click [image] to close the Net.Medic dashboard and/or inlay.
	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the File menu and choose Close.
Note

This process closes the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop without shutting down the Net.Medic program. To shut down the Net.Medic program, right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon and choose Exit from the pop-up menu.


Understanding the dashboard
Understanding the Net.Medic dashboard

Click on a part of the Net.Medic dashboard frame to obtain more information about it.


Title bar

Consists of the System pull-down menu and buttons used to minimize or close the Net.Medic dashboard.

	Click to display the System pull-down menu that can be used for such tasks as closing (minimizing) the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Click to minimize the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop without shutting down the Net.Medic program.
	Click to close the Net.Medic dashboard and/or inlay without shutting down the Net.Medic program.
Note

To shut down (exit) the Net.Medic program, right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon

 and choose Exit from the pop-up menu. Note that the Net.Medic icon can be gray, yellow, or red. The color varies depending on the overall health of your current online session.


Net.Medic menu bar

The Net.Medic menu bar consists of a set of pull-down menus. To pull down a menu, click on it in the menu bar.

Menu	Option	Description
File	Close	Closes the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop without shutting down the Net.Medic program. Because Net.Medic is still running, the Net.Medic system tray icon remains in your taskbar.
View	Home	Opens only the Activity pane, the Throughput pane, and the Retrieval pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Details	Opens the Details submenu from which you can open a particular pane in the Net.Medic dashboard: • Choose My PC to open the Client pane. • Choose Modem to open the Modem pane. • Choose Intranet to open the Intranet pane. • Choose ISP to open the ISP pane. • Choose Internet to open the Internet pane. • Choose Server to open the Server pane.
	Summaries	Opens the Summaries submenu from which you can open a particular pane in the Net.Medic dashboard: • Choose Activity to open the Activity pane. • Choose Throughput to open the Throughput pane. • Choose Retrieval to open the Retrieval pane. • Choose Connect to open the Connect Time pane.
	Show Toolbar	Opens the toolbar in the Net.Medic dashboard window.
	Hide Toolbar	Closes the toolbar in the Net.Medic dashboard window.
	Vertical Layout	Displays the Net.Medic dashboard window vertically on your desktop.
	Horizontal Layout	Displays the Net.Medic dashboard window horizontally on your desktop.
	Open All	Opens all the panes in the Net.Medic dashboard window.
	Close All	Closes all the panes in the Net.Medic dashboard window.
	Preferences	Opens the Net.Medic Preferences window, which you can use to change the Net.Medic E-mail, ticker tape, display colors, performance, and other preferences.
Window	Call Log	Opens the Net.Medic call log.
	Health Log	Opens the Net.Medic health log.
	History Reports	Opens the History Reports submenu from which you can view and print the various Net.Medic history reports.
	Session Summary	Opens the Net.Medic Session Summary window that gives you a summary of your current online session.
Help	Help	Opens this Net.Medic help system on your desktop.
	VitalSigns Home Page	Opens the VitalSigns home page in your browser.
	Register Net.Medic	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which contains information about registering your Net.Medic product.
	Release Notes	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which contains release note information about the Net.Medic product.
	Technical Support	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which contains technical support information (for example, Net.Medic frequently asked questions [FAQs]) about the product.
	Feedback	Opens the VitalSigns Feedback page that you can use to send VitalSigns your feedback on the Net.Medic product.
	About Net.Medic	Displays the version number of the Net.Medic software.
Note

To shut down (exit) the Net.Medic program, right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, and choose Exit from the pop-up menu. The Net.Medic program and background monitoring process shuts down and the Net.Medic icon  [image] is removed from the system tray. The next time you restart your computer, Net.Medic is automatically started and its icon appears in your system tray.


Net.Medic system tray menu options

The Net.Medic system tray icon has a pop-up menu that you can use to quickly perform certain tasks. Net.Medic adds its own menu options to the standard Windows menu options. Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon to display its pop-up menu.

Net.Medic menu options	Description
Dashboard	Opens the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop.
Health Log	Opens the Net.Medic health log on your desktop.
Call Log	Opens the Net.Medic modem call log on your desktop.
Reports	Opens the Net.Medic History Reports window from which you can view and print the various Net.Medic history reports.
Session Summary	Opens the Net.Medic Session Summary window that provides a summary of your current online session.
About	Displays the version number of the Net.Medic software.
Exit	Exits (shuts down) the Net.Medic program. Net.Medic’s background monitoring process is also shut down and the Net.Medic icon is removed from your system tray. The next time you restart your computer, the Net.Medic program starts automatically.


Health log menu options

The Net.Medic health log has of a set of pull-down menus. To pull down a menu, click on it in the menu bar.

Menu	Option	Description
File	Print	Prints the health log.
	Close	Closes the health log.
View	This Session	Displays only the health log entries for the errors encountered during the current session.
	Past Day	Displays only the health log entries for the errors encountered over the past day.
	Past Week	Displays only the health log entries for the errors encountered over the past week.
	Show Acknowledge	Displays only the health log entries that you have acknowledged during the specified time period (for example, during this session or over the past week).
	Refresh	Updates the entries in the health log to include any errors reported since you’ve displayed the health log.


Toolbar

At the top of the Net.Medic dashboard frame there is a toolbar that contains the following buttons.

	Health Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic health log. Note that this button changes colors to indicate the current overall health of your online connection.
	Modem Call Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic modem call log.
	History Reports button. Click to display the Net.Medic History Report window from which you can view and print the different history reports.
	Session Summary button. Click to display the Net.Medic Session Summary window, which gives you a summary of your current online session.
	Network Activity button. Click to open and close the Activity pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Throughput button. Click to open and close the Throughput pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Retrieval button. Click to open and close the Retrieval pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Connect Time button. Click to open and close the Connect Time pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Help button. Click to open the Net.Medic help system on your desktop.
	VitalSigns Home Page button. Click to load the VitalSigns home page into your browser.


What is the Net.Medic ticker tape?

The Net.Medic ticker tape reports the following information:

•	The name of the Web site you are currently visiting

•	The number of times you have visited the current site

•	The URL and size of the Web page you are currently transferring

•	The delay caused by the network expressed as an estimated percent

•	The latest health log entry

•	Any of your unread E-mail messages that meet the specified criteria

•	Any broadcast E-mail messages from your service provider (for example, “the DNS server will be down from 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM tonight.”)

Tips

•	To snap the ticker tape onto your browser, right-click anywhere in the ticker tape and choose Snap On Browser. With Netscape Navigator, you can snap a dashboard pane and the ticker tape concurrently. With Internet Explorer, you can only snap a dashboard pane or the ticker tape.

•	To detach the ticker tape from your browser, right-click on the ticker tape and choose Snap on Dashboard.

•	Individual Net.Medic users can use the ticker tape E-mail feature to send E-mails that will be displayed in other individual users’ Net.Medic ticker tape. To use this capability, simply include “VitalSigns” in the subject portion of your E-mails (for example, “Subject: VitalSigns: The mail server will be down tomorrow.”) After sending such messages to other Net.Medic users, it will appear in their ticker tape if the message is delivered by the Microsoft Messaging API (MAPI).

•	To change the ticker tape preferences, right-click on the ticker tape and choose Preferences. The Preferences dialog box opens with the Ticker Tape panel selected. Use the Ticker Tape panel to change the current ticker tape preferences. For example, to suppress broadcast messages from the ticker tape, deselect the Mail option in the Ticker Tape panel, and then click OK.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How can you change the ticker tape preferences?

•	How can system administrators change the user configuration variables?


Specified criteria

By default, Net.Medic checks your mailbox for unread messages that meet the following criteria: (1) messages that were delivered by the Microsoft Messaging API (MAPI), and (2) messages that begin with the string “VitalSigns:” If it finds any messages that match this criteria, it automatically displays the message contents in its ticker tape.

System administrators can customize the search string used to determine if an unread E-mail message should be displayed in the Net.Medic ticker tape. To change the default search string (“VitalSigns”), system administrators must use the Registry Editor to change the value of the registry variable.


Activity pane

Use the Net.Medic Activity pane to animate your online connections and to determine your overall performance. Colored icons are used to represent the health of the various components in your Web path. This pane also reports the status of your current online activity (for example, “Attempting to connect to server”), the animation of Web pages being retrieved, and the number of hops in your path. For example, the rate of the page animation reflects how quickly you are retrieving the current Web page.

Number of router hops. Net.Medic counts the number of router hops traversed in your current path. Each colored dot represents a router hop. For example, if your computer traversed ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.

If you are retrieving information from an Internet Web site and you are connected to the Internet via a modem, you will see two sets of routers. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers. If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, you will see three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first set of three router sets.

If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, you will only see one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

Tips

•	To learn more about a group of router hops, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the group.

•	If you click once on an object in this pane, the corresponding dashboard pane opens. To open the Intranet pane, click an Intranet router hop icon. To open the ISP pane, click an ISP router hop icon. To open the Internet pane, click an Internet router hop icon.

•	If you double-click on a hot spot in this pane, the Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry highlighted. This feature can help you quickly pinpoint the source of the problem without manually searching through the log

•	By double-clicking on a health log entry, the Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescription for the problem if possible.

•	You can use the Identify feature to quickly identify your ISP, Intranet, or the current remote Web server.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Colored icons in the Activity pane

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Understanding the monitored Web page activities

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Identifying objects in your Web path


Throughput pane

Use the Net.Medic Throughput pane to determine how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. Transfer speed is shown in kbps. For example, if you are receiving a Web page across the network at a rate of 26.3 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 26,300 bits per second (bps). The transfer speed rate is reported in: (1) the recv and send graph that indicates any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client, (2) the transfer gauge to the right of the recv and send graph, and (3) as a digital display (for example, 26.2 kbps). If white tips appear on the transfer gauge, this reflects a data transfer that is using compression and is exceeding the modem connection speed.

Speed limit digital display. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit. You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.

Recv and send graphs and digital displays. The recv graph and digital display report the receive rate during each interval. The send graph and digital display report the transmit rate during each interval. Transfer rates for the previous several seconds scroll from right to left with the passage of every second. The send/recv graphs indicate any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client. If the blue lines have white tips at the top, your connection is using compression to speed up the download of Web pages.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)


Retrieval pane

Use the Net.Medic Retrieval pane for the following purposes: (1) to determine how effectively you are transferring data over the network, (2) to establish how much time it takes to retrieve a Web page, and (3) to pinpoint the source of the delays.

Time digital display. Reports the total time (delay) taken to retrieve the current Web page. (The retrieval of a Web page is an HTTP transfer.) The transfer time is shown in minutes, seconds and tenth of seconds.

Network gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay in the network that is between the Web site and the client (your desktop computer).

Site gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay on the server (Web site). The Network gauge and the Site gauge measurements combined always total 100%. The Network gauge gives a real-time indication of the percentage of transfer time attributable to the network. The Site gauge indicates the percentage of transfer time attributable to the Web server (the site). For example, if the Network gauge reads 43% and the Site gauge reads 57%, this indicates the site is causing most of the delay.

Avg. Rate digital display. Reports the average rate to retrieve the current Web page from the Web site. This rate is shown in kbps.

Note

Net.Medic separates the amount of delay in retrieving the page into two portions: the delay caused by the network and the delay caused by the server. This network delay is the time it takes to make the request from the client to the server’s network connection plus the time it takes the results to be returned from the server’s network connection to the client. Some of this delay is the propagation delay in the links. The remainder is the delay in packet queues of intermediate devices such as routers. In the preceding example, the network contributed to 43% of the delay and the remainder belongs to the server.

Tip

•	For more information about the network (Internet) portion of your Web path, check the Internet pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.

•	For more information about the site, check the Server pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.

•	For a performance rating of the sites you’ve visited the most over the past month, check the Net.Medic history reports.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the history reports


Client pane

Use the Net.Medic Client pane to determine the performance and overall health of the client (your desktop computer).

Bank of health lights. Reports the overall health of your desktop computer. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. For example, yellow indicates a moderate to serious problem with your computer. To obtain more information about PC-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red PC icon [image] in the Activity pane.

CPU Load gauge. Reports what percent of your computer’s CPU is currently utilized. The CPU load is sometimes referred to as the system load. The more occupied it is, the slower your browser may work. Spiking (occasional high percentages) in this gauge is normal. However, a continually high reading on the gauge indicates a sustained heavy CPU load, which could signify an overtaxed computer. Windows 95 will often run at 100% if you have multiple applications open.

Cache Hits meter. Reports the percent of Web pages this session retrieved from local disk cache (cache hits) rather than retrieving them from the remote Web site. The local cache, or Web page storage, keeps pages from Web sites you have previously visited, and stores them on your local hard drive. Once these pages are stored on your hard drive, they can be quickly retrieved from your computer the next time you visit that Web site. It is faster to “download” from your local drive than from the remote Web site. High numbers in this meter indicate good cache management and thus good browsing performance.

 Tips

•	The name of your computer (for example, “us.ppp.pdelay”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	The color of the client icon [image] in the Activity pane also indicates the computer’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors of the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of the client icon mean?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the health log


Modem pane

Use the Net.Medic Modem pane to determine your modem’s performance and overall health.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the overall health of your modem. Green, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health. To obtain more information about problems related to your modem, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red modem icon in the Activity pane.

Compression scale. Provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression scale setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The blue arrow will slide back and forth to indicate the level of compression. If the blue arrow turns white when it is active, this signifies compression is in effect. If your modem is using compression, you can download Web pages faster. You can have Net.Medic enable compression via its AutoCure feature.

Speed meter. Reports the connection speed of your modem. The meter indicates what percent of the rated modem speed was actually achieved during the “handshake” between your modem and the ISP’s modem. A low percentage in this meter indicates your modem is not connected at optimal speed. For example, if you had a 28.8 kbps modem and the speed is reported at 26.4 kbps, the Speed meter registers 92% because 8% of your modem’s potential capacity is not being utilized.

Tips

•	This pane is not present in the Net.Medic dashboard if your computer does not have a modem.

•	The color of the modem icon in the Activity pane also indicates the modem’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	To obtain more information about calls made by your modem, check the Net.Medic call log.

•	To obtain more information about using your modem, refer to your modem’s online help system.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors of the modem’s dashboard lights mean?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	How Net.Medic animates online connections for you

•	Working with the health log

•	Working with the call log


Intranet pane

Use the Net.Medic Intranet pane to determine the following: (1) the health of your Intranet from your unique perspective, and (2) your Intranet’s performance based upon a periodic sampling. Note that most modem users are not using an Intranet and therefore will not see this pane in their Net.Medic dashboard.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay attributed to the Intranet. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your Intranet. The delay attributed to the Intranet is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the last Intranet router and the first Intranet router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Intranet traffic level in your Web path. Note that this is along your path through the network. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Intranet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Intranet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile, which means that the current Intranet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your performance over the Intranet is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your Intranet services (for example, IP connectivity and DNS). Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tip

•	The name of your Intranet appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	To obtain more information about problems related to your Intranet, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on one of the yellow or red Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	To identify your Intranet, right-click anywhere in the Intranet pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify your Intranet by right-clicking on one of its router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of my Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard objects  (charts, gauges, etc.)


ISP pane

Use the Net.Medic ISP pane to obtain the following information: (1) an index of the current overall health of your ISP from your connection point, and (2) your ISP’s performance based upon a periodic sampling.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay that is attributable to your ISP. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your ISP.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the ISP traffic level in your Web path. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the ISP and comparing that against the historical distribution of ISP delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 89% indicates that the current response was in the 89th percentile, which means that the current ISP delay was more than 89% of previously seen delays and was less than 10% of other previous delays. Therefore, higher percentile numbers mean higher congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your ISP’s performance is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your ISP. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tip

•	The name of your ISP appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	To identify your ISP, right-click anywhere in the ISP pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify your ISP by right-clicking on any of its router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	To obtain more information about ISP-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on one of its yellow or red router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	For more information about your ISP’s performance over the past month, check Net.Medic’s Service Provider Report.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors of the ISP dashboard lights mean?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Identifying objects in your Web path

•	Working with the Service Provider Report


Internet pane

Use the Net.Medic Internet pane to check the performance of the Internet portion of your Web path. To obtain more information about problems related to the Internet backbone, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Internet hop (router) icon in the Activity pane.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of the network delay attributable to the Internet backbone. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by the Internet backbone. The delay attributed to the Internet backbone is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the remote Web server and the last ISP router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Internet traffic level along your path. Lower percentile numbers in this gauge mean lower congestion and vice-versa. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Internet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Internet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 8% indicates that the current response was in the 8th percentile, which means that the current Internet delay was more than 8% of previously seen delays and was less than 81% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index is baselined over time and becomes more accurate over time.

Peak Speed meter. Reports an estimated peak transfer speed as a percent of the speed limit of your online connection. The speed limit refers to the number of bits per second (bps) that can be transferred by the thinnest pipe between your computer and the Web server. If you are reaching frequently accessed sites, which are sometimes connected to the Internet backbone with thick pipes, the thinnest pipe is usually the first link between your computer and your ISP. This is generally the case when you are connected to the modem. While the speed limit refers to the theoretical maximum speed that can be reached, the Peak Speed refers to the current speed observed while your pages are being transferred.

A low percentage in this meter indicates poor utilization of the bandwidth available end to end. Consequently, high values in this meter are desirable and indicate the Internet backbone is passing traffic without introducing delays.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of the dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Identifying objects in your Web path


Server pane

Use the Net.Medic Server pane (also referred to as the Web site pane) to obtain an estimate of the health or performance of the remote Web server. The name of the remote Web server (for example, “southport.jpl.nasa”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

Delay chart. Reports the estimated server and application (HTTP) delay caused by the various Web sites you have most recently visited. The delay measurement is based on the amount of time the server takes to complete its response to a request. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with the remote Web server and the application layer response. The taller the line on this chart, the longer the delay caused by the server or Web site.

Load gauge. Reports the relative load on the server or Web site. This estimate is computed by taking the server delay and comparing that against the historical distribution of server delays. Consequently, this value is an indicator of the responsiveness of the server. The current delay value is placed in the historical delay distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile. This means that the current Internet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower load and better responsiveness. The more you visit a site, the more accurate its load gauge percentage reading becomes.

Throughput meter. Reports the efficiency of the current server or Web site and its attempt to use the available network bandwidth. It’s an estimated percent of the speed limit achieved by the current Web site server averaged over the complete page transfer time. A high throughput percentage indicates good utilization of the bandwidth available to the current server or Web site. However, if the speed limit is high (such as “LAN” speed), even the fastest servers may not achieve a high percentage.

Note

The color of the server icon [image] in the Activity pane also indicates the server’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. This overall health is computed based on the health of the following components:

•	If the server throughput is less than 10% of the available network bandwidth, then the status is yellow.

•	If the server is not responding to page requests from the Web browser, then the status is red.

•	If the delay introduced by the server is more than 600 milliseconds, then the status is yellow.

•	If the estimate of load on the server as compared against historical measurements places the server load on the 90th percentile of the distribution, then the status is yellow.

Tip

•	To obtain more information about problems related to the current Web server, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red server icon in the Activity pane.

•	To identify the server, right-click on this pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify a server by right-clicking on [image] in the Activity pane.

•	Net.Medic has a Frequently Visited Sites Report that rates the performance of the ten sites you’ve visited most over the past month. It also has a Slowest Sites Report that rates the performance of the slowest five sites you’ve visited over the past month. You can display these reports from the toolbar or the Net.Medic Windows menu.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Identifying objects in your Web path

•	Frequently Visited Sites Report

•	Slowest Sites Report


Connect Time pane

Use the Net.Medic Session Time/Connect Time pane for the following purposes: (1) to track your modem connection time if you’re connected via a modem, or (2) to track your browser activity time. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. Note that the session time is reported for both modem and LAN connections; whereas, the modem connect time is only reported with modem connections. You can switch between these two views (Modem Connect Time and Session Connect Time) by right-clicking on this Net.Medic pane and choosing Session Time or Modem Connect Time from the pop-up menu.

Session digital display. Time on current session.

Today digital display. Time on all sessions today.

This Month digital display. Time on all sessions this month.

Note

•	The session connect time stops incrementing when the browser is idle for more than 3 minutes.

•	Note that ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change them. For example, various ISPs use different methods to round up the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although the Net.Medic Connect Time dashboard pane reflects your online time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables.

What do you want to know more about?

•	List of dashboard panes

•	List dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)


What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

Net.Medic is continually monitoring your Web path even when not transferring Web pages. Net.Medic uses colored icons in its Activity pane to help you quickly identify hot spots in your Web path.

Gray indicates a healthy state. Yellow and red indicate moderate to poor health.  For instance, a red icon indicates Net.Medic has detected a health problem with your modem even though you are currently not transferring a Web page. Yellow and red icons are also referred to as “hot spots.”

What do you want to know more about?

•	Colored icons in the Activity pane

•	Colored banks of health lights in the dashboard

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Understanding router hops


Colored icons in the Activity pane

The Activity pane uses colored icons to indicate the current health of the components in your Web path.  Click once on any of these icons to open or close a dashboard pane.

Icons	Description of Activity pane icons
	Client icon, which represents your desktop computer. Click to open and close the Client pane in your dashboard.
	Modem icon, which represents your modem. Click to open and close the Modem pane in your dashboard.
	Router hop icon. Each router hop icon represents an Intranet router, ISP router, or Internet backbone router involved in your current Web path. For example, there are ten router hop icons if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to the remote Web server. Click to open and close the corresponding dashboard pane. For example, click any of the Internet router hop icons to open the Internet pane in the dashboard. If you move your pointer over the router hop group in the Activity pane, Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the group.
	Server icon, which represents the remote server. Click to open and close the Server pane.
What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the server icon mean?

•	What does the color of the client icon mean?

•	What does the color of the modem icon mean?

•	What does the color of a router hop icon mean?


What does the color of the client icon mean?

Net.Medic uses the color of the client icon [image] in the Activity pane to indicate the current overall health of the client (your desktop computer).

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of your modem icon mean?

•	What does the color of the server icon mean?

•	What do the colors of the router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?


What does the color of the modem icon mean?

Net.Medic uses color to report the current overall health of your modem. The modem icon [image] in the Activity pane is colored to signify this health.

The overall health is computed based on the health of the following components:

•	If there was an abnormal disconnect of a modem session, then the status is red.

•	If the modem negotiated baud rate is less than 90% of the modem rated baud rate, then the status is yellow.

•	If the serial line DTE rate (the rate of transfer between your computer and the modem) is less than four times the rated baud rate of the modem, then the status is yellow.

Note

To fully utilize compression, a DTE rate that is four times higher than the modem’s rated baud rate is needed.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	What does the color of the client icon mean?

•	What does the color of the server icon mean?

•	What do the colors of the router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem


What does the color of a hop (router) icon mean?
What does the color of a router hop icon mean?

Net.Medic uses color to report the current overall health of the router hops in your current Web path. The router hop icon [image] in the Activity pane is colored to signify the health of the different groups of router hops (the Intranet routers, the ISP routers, and the Internet backbone routers) in your path.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	What does the color of the Intranet router hop icons mean?

•	What do the colors of the ISP router hop icons mean?

•	What do the colors of the Internet router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet


What does the color of the Intranet router hop icons mean?

The color of the Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane indicates the overall health of your Intranet. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, and poor health. Note that all of the icons in the Intranet router hop group are the same color (for example, they are all gray or red).

Tip

•	To obtain more information about Intranet-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on any of the yellow or red Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	What do the colors of the ISP router hop icons mean?

•	What do the colors of the Internet router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet

•	Working with the health log


What do the colors of the ISP router hop icons mean?

The colors of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane indicates the overall health of your ISP.

Tip

•	To obtain more information about ISP-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on any of the yellow or red ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in your dashboard mean?

•	What does the color of the Intranet router hop icons mean?

•	What do the colors of the Internet router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet

•	Working with the health log


What do the colors of the Internet router hop icons mean?

The color of the Internet router hop icons in the Activity pane indicates the overall health of the Internet backbone.

Tip

•	To obtain more information about Internet-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on any of the yellow or red Internet router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the Intranet router hop icons mean?

•	What does the color of the ISP router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Hops when connected via a modem

•	Hops when connected via an Intranet

•	Working with the health log


What does the color of the server icon mean?

Net.Medic uses color to signify the current overall health of the remote Web server in your path.

The server icon [image] in the Activity pane is colored to signify this health. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tip

•	To obtain more information about server-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red health server icon in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the client icon mean?

•	What does the color of the modem icon mean?

•	What do the colors of the router hop icons mean?

•	Understanding router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Working with the health log


Colored bank of dashboard lights

The following dashboard panes have a bank of health lights that report an index of the component’s overall health:

•	The Client pane, which signifies the overall health of the client.

•	The Modem pane, which signifies the overall health of your modem.

•	The Intranet pane, which signifies the overall health of your Intranet.

•	The ISP pane, which signifies the overall health of your ISP.

Green indicates good health. Yellow indicates moderate health. Red indicates poor health.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in the Client’s pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors in the Modem pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors of the Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors of the ISP pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)


What does the color of the Client pane's bank of health lights mean?
What does the color of the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

The overall health of your desktop computer is signified by the bank of health lights in the Client pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tips

•	The color of the client icon [image]  in the Activity pane also indicates your computer’s overall health. A gray, yellow, and red icon respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	To obtain more information about PC-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red health light in the Client pane or on a yellow or red client icon in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in the Modem pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors of the Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors of the ISP pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the health log


What does the color of the Modem pane's bank of health lights mean?
What does the color of the Modem pane’s bank of health lights mean?

The overall health of your modem is signified by the bank of health lights in the Modem pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Note

To fully utilize compression, a DTE rate that is four times higher than the modem’s rated baud rate is needed.

Tips

•	The color of the modem icon [image] in the Activity pane also indicates your computer’s overall health. A gray, yellow, and red icon respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	To obtain more information about modem-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red health light in the Modem pane or on a yellow or red modem icon in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What do the colors in the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors in the Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What do the colors of the ISP pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the health log


What does the color of the Intranet pane's bank of health lights mean?
What does the color of the Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

The overall health of your Intranet is signified by the bank of health lights in the Intranet pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tips

•	To obtain more information about Intranet-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red health light in the Intranet pane or on one of the Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of the Modem pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of the ISP pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the health log


What does the color of the ISP pane's bank of health lights mean?
What does the color of the ISP pane’s bank of health lights mean?

The overall health of your ISP is signified by the bank of health lights in the ISP pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tips

•	To obtain more information about ISP-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red health light in the ISP pane or on one of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane.

What do you want to know more about?

•	What does the color of the Client pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of the Modem pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	What does the color of the Intranet pane’s bank of health lights mean?

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Working with the health log


Working with the Net.Medic inlay

The process of displaying a Net.Medic dashboard pane within your browser is called “snapping a pane” onto your browser.

To snap a Net.Medic pane onto your browser:

	Right-click on the dashboard pane and choose Snap On Browser. The Net.Medic pane opens as an inlay in your browser.
To detach (close) the Net.Medic inlay in your browser:

	Right-click on the Net.Medic browser inlay and choose Snap on Dashboard.
Tips

•	In addition to snapping any Net.Medic dashboard panes onto your browser, you can snap and detach the Net.Medic ticker tape onto your browser. With Netscape Navigator, you can snap a dashboard pane and the ticker tape concurrently. With Internet Explorer, you can only snap a dashboard pane or the ticker tape.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic inlay menu options

•	Tips on snapping dashboard panes onto your browser


Working with the dashboard
Working with the Net.Medic dashboard

The Net.Medic dashboard animates your Web path by highlighting the Internet activity, including traffic jams and bottlenecks. At a glance, the dashboard tells you the following:

•	What’s your overall performance

•	How fast you’re transferring Web pages

•	How effectively you’re retrieving Web pages

•	How your computer is performing

•	How your modem is performing

•	How your Intranet is performing

•	How your ISP is performing

•	How the Internet is performing

•	How the remote server is performing

•	How long you’re been connected to the network

What do you want to know more about?

•	The different parts of the dashboard

•	List of dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	How to close a dashboard pane

•	How to reopen a dashboard pane

•	How to snap a pane onto your browser


Closing a dashboard pane
To close a dashboard pane

	Right-click on the pane, and choose Close Pane from the pop-up menu.
	Click the toolbar button or dashboard icon for the pane.
	Pull down the View menu in the Net.Medic menu bar and deselect the appropriate option from the Details submenu. For example, to close the Internet pane deselect the Internet option in the Details submenu.
Tip

•	To reopen all the panes, pull down the View menu in the Net.Medic menu bar and choose Open All.

•	To display the name of a toolbar button (tool tips), move the pointer over it.

Note

For a brief description of objects in a Net.Medic dashboard pane, move your pointer over the object. If balloon help is supported for the object, a brief description automatically pops up.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic menu bar

•	Net.Medic’s balloon help

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard panes

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)


Reopening a dashboard pane
To reopen a dashboard pane

	Click the toolbar button or dashboard icon for the pane.
	Pull down the View menu in the Net.Medic menu bar and select the appropriate option from the Details submenu. For example, to reopen the Internet pane choose Internet from the Details submenu.
Tip

•	To reopen all the panes, pull down the View menu in the Net.Medic menu bar and choose Open All.

•	To display the name of a toolbar button (tool tip), move the pointer over it.

Note

For a brief description of digital displays, charts, gauges, and dials in a Net.Medic pane, move your pointer over the object. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the object.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic menu bar

•	Net.Medic’s balloon help

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard panes

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	How Net.Medic animates your online connections for you

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic


Net.Medic's balloon help
Net.Medic’s balloon help

Net.Medic has balloon help for its icons, digital displays, charts, gauges, and dials. To display the balloon help, move your pointer over the object.  If balloon help is available for the object, a brief description automatically pops up. For instance, move the pointer over the first group of router hop icons. If you’re connected to the Internet, these are the ISP routers in your Web path.

Move the pointer over the second group of router hop icons. If you’re connected to the Internet via a modem, these are the Internet backbone routers in your path.

Note

If you were connected via an Intranet, the hops are divided into Intranet routers, followed by ISP routers, and then the Internet backbone routers.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard panes

•	Net.Medic’s dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	Parts of the Web path monitored by Net.Medic

•	Different groups of router hops


Opening and closing dashboard panes

You can quickly close and reopen all the Net.Medic dashboard panes by clicking on the following icons or Net.Medic toolbar buttons.

Icons	Description of the Activity pane icon
	Client icon, which represents your desktop computer. Click to open and close the Client pane in your dashboard. (You can also open the Client pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing My PC from the Details submenu.)
	Modem icon, which represents your modem. Click to open and close the Modem pane in your dashboard. (You can also open the Modem pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Modem from the Details submenu.)
	Router hop icon. Each router hop icon represents an Intranet router, ISP router, or Internet backbone router involved in your current Web path. For example, if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to the remote Web server then there are ten router hops in this path. Click to open and close the corresponding dashboard pane. For example, click on one of the Internet router hop icons to open the Internet pane in the dashboard. If you move your pointer over the router hop icon in the Activity pane, Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group. (You can also open the Intranet pane, the ISP pane, and the Internet pane by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, and Internet from the Details submenu.)
	Server icon in the Activity pane. Click to open and close the Server pane. (You can also open the Server pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Server from the Details submenu.)
Button	Description of Net.Medic toolbar button
	Health Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic health log.
	Modem Call Log button. Click to open the call log.
	History Reports button. Click to display the History Report window from which you can view the different Net.Medic history reports.
	Session Summary button. Click to display the Net.Medic Session Summary window.
	Activity button. Click to open and close the Activity pane.
	Throughput button. Click to open and close the Throughput pane.
	Retrieval toolbar button. Click to open and close the Retrieval pane.
	Connect Time toolbar button. Click to open and close the Connect Time pane.
	Help button. Click to open this Net.Medic help system. You can also display this help system by choosing Help from the Help menu.
	VitalSigns Home Page button. Click to load the VitalSigns home page into your browser. You can also display the VitalSigns home page by choosing Visit VitalSigns Home Page from the Help menu.
Tip

•	To open all the panes, pull down the View menu in the Net.Medic menu bar and choose Open All.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to find out the name of a toolbar button

•	How to reopen a dashboard pane

•	How to close a dashboard pane

•	How to snap a dashboard pane on and off your browser

•	List of Net.Medic menu bar commands


Network Acitivity panel icons
Icons	Description of the Activity pane icon
	Client icon, which represents your desktop computer. Click to open and close the Client pane in your dashboard. (You can also open the Client pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing My PC from the Details submenu.)
	Modem icon, which represents your modem. Click to open and close the Modem pane. (You can also open the Modem pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Modem from the Details submenu.)
	Router hop icon. Represents all the router hops (Intranet routers, ISP routers, and the Internet backbone routers) traversed from your desktop computer to the remote server for the current online connection.  Click a router hop icon to open the corresponding Net.Medic dashboard pane (the Intranet, ISP, or Internet pane). For example, click one of the Internet router hop icons to open the Internet pane in the dashboard. If you move your pointer over a router hop group in the Activity pane, Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the group. (You can also open the Intranet pane, the ISP pane, and the Internet pane by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, and Internet from the Details submenu.)
	Server icon, which represents the remote server. Click to open and close the Server pane. (You can also open the Server pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Server from the Details submenu.)
Tip

•	Click once on any of these preceding icons to open or close the corresponding dashboard pane.


Activity pane icons

Icons	Description of Activity pane icon
	Client icon, which represents your desktop computer. Click to open and close the Client pane in the Net.Medic dashboard. (You can also open the Client pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing My PC from the Details submenu.)
	Modem icon, which represents your modem. Click to open and close the Modem pane in the Net.Medic dashboard. (You can also open the Modem pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Modem from the Details submenu.)
	Router hop icon. Each router hop icon represents an Intranet router, ISP routers, or Internet backbone routers involved in the Web path. For example, if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to the remote Web server then there are ten router hops in this path. Click to open and close the corresponding dashboard pane (the Intranet, ISP, or Internet pane). If you click once on one of the router hop icons, the corresponding dashboard pane opens. To open the Intranet pane, click one of the Intranet router hop icons. To open the ISP pane, click one of the ISP router hop icons.  (You can also open the Intranet pane, the ISP pane, and the Internet pane by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, and Internet from the Details submenu.)
	Server icon, which represents the remote server. Click to open and close the Server pane. (You can also open the Server pane by pulling down the View menu and choosing Server from the Details submenu.)
Tips

•	Click once on any of these preceding icons to open or close the corresponding dashboard pane.

•	To open only the Activity pane, the Throughput pane, and the Retrieval pane, choose Home from the View menu.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Colored icons in the Activity pane

•	Different groups of router hops

•	Why router hop information is important

•	Net.Medic menu bar options


Toolbar buttons
Icon	Description
	Health Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic health log. (You can also open the health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Net.Medic icon or by choosing Health Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.)
	Modem Call Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic call log. (You can also open the call log by choosing Call Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.)
	History Reports button. Click to display the History Reports window from which you can view and print the different history reports.  (You can also display a history report by pulling down the Net.Medic Window menu, choosing History Reports then dragging right and choosing a report.)
	Session Summary button. Click to display the Net.Medic Session Summary window, which gives you a summary of your current online session. (You can also display the Session Summary window by choosing Session Summary from the Net.Medic Window menu.)
	Network Activity button. Click to open and close the Activity pane.
	Throughput button. Click to open and close the Throughput pane.
	Retrieval button. Click to open and close the Retrieval pane.
	Connect Time button. Click to open and close the Connect Time pane.
	Help button. Click to open this Net.Medic help system. (You can also open the help system by choosing Help from the Net.Medic Help menu.)
	VitalSigns Home Page button. Click to load the VitalSigns home page into your browser. (You can also display the VitalSigns home page by choosing Visit VitalSigns Home Page from the Net.Medic Help menu.)


Toolbar buttons

Icon	Description
	Health Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic health log. (You can also open the health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Net.Medic icon or by pulling down the Net.Medic Window menu and choosing Health Log.)
	Modem Call Log button. Click to open the Net.Medic call log. (You can also open this log by pulling down the Net.Medic Windows menu, and choosing Call Log.)
	History Reports button. Click to display a list of Net.Medic history reports that you can view. (You can also display a history report by pulling down the Net.Medic Window menu, choosing History Reports then dragging right and choosing a report.)
	Session Summary button. Click to display the Net.Medic Session Summary window. (You can also display the Session Summary window by choosing Session Summary from the Net.Medic Window menu.)
	Network Activity button. Click to open and close the Activity pane.
	Throughput button. Click to open and close the Throughput pane.
	Retrieval button. Click to open and close the Retrieval pane.
	Connect Time button. Click to open and close Connect Time pane. After opening this pane, you can switch between Modem Connect Time and Session Connect Time by right-clicking on the pane and choosing Modem Connect Time or Session Connect Time.
	Help button. Click to open this Net.Medic help system on your desktop.
	VitalSigns Home Page button. Click to display the VitalSigns home page in your browser.


To monitor the health of your online connections

Use the Activity pane to monitor your Web paths. Net.Medic uses colored icons to indicate the current health of the Web path components. Green indicates a healthy condition; yellow and red respectively indicate moderate to severe health problems.

Note

•	You can display the Activity pane in the Net.Medic dashboard or as a browser inlay. To display it as an inlay, right-click the Activity pane in the dashboard and choose Snap On Browser.

•	To save desktop space, hide the dashboard by clicking [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar. If an icon in the inlay becomes a hot spot, left-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon to reopen the Net.Medic dashboard for more information about the problem.

Tips

•	When an icon changes to yellow or red, check the corresponding dashboard pane to help pinpoint the cause of the problem. For example, if the server icon turns red, check the Server pane.

•	When an icon turns yellow or red, click [image] to display the Net.Medic health log.

•	To get a summary of your session, click [image]. The Session Summary window opens with a summary of your current online session.


To identify and isolate the cause of the problem

Use the Net.Medic dashboard to identify traffic jams or bottlenecks.

•	Check the Activity pane

•	Check the Throughput pane

•	Check the Retrieval pane

•	Check the Modem pane

•	Check the Intranet pane

•	Check the ISP pane

•	Check the Internet pane

•	Check the Server pane

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to get a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

•	How to remedy a problem

•	List of dashboard panes


To get a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

1	Open the Net.Medic health log.

2	In the health log, select the entry you want more information about and click Diagnosis.

The Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescriptions for the problem.

•	If Net.Medic can fix the problem, then it lets you know. In this case, click AutoCure in the Diagnosis window to have Net.Medic fix the problem. The AutoCure Wizard dialog box opens and reports how it plans to cure the problem. After Net.Medic fixes the problem, click OK to close the AutoCure Wizard dialog box.

•	If the prescription is to send E-mail to the appropriate resource (for example, your ISP or Webmaster), click Notify to have Net.Medic send its detailed E-mail message to the appropriate party.

Note

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	After formatting the text for the E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the health log

•	Working with the Diagnosis window

•	How to remedy a problem


To remedy a problem

Net.Medic helps eliminate many network slowdowns so you won’t even encounter them. Sometimes after identifying a problem and describing it in clear language, Net.Medic asks if you want the problem remedied.

Net.Medic’s AutoCure feature lets you choose the solution. For example, if your modem is not connecting at optimal speed, Net.Medic notifies you. It then asks if you want the connection optimized. With a simple click of a button, you can direct Net.Medic to go ahead and remedy the problem. Certain features, such as modem compression, will remain set in the optimized position.

To cure a problem

1	Open the Net.Medic health log.

2	In the Health Log window, double-click on a problem. The Diagnosis window opens the highlighted problem.

3	Check the supplied diagnosis and prescription.

4	Net.Medic will inform you if it can fix the problem. If it can, Net.Medic asks you to click AutoCure. If the remedy is to send a detailed E-mail prescription to an appropriate resource, click Notify to have Net.Medic send its detailed E-mail message to the appropriate company or individual.

5	When you have finished working in the Diagnosis window, click Close to shut the window.

Note

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	After formatting the text for the E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.


Working with the Diagnosis window

Net.Medic provides a diagnosis and prescription for an identified problem in its Diagnosis window.

To display the Diagnosis window

1	Open the Net.Medic health log.

2	In the Health Log window, highlight the problem that you want a diagnosis of and prescription for.

3	Display the Diagnosis window for the highlighted entry by double-clicking on the log entry or by clicking once and then clicking Diagnosis.

4	Check the supplied diagnosis and prescription.

5	Net.Medic will inform you if it can fix the problem. If it can, Net.Medic asks you to click AutoCure. If the remedy is to send a detailed E-mail prescription to an appropriate resource (for example, your ISP or Webmaster), click Notify. By clicking Notify, you can have Net.Medic generate a detailed E-mail message to the appropriate company or individual. After formatting the text for an E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent.

6	When you have finished working in the Diagnosis window, click Close.

Note

•	Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	If you have the Diagnosis window open, you can continue to display a diagnosis and prescription for various entries in the health log by clicking once on another log entry. The contents of the Diagnosis window are updated to reflect the diagnosis and prescription for the currently selected entry.


Snapping dashboard panes on and off the browser

With a couple of clicks, you can snap any Net.Medic pane onto your browser window. This saves space on your desktop and allows you to monitor your online session from your browser.

To snap a pane onto your browser

	In the Net.Medic dashboard, right-click on the Net.Medic pane you want to snap onto the browser and choose Snap on Browser. The pane closes in the dashboard and opens in your browser.
To detach (unsnap) a pane from your browser

	Right-click on the Net.Medic inlay and choose Snap on Dashboard.
Note

•	When a Net.Medic pane is in your browser, the pane is called an inlay.

•	You can perform the same tasks from a Net.Medic pane whether it is displayed in the dashboard or browser. For example, you can close the pane by right-clicking on the pane and choosing Close Pane from the pop-up menu.

•	If the Net.Medic dashboard is closed, left-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon. The Net.Medic dashboard reopens on your desktop.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic pop-up menu options

•	Net.Medic inlay

•	Net.Medic dashboard panes


What is the Net.Medic inlay?

Because Net.Medic is a browser companion, you can run Net.Medic as an inlay in your browser. This allows you to save desktop space and monitor your Internet connections from a single window. When you run Net.Medic as a browser inlay, Net.Medic runs as an inlay in the upper-right corner of your browser. You can display any Net.Medic pane as an inlay.

To display a Net.Medic pane as a browser inlay:

	In the dashboard, right-click on the dashboard pane and choose Snap On Browser. The pane closes in the dashboard and opens as an inlay in your browser.


Understanding the different Net.Medic logs

Net.Medic has the following two logs that track your online performance:

•	Health log

•	Call log

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the health log

•	Working with the call log


Changing the user configuration and registration information

You do not have to perform any system reconfiguration after installing Net.Medic. Net.Medic uses a set of default values for the necessary user configuration and registration variables. These variables are stored by default in the MyComputer\software\VitalSigns\Medic\Config directory.

To change a user configuration and registration information

1	Use the Windows startbar to run the Registry Editor.

Choose Run from the Start menu. In the displayed Run dialog box, type regedit and click OK.

2	Go to the Net.Medic system registry folder (MyComputer\software\VitalSigns/Medic\1.0\Config directory).

3	Right-click on the variable you want to change.

4	From the pop-up menu, choose Modify.

5	Specify the new value for the variable in the Value data field of the displayed Edit String dialog box.

6	After specifying a new value for the variable, click OK in the Edit String dialog box.

7	Continue to change variables by repeating steps 3 through 7, or click [image] to quit the Registry Editor.

What do you want to know more about?

•	List of configuration and registration information variables


List of user configuration and registration information variables

You can use the Windows Registry Editor to change any of the following user configuration variables. Net.Medic, however, automatically assigns a default value to each variable as listed below.

Variable	Default setting	Function
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\ VITALSIGNS\LOCATION	Software\VitalSigns\Medic\Config	HKEY_CURRENT_USER offset where customized information is kept. This variable is always at a fixed location.
PRODUCT_NAME	Net.Medic	Application name
PRODUCT_VERSION	1.0	Version number
PRODUCT_INSTALLDIR	C:\Program Files\VitalSigns\Net.Medic	Default directory into which the application will be installed
SERVICE_PROVIDER_NAME	VitalSigns Software Inc.	Site administrator
SERVICE_PROVIDER _LOGO	C:\Program Files\VitalSigns\Medic\Medic.bmp	Site administrator logo
SERVICE_PROVIDER _DOMAIN	vitalsigns.com	Site administrator domain
SERVICE_PROVIDER _HELPDESK	1-800-UFI-LLME	Phone number of the site’s help desk
SERVICE_PROVIDER _KEYWORD	VitalSigns	Special key word to identify site administrator E-mail address. This is the variable that you must modify to change the search string Net.Medic uses to determine if it should display an unread message, which was delivered by the Microsoft Messaging API (MAPI) in its ticker tape.
SERVICE_PROVIDER _FEEDBACK	SMTP:feedback@vitalsigns.com	E-mail address to which user feedback  is sent
SERVICE_PROVIDER _HOMEPAGE	www.vitalsigns.com	VitalConnect™ home page address.
SERVICE_PROVIDER _BROWSER		Preferred Web browser
UPLOAD_PREFERENCE	URL+USER	User preference for uploading
POLLING_INTERVAL	1000	Polling interval for ISP traffic in milliseconds


Opening the call log
To open the Net.Medic call log

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, choose Call Log from the Window menu.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image].
What do you want to know more about?

•	How to work with the call log

•	How to obtain details about a call


Working with the modem call log
Working with the call log

The Net.Medic call log tracks your past month’s modem calls. The log provides information about your modem’s success rate, the connection speed, the duration of the call, the current status of the call, its average throughput, and the percentage of time it was idle. A colored light is used to indicate the success (health) of each call. A green, yellow, or red light respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor success of the call.

This vital data can help you decide whether you should upgrade to a faster modem. In addition, you can use this log to audit your monthly usage and fees as well as the level of service provided by your ISP.

Note

ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change them. For example, various ISPs use different methods to roundup the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although this log reflects your actual online modem time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables.

To open the Net.Medic call log

	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, and choose Call Log from the pop-up menu.
	In the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the toolbar, or pull down the Window menu and choose Call Log. The call log opens with a list of all your modem calls for the past month.
 To obtain details about a call

	In the call log, click on the arrow to the left of a call entry.  Additional details about the call are displayed in the call log.
Tip

•	To obtain details about all the calls in the log, choose Open All from the View menu.

•	To close the details about all the calls in the log, choose Close All from the View menu.

•	To print the call log, choose Print from the File menu.

•	To close the call log, choose Close from the File menu.

•	To hide (minimize) the log, click [image].

•	You can compare the log’s historical information with your current session information.

•	To obtain a summary of your modem calls for the current session, click [image]. The Session Summary window opens with a summary of your current session. To obtain details on your modem calls for the session, click the Modem tab in the Session Summary toolbar.


To obtain details about a call

	Click on the call entry in the Net.Medic call log. Additional details about the call are displayed in the call log.
To obtain details about all the calls listed in the log

	Choose Open All from the File menu at the top of the log. To close the details about all the calls, choose Close All from the File menu.


Opening the Net.Medic health log
To open the Net.Medic health log

	Double-click on a hot spot in the Net.Medic dashboard or inlay.
	In the Net.Medic menu bar, choose Health Log from the Window menu.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image].
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon and choose Health Log from the pop-up menu.
Note

When you double-click on a Net.Medic hot spot to display the health log, it opens with the matching entry automatically highlighted. This feature can help you quickly identify the source of the problem. For example, by double-clicking on the red modem icon in the Activity pane, the matching entry (the “Modem speed suboptimized” entry) is highlighted when the log opens.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the health log

•	Health log menu options


Working with the health log

The Net.Medic health log describes the problems encountered with your online connections over the past week. A colored light is used to indicate the severity of each problem; yellow and red respectively indicate a moderately severe or very severe (critical) problem.

Contents of the health log

 The log provides the following information:

•	Where the problem occurred (for example, at the ISP entry router or your desktop computer)

•	A brief description of the problem (for example, CPU load)

•	The date and time of the most recent occurrence of the problem

•	The source of the problem (for example, your ISP or desktop computer)

•	The number of times the same problem was detected over the past 30 minutes

To open the Net.Medic health log

	In the Net.Medic dashboard or inlay, double-click on a hot spot.  The Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry highlighted. For example, by double-clicking on a yellow modem icon in the Activity pane, the health log opens with the entry “Modem speed suboptimized” highlighted.
	In the Net.Medic dashboard click [image] in the toolbar, or pull down the Window menu and choose Health Log. The Net.Medic health log opens with all the problems reported over the past week for your online connections.
 Tip

•	To indicate you’ve reviewed a particular problem in the health log, click once on it and then click Acknowledge. The next time you open the log, this entry is removed from the log. To acknowledge all of the currently listed problems, click Acknowledge All.

•	To close the health log, click [image] or choose Close from the File menu.

•	To hide (minimize) the health log, click [image].

Net.Medic only generates an E-mail notification for chronic problems or severe warnings. This policy will help to minimize the possibility of flooding Webmasters, system administrators, and ISPs with E-mails about intermittent problems. This, in turn, will enable them to focus on solving chronic problems that plague their users. By clicking Notify in the Diagnosis window, you can have Net.Medic generate a detailed E-mail message to the appropriate company or individual. After formatting the text for an E-mail notification, Net.Medic asks for your permission to send it to the appropriate party. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail notification, it will not be sent. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Health log menu options

•	How to get a diagnosis and prescription for a problem

•	How to remedy a problem


Working with the history reports

The Net.Medic history reports track and rate the performance of your ISP. In addition, it provides performance information about the Web sites you’ve visited the most over the past month. This historical information concerning your Web paths can help you identify bottlenecks as well as make informed decisions about how to resolve them. These reports can be useful for comparing current and past performance of your ISP or remote Web site.

There are six different types of history reports:

•	Service Provider Report

•	Frequently Visited Sites Report

•	Slowest Sites Report

•	Health Summary Report

•	Health Optimization Summary

•	Traffic Report

Note

To obtain a summary of your current session, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, or choose Session Summary from the Net.Medic Window menu.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Service Provider Report

•	Frequently Visited Sites Report

•	Slowest Sites Report

•	Health Summary Report

•	Health Optimization Summary

•	Traffic Report


Health Optimization Summary

The Health Optimization Summary includes information about some of the improvements made in your online health by Net.Medic.

To display the Health Optimization Summary

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Health Optimization.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Health Optimization.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Health Optimization.
Tip

•	To print a report, pull down the Print menu in the History Reports window and choose Print Report.

•	To close a report, choose Close from Reports menu.


Traffic Report

Net.Medic’s Traffic Report provides estimates of the average Intranet, ISP, and Internet traffic levels based on the time of day. This information can help you determine the peak and non-peak hours for your Intranet, your ISP, and the Internet backbone. This, in turn, can help you avoid getting on the ”information highway” during congested intervals.

To display the Traffic Report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Traffic Report.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window, and choose Traffic Report.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Traffic Report.
Tip

•	To print a report, pull down the Print menu in the History Reports window and choose Print Report.

•	To close a report, choose Close from Reports menu.


Service Provider Report

The Service Provider Report tracks and rates the performance of your ISP over the past month. Because it notifies you about ISP bottlenecks, it can help you decide whether to subscribe to a premium service offered by your ISP. You can also avoid needlessly calling your ISP for assistance or unnecessarily changing to a new ISP if your ISP isn’t a bottleneck.

To display the Service Provider Report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Service Provider.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Service Provider.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Service Provider.
To obtain a summary of your ISP’s performance for the current session

	In the ISP pane, check the bank of health lights. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor performance.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image]. The Session Summary window opens and identifies whether your ISP was a bottleneck for the current session.
To obtain a summary of your ISP’s performance for the past month

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports and then Health Summary Report.
Tip

•	To print a report, pull down the Print menu in the History Reports window and choose Print Report.

•	To close a report, choose Close from Reports menu.

•	You can view your ISP’s historical responsiveness by checking the Delay chart in the ISP pane.

•	To obtain estimates of your current session, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, or choose Session Summary from the Net.Medic Window menu.

•	To obtain estimates of your sessions over the past month, pull down the Net.Medic Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.


Frequently Visited Sites Report

The Frequently Visited Sites Report rates the ten Web sites you’ve visited the most over the past month. The report graphs the following information for each site:

•	The minimum, maximum, and average response time

•	The minimum, maximum, and average throughput

•	The number of times you’ve visited the site over the past month

This information can help you make an informed decision about which Web site to visit. If you’re a Webmaster, this information can help you decide if you should purchase a premium Web hosting service that guarantees fast end-to-end connections around the clock.

To display the Frequently Visited Sites Report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Frequently Visited Sites.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Frequently Visited Sites.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Frequently Visited Sites.
To obtain a summary of the server’s performance for the current session

	In the Server pane, check the bank of health lights. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor performance.
	To check a site’s current throughput, visit the site and check the Throughput meter in the Server pane.
Tip

•	To print a report, pull down the Reports menu in the History Reports window and choose Print Current Report.

•	To close a report, choose Close from Reports menu.

•	To obtain a summary of your current session, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, or choose Session Summary for the Net.Medic Window menu.

•	To obtain a summary of your online sessions for the past month, pull down the Net.Medic Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.


Slowest Sites Report

The Slowest Sites Report rates the slowest five Web sites you’ve visited over the past month. The report provides the following information:

•	The slowest five sites in terms of response time

•	The slowest five sites in terms of  throughput

To display the Slowest Sites Report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Slowest Sites.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Slowest Sites.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Slowest Sites.
To obtain a summary of the server’s performance for the current session

	In the Server pane, check the bank of health lights. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor performance.
	To check a site’s current throughput, visit the site and check the Throughput meter in the Server pane.
Tip

•	To close a report, choose Close from the Reports menu.

•	To print a report, pull down the Reports menu in the History Reports window and choose Print Current Report.

•	To obtain a summary of your current session, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, or choose Session Summary for the Net.Medic Window menu.

•	To obtain a summary of your online sessions for the past month, pull down the Net.Medic Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.


Purpose of the Slowest Sites Report

This report can help you determine which sites to avoid when possible. You can use the report to quickly check the performance of a Web site relative to other sites. For example, the report enables you to view a site’s performance relative to your slowest five sites.


Health Summary Report

The Health Summary Report rates the overall health of your online sessions for the past month. The report provides the following information:

•	A distribution of problems

•	The top five causes of the problems

The report can help you pinpoint problems that persistently cause a bottleneck in your online connections.

To display the Health Summary Report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports, then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Health Summary.
	Right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon, choose Reports from the pop-up menu. Pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Health Summary.
Note

•	To obtain a summary of your current session, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, or choose Session Summary for the Net.Medic Window menu.


To find out the name of a toolbar button

	Move the pointer over the icon in the Net.Medic toolbar. The name of the icon is displayed in the dashboard.
Note

•	Balloon help is also available for the icons, digital displays, charts, gauges and meters in the Net.Medic dashboard panes.


To get a session summary

	Click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar. The Summary View window opens with a summary of your current online session. • The window’s toolbar reports the health of the Web path components as well as overall health.  • It reports what percentage of the problems in the current session is attributable to various Web path components. • The start time and duration of the current session are provided.
Tips

•	For more information on the performance of a component in your Web path, click its tab in the Session Summary toolbar. For example, click on the Desktop tab to view more information about your computer’s performance.

•	You can compare these ISP and server session statistics with their historical performance.

•	To view the historical performance of your ISP or server, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.

The History Reports window opens. In the menu bar, click Reports to display the Reports pull-down menu. From the pull-down menu, select the history report you want to view.

•	You can compare current modem session statistics with past modem performance.

•	To view the history of your modem calls, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar or choose Call Log from the Net.Medic Window menu. The Net.Medic call log opens with detailed information about your modem calls made over  the past month.

•	To obtain a summary of your sessions for the past month, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Working with the history reports

•	Working with the call log


Closing the dashboard
To close (minimize) the Net.Medic dashboard

	In the Net.Medic title bar, click [image].
	In the Net.Medic title bar, click [image], then choose Minimize from the pull-down menu.
Tip

•	This procedure hides the dashboard without closing the Net.Medic program.

•	To shut down (exit) the Net.Medic program, right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon. Choose Exit from the pop-up menu. The Net.Medic program and background monitoring processor are shut down. The Net.Medic icon is removed from the system tray. The next time you restart your computer, the Net.Medic program is automatically started.


To close the Net.Medic inlay

	Right-click on the inlay and choose Close Pane or Snap on Dashboard.
Tip

•	This procedure closes the inlay without closing the Net.Medic program. To shut down (exit) the Net.Medic program, right-click on the Net.Medic system tray icon and choose Exit from the pop-up menu.


Changing the ticker tape settings

By default, the Net.Medic ticker tape reports the following information:

•	The name of the Web site currently being visited

•	The number of times you’ve visited the current site

•	The URL and size of the Web page you’re currently transferring

•	The delay caused by the network expressed as an estimated percent

•	The last health log entry received

•	Any of your unread mail messages that match the specified criteria

•	Any broadcast messages from your service provider (for example, “the DNS server will be down from 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM tonight.”)

To change the ticker tape settings

1	Right-click on the ticker tape and choose Preferences from the pop-up menu. The Preferences window opens with the Ticker Tape panel selected.

2	Use the Ticker Tape panel to modify the settings in this dialog box. For example, to suppress broadcast messages from the ticker tape, left-click on the Mail option in the Ticker Tape panel to deselect it.

3	Click OK to implement the specified changes and to close the Preferences window.

Tips

•	To snap the ticker tape onto your browser, right-click anywhere in the ticker tape and choose Snap On Browser. With Netscape Navigator, you can snap a dashboard pane and the ticker tape concurrently. With Internet Explorer, you can only snap a dashboard pane or the ticker tape.

•	To detach the ticker tape from your browser, right-click on the ticker tape and choose Snap on Dashboard.

•	Individual Net.Medic users can use the ticker tape E-mail feature to send E-mails that will be displayed in other individual users’ Net.Medic ticker tape. To use this capability, simply include “VitalSigns” in the subject portion of your E-mails (for example, “Subject: VitalSigns: The mail server will be down tomorrow.”) After sending such messages to other Net.Medic users, it will appear in their ticker tape if the message was delivered by the Microsoft Messaging API (MAPI).

What do you want to know more about?

•	How can system administrators change user configuration variables?

•	Tips on snapping dashboard panes and the ticker tape onto your browser


Understanding the Net.Medic preferences

Net.Medic comes with a set of default preferences that allows you to install Net.Medic and start using it to monitor your online connections. These preferences include the following:

•	A set of ticker tape settings

•	E-mail settings that Net.Medic uses to send E-mails about chronic problems it encountered (Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.)

•	The number of colors Net.Medic uses to display its dashboard window

•	Performance settings that it uses to monitor your online connections.

Changing the Net.Medic preferences

You can, however, easily change any of the Net.Medic preferences by simply choosing Preferences from the View menu. For example, follow these steps to change the ticker tape settings:

1	Display the Preferences window by choosing Preferences from the View menu or by right-clicking on the ticker tape and choosing Preferences.

2	Check that the Ticker Tape panel of the Preferences window is selected. Use the Ticker Tape panel to change the current ticker tape preferences. For instance, to suppress broadcast messages from your ticker tape, left-click on the Mail option in the Ticker Tape panel to deselect it.

3	In the Ticker Tape panel, click OK to implement the specified changes and to close the Preferences window.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to change the Net.Medic ticker tape settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic E-mail settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic display colors

•	How to change the Net.Medic performance settings


Changing the Net.Medic E-mail settings

Net.Medic has a default set of performance settings so that you can install and start using it without having to reconfigure your system. You can, however, easily change these default settings through the Net.Medic Preferences window.

•	If you have Microsoft Exchange Client installed on your PC, Net.Medic detects this and uses Exchange Client to send its E-mail notifications. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

•	If you do not have Exchange Client installed, Net.Medic will use SMTP to send its E-mail notifications. You must, however, supply Net.Medic with information about your SMTP settings.

To set your SMTP E-mail settings for Net.Medic

1	Choose Preferences from the Window menu in the Net.Medic menu bar.

2	In the displayed Preferences window, click the Mail tab.

3	In the “When Sending E-Mail Notification” portion of the Mail panel, click the “Use SMTP Mail Setting” radio button.

4	In the “SMTP Mail Settings” portion of the Mail panel, specify your SMTP settings.

5	 Click OK to implement the changes and to close the Preferences window.

Tips

•	Net.Medic also comes with a set of preset ticker tape and performance preferences. Like the E-mail settings, you can use the Preferences window to change these default preferences.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How Net.Medic helps you notify the appropriate resource about a problem

•	How to change the Net.Medic ticker tape settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic display colors

•	How to change the Net.Medic performance settings


Changing the Net.Medic display colors

By default, Net.Medic uses 256 colors to display its dashboard window on your desktop. You can, however, change the display color setting to 16 colors. You may want to change the Net.Medic display colors from 256 colors 16 colors, if you are encountering display problems such as the following:

•	When moving between applications, you experience flickering problems.

•	After you’ve snapped a Net.Medic pane onto your browser, the browser graphics are not being displayed with the proper colors.

To change the Net.Medic display color setting

1	Choose Preferences from the Window menu in the Net.Medic menu bar.

2	In the displayed Preferences window, click the Colors tab.

3	In the Colors panel, click the 16 colors radio button.

4	Click OK to implement the new settings and to close the Preference window.

What do you want to know more about?

•	How to change the Net.Medic ticker tape settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic E-mail settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic performance settings


Changing the Net.Medic performance settings

Net.Medic has a default set of performance settings so that you can install and start using it without having to reconfigure your system. You can, however, easily change these default settings through the Net.Medic Preferences window. By default, the Net.Medic program uses the following settings to track your online performance:

•	Normal test frequency

•	Medium performance threshold level

To change the test frequency setting

1	Choose Preferences from the Window menu in the Net.Medic menu bar.

2	In the displayed Preferences window, click the Performance tab.

3	In the Test Frequency portion of the Performance panel, click the Slow radio button.

4	Click OK to implement the new settings and to close the Preference window.

To change the performance threshold level setting

1	Choose Preferences from the Window menu in the Net.Medic menu bar.

2	In the displayed Preferences window, click the Performance tab.

3	In the Performance Threshold Levels portion of the Performance panel, move the sliding bar to reset the threshold level.

4	Click OK to implement the new settings and to close the Preference window.

Tips

•	By changing the performance threshold level from “Medium” to “Low,” the frequency of exceeded thresholds will increase. This will result in an increase in the number of errors reported in your Net.Medic health log.

•	By changing the performance threshold level from “Medium” to “High,” the frequency of exceeded thresholds will decrease. This, in turn, will result in a decrease in the number of errors reported in your Net.Medic health log.

•	Net.Medic comes with a set of preset E-mail and ticker tape preferences. Like the performance threshold level settings, you can use the Preferences window to change these default preferences.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Net.Medic dashboard objects (charts, gauges, etc.)

•	How to change the Net.Medic E-mail settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic ticker tape settings

•	How to change the Net.Medic display colors

•	How to work with the health log


Test Frequency setting

Net.Medic uses the Test Frequency setting to determine how frequently it should poll. When the test frequency is set to normal (the default), Net.Medic polls every second. When set to slow, Net.Medic will poll every five seconds. To change the current setting, choose Preferences from the Net.Medic window menu.


Performance Threshold Levels setting

Net.Medic uses the performance threshold setting to determine if a performance threshold has been exceeded. For example, the Server pane has a Delay chart that estimates the network delay that is attributable to the current remote Web server.

Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of your network. Net.Medic uses the specified performance threshold level to calculate if the estimated delay is reasonable or abnormally long and then uses the appropriate bar (blue vs. yellow) in the Delay chart to report this information.


List of dashboard objects

Net.Medic’s dashboard panes have a set of objects that animate and monitor your online connection. All of the following dashboard objects have balloon help. Some of them also allow you to open the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking. To check if an object supports this double-clicking feature, move the pointer over it. If a magnifying glass appears, double-click on the object to open the health log with the matching entry already highlighted for you.

Activity pane

Indicates your overall performance and animates your online connections.

Icons	Description
	Desktop computer icon, which represents the client (your desktop computer).
	Modem icon, which represents the modem used to connect to the Internet. If you are connecting via a LAN or other Internet connection, this icon will not appear in this pane.
	Router hop icon, which represents each router (hop) in your Web path.
	Server icon, which represents the remote Web server.

Gray indicates a healthy state. Yellow and red indicate moderate or poor health. The rate of page animation reflects the current transfer rate.

Number of router hops. Net.Medic counts the number of router hops traversed in your current Web path. Each colored dot represents a router hop in your path. The hops are divided into distinct groups to signify the different regions (the Intranet portion, ISP portion, and Internet backbone portion) in your path. For example, if your computer traversed ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.

•	If you are retrieving information from an Internet Web site and you are connected via a modem, you will see two sets of routers. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers.

•	If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, you will see three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first of the three sets of routers.

If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, you will only see one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

Throughput pane

Use the Net.Medic Throughput pane to determine how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. Transfer speed is shown in kbps. For example, if you are receiving a Web page across the network at a rate of 26.3 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 26,300 bits per second (bps). The transfer speed rate is reported in: (1) the recv and send graph that indicates any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client, (2) the transfer gauge to the right of the recv and send graph, and (3) as a digital display (for example, 28.8 kbps). If white tips appear on the transfer gauge, this reflects a data transfer that is using compression and is exceeding the modem connection speed.

Speed limit digital display. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit. You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.

Recv and send graphs and digital displays. The recv graph and digital display report the receive rate during each interval. The send graph and digital display report the transmit rate during each interval. Transfer rates for the previous several seconds scroll from right to left with the passage of every second. The send/recv graphs indicate any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client. If the blue lines have white tips at the top, your connection is using compression to speed up the download of Web pages.

Retrieval pane

Use this pane for the following purposes: (1) to determine how effectively you are transferring data over the network, (2) to establish how much time it takes to retrieve a Web page, and (3) to pinpoint the source of the delays.

Time digital display. Reports the total time (delay) taken to retrieve the current Web page. (The retrieval of a Web page is an HTTP transfer.) The transfer time is shown in minutes, seconds and tenth of seconds.

Network gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay in the network that is between the Web site and the client (your desktop computer).

Site gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay on the server (Web site). The Network gauge and the Site gauge measurements combined always total 100%. The Network gauge gives a real-time indication of the percentage of transfer time attributable to the network. The Site gauge indicates the percentage of transfer time attributable to the Web server (the site). For example, if the Network gauge reads 43% and the Site gauge reads 57%, this indicates the site is causing most of the delay.

Avg. Rate digital display. Reports the average rate to retrieve the current Web page from the Web site. This rate is shown in kbps.

Note

Net.Medic separates the amount of delay in retrieving the page into two portions: the delay caused by the network and the delay caused by the server. This network delay is the time it takes to make the request from the client to the server’s network connection plus the time it takes the results to be returned from the server’s network connection to the client. Some of this delay is the propagation delay in the links. The remainder is the delay in packet queues of intermediate devices such as routers. In the preceding example, the network contributed to 43% of the delay and the remainder belongs to the server.

Client pane

Use the Net.Medic Client pane to determine the performance and overall health of the client (your desktop computer).

Bank of health lights. Reports the overall health of your desktop computer. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. For example, yellow indicates a moderate to serious problem with your computer. To obtain more information about PC-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red PC icon [image] in the Activity pane.

CPU Load gauge. Reports what percent of your computer’s CPU is currently utilized. The CPU load is sometimes referred to as the system load. The more occupied it is, the slower your browser may work. Spiking (occasional high percentages) in this gauge is normal. However, a continually high reading on the gauge indicates a sustained heavy CPU load, which could signify an overtaxed computer. Windows 95 will often run at 100% if you have multiple applications open.

Cache Hits meter. Reports the percent of Web pages this session retrieved from local disk cache (cache hits) rather than retrieving them from the remote Web site. The local cache, or Web page storage, keeps pages from Web sites you have previously visited, and stores them on your local hard drive. Once these pages are stored on your hard drive, they can be quickly retrieved from your computer the next time you visit that Web site. It is faster to “download” from your local drive than from the remote Web site. High numbers in this meter indicate good cache management and thus good browsing performance.

Note

•	The name of your computer (for example, “us.ppp.pdelay”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	The color of the client  icon [image] in the Net.Medic Activity pane also indicates your computer’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Modem pane

Use the Net.Medic Modem pane to determine your modem’s performance and overall health.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the overall health of your modem. Green, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health. To obtain more information about problems related to your modem, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red modem icon in the Activity pane.

Compression scale. Provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression scale setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The blue arrow will slide back and forth to indicate the level of compression. If the blue arrow turns white when it is active, this signifies compression is in effect. If your modem is using compression, you can download Web pages faster. You can have Net.Medic enable compression via its AutoCure feature.

Speed meter. Reports the connection speed of your modem. The meter indicates what percent of the rated modem speed was actually achieved during the “handshake” between your modem and the ISP’s modem. A low percentage in this meter indicates your modem is not connected at optimal speed. For example, if you had a 28.8 kbps modem and the speed is reported at 26.4 kbps, the Speed meter registers 92% because 8% of your modem’s potential capacity is not being utilized.

Tips

•	This pane is not present in the Net.Medic dashboard if your computer does not have a modem.

•	The color of the modem icon in the Activity pane also indicates the modem’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	To obtain more information about modem-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log. By double-clicking on the yellow or red modem icon (a hot spot) in the Activity pane, you can quickly pinpoint the source of the problem. The health log opens with the matching entry automatically highlighted. You can also display the health log by double-clicking on the yellow or red dashboard light in the Modem pane.

•	To obtain more information about calls made by your modem, check the Net.Medic call log.

•	To obtain more information about using your modem, refer to your modem’s online help system.

Intranet pane

Use the Net.Medic Intranet pane to determine the following: (1) the health of your Intranet from your unique perspective, and (2) your Intranet’s performance based upon a periodic sampling. The name of your Intranet appears in the upper-left corner of this pane. Note that most modem users are not using an Intranet and therefore will not see this pane in their Net.Medic dashboard.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay attributed to the Intranet. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your Intranet. The delay attributed to the Intranet is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the last Intranet router and the first Intranet router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Intranet traffic level in your Web path. Note that this is along your path through the network. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Intranet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Intranet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile, which means that the current Intranet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your performance over the Intranet is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your Intranet services (for example, IP connectivity and DNS). Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

ISP pane

Use the Net.Medic ISP pane to obtain the following information: (1) an index of the current overall health of your ISP from your connection point, and (2) your ISP’s performance based upon a periodic sampling.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay that is attributable to your ISP. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your ISP.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the ISP traffic level in your Web path. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the ISP and comparing that against the historical distribution of ISP delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 89% indicates that the current response was in the 89th percentile, which means that the current ISP delay was more than 89% of previously seen delays and was less than 10% of other previous delays. Therefore, higher percentile numbers mean higher congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your ISP’s performance is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your ISP. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Internet pane

Use the Net.Medic Internet pane to check the performance of the Internet portion of your Web path. To obtain more information about problems related to the Internet backbone, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Internet hop (router) icon in the Activity pane.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of the network delay attributable to the Internet backbone. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by the Internet backbone. The delay attributed to the Internet backbone is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the remote Web server and the last ISP router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Internet traffic level along your path. Lower percentile numbers in this gauge mean lower congestion and vice-versa. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Internet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Internet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 8% indicates that the current response was in the 8th percentile, which means that the current Internet delay was more than 8% of previously seen delays and was less than 81% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index is baselined over time and becomes more accurate over time.

Peak Speed meter. Reports an estimated peak transfer speed as a percent of the speed limit of your online connection. The speed limit refers to the number of bits per second (bps) that can be transferred by the thinnest pipe between your computer and the Web server. If you are reaching frequently accessed sites, which are sometimes connected to the Internet backbone with thick pipes, the thinnest pipe is usually the first link between your computer and your ISP. This is generally the case when you are connected to the modem. While the speed limit refers to the theoretical maximum speed that can be reached, the Peak Speed refers to the current speed observed while your pages are being transferred.

A low percentage in this meter indicates poor utilization of the bandwidth available end to end. Consequently, high values in this meter are desirable and indicate the Internet backbone is passing traffic without introducing delays.

Server pane

Use the Net.Medic Server pane (also referred to as the Web site pane) to obtain an estimate of the health or performance of the remote Web server. The name of the remote Web server (for example, “southport.jpl.nasa”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

Delay chart. Reports the estimated server and application (HTTP) delay caused by the various Web sites you have most recently visited. The delay measurement is based on the amount of time the server takes to complete its response to a request. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with the remote Web server and the application layer response. The taller the line on this chart, the longer the delay caused by the server or Web site.

Load gauge. Reports the relative load on the server or Web site. This estimate is computed by taking the server delay and comparing that against the historical distribution of server delays. Consequently, this value is an indicator of the responsiveness of the server. The current delay value is placed in the historical delay distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile. This means that the current Internet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower load and better responsiveness. The more you visit a site, the more accurate its load gauge percentage reading becomes.

Throughput meter. Reports the efficiency of the current server or Web site and its attempt to use the available network bandwidth. It’s an estimated percent of the speed limit achieved by the current Web site server averaged over the complete page transfer time. A high throughput percentage indicates good utilization of the bandwidth available to the current server or Web site. However, if the speed limit is high (such as “LAN” speed), even the fastest servers may not achieve a high percentage.

Note

The color of the server icon [image] in the Activity dashboard pane indicates the server’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. This overall health is computed based on the health of the following components:

•	If the server throughput is less than 10% of the available network bandwidth, then the status is yellow.

•	If the server is not responding to page requests from the Web browser, then the status is red.

•	If the delay introduced by the server is more than 600 milliseconds, then the status is yellow.

•	If the estimate of load on the server as compared against historical measurements places the server load on the 90th percentile of the distribution, then the status is yellow.

Connect Time pane

Use the Net.Medic Session Time/Connect Time pane for the following purposes: (1) to track your modem connection time if you’re connected via a modem, or (2) to track your browser activity time. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. Note that the session time is reported for both modem and LAN connections; whereas, the modem connect time is only reported with modem connections. You can switch between these two views (Modem Connect Time and Session Connect Time) by right-clicking on this Net.Medic pane and choosing Session Time or Modem Connect Time from the pop-up menu.

Session digital display. Time on current session.

Today digital display. Time on all sessions today.

This Month digital display. Time on all sessions this month.

Note

•	The session connect time stops incrementing when the browser is idle for more than 3 minutes.

•	Note that ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change them. For example, various ISPs use different methods to round up the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although the Net.Medic Connect Time dashboard pane reflects your online time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables.


List of Net.Medic panes

The Net.Medic dashboard includes the following panes that provide detailed performance information.

Activity pane

Use the Net.Medic Activity pane to animate your online connections and to determine your overall performance. Colored icons are used to represent the health of the various components in your Web path. This pane also reports the status of your current online activity (for example, “Transferring data”), the animation of Web pages being retrieved, and the number of hops in your path. For example, the rate of the page animation reflects how quickly you are retrieving the current Web page.

Number of router hops. Net.Medic counts the number of router hops traversed in your current path. Each colored dot represents a router hop. For example, if your computer traversed ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.

If you are retrieving information from an Internet Web site and you are connected to the Internet via a modem, you will see two sets of routers. The first set is the ISP routers and the second set is the Internet backbone routers. If you are connected to a corporate Intranet, you will see three sets of routers. The Intranet routers will be the first set of three router sets.

If you are connected to a corporate Intranet and the Web server is also on the corporate Intranet, you will only see one set of Intranet routers connected by a white line.

Tips

•	To learn more about a group of router hops, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group.

•	If you click once on an object in this pane, the corresponding dashboard pane opens. To open the Intranet pane, click one of the Intranet router hop icons. To open the ISP pane, click one of the ISP router hop icons. To open the Internet pane, click one of the Internet backbone router hop icons. (You can also open the Intranet pane, the ISP pane, or the Internet pane by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, and Internet from the Details submenu.)

•	If you double-click on a hot spot in this pane, the Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry highlighted. This feature can help you quickly pinpoint the source of the problem without manually searching through the log

•	By double-clicking on a health log entry, the Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis and prescription for the problem if possible.

•	You can use the Identify feature to quickly identify your ISP, Intranet, or the current remote Web server.

Throughput pane

Use the Net.Medic Throughput pane to determine how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. Transfer speed is shown in kbps. For example, if you are receiving a Web page across the network at a rate of 26.3 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 26,300 bits per second (bps). The transfer speed rate is reported in: (1) the recv and send graph that indicates any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client, (2) the transfer gauge to the right of the recv and send graph, and (3) as a digital display (for example, 26.2 kbps). If white tips appear on the transfer gauge, this reflects a data transfer that is using compression and is exceeding the modem connection speed.

Speed limit digital display. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit. You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.

Recv and send graphs and digital displays. The recv graph and digital display report the receive rate during each interval. The send graph and digital display report the transmit rate during each interval. Transfer rates for the previous several seconds scroll from right to left with the passage of every second. The send/recv graphs indicate any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client. If the blue lines have white tips at the top, your connection is using compression to speed up the download of Web pages.

Retrieval pane

Use the Net.Medic Retrieval pane for the following purposes: (1) to determine how effectively you are transferring data over the network, (2) to establish how much time it takes to retrieve a Web page, and (3) to pinpoint the source of the delays.

Time digital display. Reports the total time (delay) taken to retrieve the current Web page. (The retrieval of a Web page is an HTTP transfer.) The transfer time is shown in minutes, seconds and tenth of seconds.

Network gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay in the network that is between the Web site and the client (your desktop computer).

Site gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay on the server (Web site). The Network gauge and the Site gauge measurements combined always total 100%. The Network gauge gives a real-time indication of the percentage of transfer time attributable to the network. The Site gauge indicates the percentage of transfer time attributable to the Web server (the site). For example, if the Network gauge reads 43% and the Site gauge reads 57%, this indicates the site is causing most of the delay.

Avg. Rate digital display. Reports the average rate to retrieve the current Web page from the Web site. This rate is shown in kbps.

Note

•	Net.Medic separates the amount of delay in retrieving the page into two portions. The delay caused by the network and the delay caused by the server. This network delay is the amount of time it would take to make the request from the client to the server and the amount of time it takes the results to be returned from the server to the client. Some of this delay is the propagation delay in the links. The remainder is the delay in packet queues of intermediate devices such as routers. In the preceding example, the network contributed to 43% of the delay and the remainder belongs to the server.

•	For more information about the network (Internet) portion of your Web path, check the Internet pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.

•	For more information about the site, check the Server pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.

•	For a performance rating of the sites you’ve visited the most over the past month, check the Net.Medic history reports.

Client (your computer) pane

Use the Net.Medic Client pane to determine the performance and overall health of the client (your desktop computer).

Bank of health lights. Reports the overall health of your desktop computer. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. For example, yellow indicates a moderate to serious problem with your computer. To obtain more information about PC-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red PC icon [image] in the Activity pane.

CPU Load gauge. Reports what percent of your computer’s CPU is currently utilized. The CPU load is sometimes referred to as the system load. The more occupied it is, the slower your browser may work. Spiking (occasional high percentages) in this gauge is normal. However, a continually high reading on the gauge indicates a sustained heavy CPU load, which could signify an overtaxed computer. Windows 95 will often run at 100% if you have multiple applications open.

Cache Hits meter. Reports the percent of Web pages this session retrieved from local disk cache (cache hits) rather than retrieving them from the remote Web site. The local cache, or Web page storage, keeps pages from Web sites you have previously visited, and stores them on your local hard drive. Once these pages are stored on your hard drive, they can be quickly retrieved from your computer the next time you visit that Web site. It is faster to “download” from your local drive than from the remote Web site. High numbers in this meter indicate good cache management and thus good browsing performance.

 Tips

•	The name of your computer (for example, “us.ppp.pdelay”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	The color of the client icon [image] in the Activity pane also indicates the computer’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Modem pane

Use the Net.Medic Modem pane to determine your modem’s performance and overall health.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the overall health of your modem. Green, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health. To obtain more information about problems related to your modem, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red modem icon in the Activity pane.

Compression scale. Provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression scale setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The blue arrow will slide back and forth to indicate the level of compression. If the blue arrow turns white when it is active, this signifies compression is in effect. If your modem is using compression, you can download Web pages faster. You can have Net.Medic enable compression via its AutoCure feature.

Speed meter. Reports the connection speed of your modem. The meter indicates what percent of the rated modem speed was actually achieved during the “handshake” between your modem and the ISP’s modem. A low percentage in this meter indicates your modem is not connected at optimal speed. For example, if you had a 28.8 kbps modem and the speed is reported at 26.4 kbps, the Speed meter registers 92% because 8% of your modem’s potential capacity is not being utilized.

Tips

•	This pane is not present in the Net.Medic dashboard if your computer does not have a modem.

•	The color of the modem icon in the Activity pane also indicates the modem’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

•	To obtain more information about calls made by your modem, check the Net.Medic call log.

•	To obtain more information about using your modem, refer to your modem’s online help system.

Intranet pane

Use the Net.Medic Intranet pane to determine the following: (1) the health of your Intranet from your unique perspective, and (2) your Intranet’s performance based upon a periodic sampling. The name of your Intranet appears in the upper-left corner of this pane. Note that most modem users are not using an Intranet and therefore will not see this pane in their Net.Medic dashboard.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay attributed to the Intranet. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your Intranet. The delay attributed to the Intranet is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the last Intranet router and the first Intranet router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Intranet traffic level in your Web path. Note that this is along your path through the network. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Intranet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Intranet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile, which means that the current Intranet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your performance over the Intranet is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your Intranet services (for example, IP connectivity and DNS). Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tip

•	To obtain more information about problems related to your Intranet, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light or on one of the yellow or red Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	To identify your Intranet, right-click anywhere in the Intranet pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify your Intranet by right-clicking on one of the Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane and choosing Identify.

ISP pane

Use the Net.Medic ISP pane to obtain the following information: (1) an index of the current overall health of your ISP from your connection point, and (2) your ISP’s performance based upon a periodic sampling.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay that is attributable to your ISP. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your ISP.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the ISP traffic level in your Web path. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the ISP and comparing that against the historical distribution of ISP delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 89% indicates that the current response was in the 89th percentile, which means that the current ISP delay was more than 89% of previously seen delays and was less than 10% of other previous delays. Therefore, higher percentile numbers mean higher congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your ISP’s performance is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your ISP. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Tips

•	The name of your ISP appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

•	To identify your ISP, right-click anywhere in the ISP pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify your ISP by right-clicking on any of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	To obtain more information about ISP-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on one of its yellow or red router hop icons in the Activity pane.

•	For more information about your ISP’s performance over the past month, check Net.Medic’s Service Provider Report.

Internet pane

Use the Net.Medic Internet pane to check the performance of the Internet portion of your Web path. To obtain more information about problems related to the Internet backbone, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red Internet hop (router) icon in the Activity pane.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of the network delay attributable to the Internet backbone. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by the Internet backbone. The delay attributed to the Internet backbone is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the remote Web server and the last ISP router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Internet traffic level along your path. Lower percentile numbers in this gauge mean lower congestion and vice-versa. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Internet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Internet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 8% indicates that the current response was in the 8th percentile, which means that the current Internet delay was more than 8% of previously seen delays and was less than 81% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index is baselined over time and becomes more accurate over time.

Peak Speed meter. Reports an estimated peak transfer speed as a percent of the speed limit of your online connection. The speed limit refers to the number of bits per second (bps) that can be transferred by the thinnest pipe between your computer and the Web server. If you are reaching frequently accessed sites, which are sometimes connected to the Internet backbone with thick pipes, the thinnest pipe is usually the first link between your computer and your ISP. This is generally the case when you are connected to the modem. While the speed limit refers to the theoretical maximum speed that can be reached, the Peak Speed refers to the current speed observed while your pages are being transferred.

A low percentage in this meter indicates poor utilization of the bandwidth available end to end. Consequently, high values in this meter are desirable and indicate the Internet backbone is passing traffic without introducing delays.

Server pane

Use the Net.Medic Server pane (also referred to as the Web site pane) to obtain an estimate of the health or performance of the remote Web server. The name of the remote Web server (for example, “southport.jpl.nasa”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

Delay chart. Reports the estimated server and application (HTTP) delay caused by the various Web sites you have most recently visited. The delay measurement is based on the amount of time the server takes to complete its response to a request. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with the remote Web server and the application layer response. The taller the line on this chart, the longer the delay caused by the server or Web site.

Load gauge. Reports the relative load on the server or Web site. This estimate is computed by taking the server delay and comparing that against the historical distribution of server delays. Consequently, this value is an indicator of the responsiveness of the server. The current delay value is placed in the historical delay distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile. This means that the current Internet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower load and better responsiveness. The more you visit a site, the more accurate its load gauge percentage reading becomes.

Throughput meter. Reports the efficiency of the current server or Web site and its attempt to use the available network bandwidth. It’s an estimated percent of the speed limit achieved by the current Web site server averaged over the complete page transfer time. A high throughput percentage indicates good utilization of the bandwidth available to the current server or Web site. However, if the speed limit is high (such as “LAN” speed), even the fastest servers may not achieve a high percentage.

Note

The color of the server icon [image] in the Activity dashboard pane indicates the server’s overall health. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health. This overall health is computed based on the health of the following components:

•	If the server throughput is less than 10% of the available network bandwidth, then the status is yellow.

•	If the server is not responding to page requests from the Web browser, then the status is red.

•	If the delay introduced by the server is more than 600 milliseconds, then the status is yellow.

•	If the estimate of load on the server as compared against historical measurements places the server load on the 90th percentile of the distribution, then the status is yellow.

Tips

•	To obtain more information about problems related to the current Web server, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on a yellow or red server icon the Activity pane.

•	To identify the server, right-click on the Server pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also identify a server by right-clicking on [image] in the Activity pane.

•	Net.Medic has a Frequently Visited Sites Report that rates the performance of the ten sites you’ve visited most over the past month. It also has a Slowest Sites Report that rates the performance of the slowest five sites you’ve visited over the past month. You can display these reports from the toolbar or the Net.Medic Windows menu.

Connect Time pane

Use the Net.Medic Session Time/Connect Time pane for the following purposes: (1) to track your modem connection time if you’re connected via a modem, or (2) to track your browser activity time. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. Note that the session time is reported for both modem and LAN connections; whereas, the modem connect time is only reported with modem connections. You can switch between these two views (Modem Connect Time and Session Connect Time) by right-clicking on this Net.Medic pane and choosing Session Time or Modem Connect Time from the pop-up menu.

Session digital display. Time on current session.

Today digital display. Time on all sessions today.

This Month digital display. Time on all sessions this month.

Note

•	The session connect time stops incrementing when the browser is idle for more than 3 minutes.

•	Note that ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change them. For example, various ISPs use different methods to round up the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although the Net.Medic Connect Time dashboard pane reflects your online time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables.


List of router hop groups

Net.Medic counts the number of router hops in your current Web path. Each dot [image] represents a router hop. For example, if your computer traversed ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.  Net.Medic uses colored dots to indicate the current health of the router hops involved in your current path. Gray indicates a healthy state. Yellow and red respectively indicate moderate to poor health.

Groups of hops

If you’re connected to the Internet via a modem, Net.Medic breaks the router hops into two distinct groups (the ISP routers and the Internet backbone routers). If you are connected via a LAN, your path’s router hops are divided into three groups:

•	Intranet routers

•	ISP routers

•	Internet backbone routers

Tips

•	Color indicates the overall health of this portion of your path.

•	To learn more about a router hop group, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group.

•	To display more information about an unhealthy router hop, click once on its yellow or red icon in the Activity pane. The corresponding pane opens in the Net.Medic dashboard.

•	For more information about the cause of the problem, double-click on a yellow or red router hop icon in the Activity pane. The Net.Medic health log opens with the matching entry automatically highlighted. By double-clicking on the health log entry, Net.Medic displays a diagnosis of and prescription for the problem whenever possible.

What do you want to know more about?

•	Understanding router hops

•	How you can use router hop information

•	What does the color of a router hop icon mean?


List of Terms
A

Activity pane	The Net.Medic pane that indicates your overall performance. Reports the status of your current Web path (for example, “Transferring data...”). Color is used to indicate the current health of the Web path components (your desktop computer and modem, the Intranet, the ISP, Internet backbone, and the remote server). To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.
B

Backup DNS server	The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer that acts as the server for a domain. (A part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)  One of the main functions of the Domain Name Server is to convert the host names of network nodes to IP addresses. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server, which is a fail-safe server at the core of the Internet. Although use of this backup server ensures connection to the Internet, it may not be the most direct route. Therefore, you should routinely use your ISP DNS servers to ensure you’re using the most direct route.
Balloon help	Balloon help is available for certain objects in the Net.Medic dashboard. Move your pointer over an object. If balloon help is available, Net.Medic displays a brief description of the object. For example, if you’re connected via a modem move the pointer over the first or second group of router hop icons. As the following figure shows, Net.Medic informs you that the first group of router hops represents the ISP routers traversed in your current Web path.
Bandwidth	The maximum transmission speed of a Web path or connection that is usually measured in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). More bandwidth indicates that more data can be transmitted per second. Capacity is sometimes used to refer to bandwidth.
Baud rate	The transmission rate, which is typically expressed in bits per second (bps).
Browser	A program you can use to explore the World Wide Web (Web). Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of browsers. VitalSigns Net.Medic is a browser companion.
Browser companion	Net.Medic works with most 32-bit, Windows 95 communication programs, such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
C

Cache	The portion of your computer disk used to locally store a copy of data retrieved from the network. By caching the data (Web pages), your computer avoids having to make duplicate retrievals of the same Web page from the remote server during your current Internet session. By preloading such pages, it speeds up how quickly you can reload the Web page.
Cache hits	To save time, certain information that you retrieve from the network is automatically saved on your computer for later retrieval. When your computer retrieves the stored information from its cache (local disk) the retrieval is called a cache hit. Net.Medic displays the percent of retrievals during a current Internet session that are retrieved from your computer's cache versus the remote Web server. This number is displayed in the Cache Hits meter.
Call log	The Net.Medic log that tracks your modem calls. The log provides information about your modem’s success rate, the bandwidth it achieved for each call, its average connection rate, and the percentage of busy signals it encountered. This vital data can help you decide whether you should upgrade to a faster modem. You can also use this log to audit your monthly usage and fees as well as the level of service provided by your ISP.   To display this log, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar or choose Call Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.
Client	A smaller computer that connects to other larger, more powerful computers called servers. Your browser is an example of a client/server system. The client program running on your computer takes advantage of the more powerful server at a remote site. Your desktop computer is sometimes referred to as the client.
Client pane	The Net.Medic pane that indicates your desktop computer’s performance and overall health. The name of your computer appears in the upper-left corner of this pane. To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click the client icon [image] in the Activity pane.
Client/ server software	An arrangement of computers consisting of clients and servers, which are commonly used on the Internet and Intranet. Clients are computers such as PCs that utilize the data management services of the more powerful computers called servers.  Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of a client/server system in which the client (the Web browser program) runs on your computer and uses the processing power of the server located at a remote site.
CPU	The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the computer chip that processes instructions for the computer. The Intel Pentium or 486 are examples of CPUs. Different types of CPUs have various levels of processing power.
CPU load	The CPU's processing power that is currently being used in your computer is called the CPU load. Net.Medic reports your CPU load percentage in its dashboard. A continually high percentage, for example, could indicate your current CPU is being overtaxed. A possible solution would be to upgrade your computer to a more powerful CPU.
D

Dashboard	Term used to refer to the main Net.Medic window.
Dial-in string	Phone number used to dial into an Internet Service Provider (ISP) from a desktop computer (for example, a PC). It is also called a dial-in phone number.
Dial-up account	A type of account for accessing the Internet. Unlike a direct connection, this type of account only connects to the Internet when a modem connection has been established.
Direct connection	A type of account used for accessing the Internet through a hard-wired connection between the computer and the Internet. With this type of connection, the computer has an IP address and can be a Web server.
DNS	Short for Domain Name System. When you use an Internet program and enter a domain name rather than an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the Internet program automatically uses DNS.  DNS translates the supplied domain name into the IP address. The duration of this DNS translation impacts the time needed to begin a connection to a remote server. Other factors can also extend this pre-connection process.
DNS server	The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer on the Intranet or ISP, which implements the DNS protocol. One of the main functions of the DNS server is to translate the hostnames of network nodes of a domain it is responsible for into IP addresses. (A domain is a part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)  The primary DNS server is the first DNS server that a host contacts for the translation of the hostname into an IP address. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.
Domain	A part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.

E

Egress router	Another name for an exit (last) router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers along your Web path. For more information, refer to the definition of Exit router in this glossary.
E-mail	Electronic mail that is sent and received over a network.
End-to-end connection	The connection between your computer and the remote Web server. For example, an end-to-end connection would be the connection between Client A (a PC in San Jose) and Server B (a remote Web server in Tokyo). Net.Medic monitors the health of your end-to-end connections.
Entry router	The first router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers along your Web path. For example, the ISP entry router is the router used to connect your PC to your ISP. Such a router is a component of your Web path and is monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with this router, it reports the problem in its health log. Entry routers are also referred to as ingress routers.
Exit router	The last router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers along your Web path. For example, the last router in the group of ISP routers is called the ISP exit router. The ISP exit router is usually the router prior to the ISP feeding into the Internet backbone. Such a router is a component of your Web path and is monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with this router, it reports the problem in its health log. Exit routers are also referred to as egress routers.
F

Firewall	Large networks typically have firewalls at different entry points to block access to unauthorized users. A proxy server is a computer that is used to access the Internet around a firewall.
Frame (Data packet)	A packet used to transmit user data over a network.
G

Gateway	Networking hardware that allows messages to be transferred between two different types of networks.  For example, you need a gateway to communicate between a Macintosh AppleTalk network and a UNIX-based network. Routers are examples of a gateway.
H

Health log	A Net.Medic log that records significant problems encountered during your online sessions as monitored by the Net.Medic software. The log explains what the problem is in plain language.
History reports	The Net.Medic reports that track and rate the performance of your ISP and the Web sites visited.
Host computer	Typically, individuals access the Internet by using a modem to connect to a host computer. Host computers are large systems that have their own Internet address. For example, to access the Internet from your home computer you can use a modem to dial a phone number that connects you to one of your Internet Service Provider’s host computers. Host computers are also referred to as hosts.
Hostname	Name assigned to each machine on the Internet. A hostname is similar to an Internet Protocol (IP) address in that it is a unique identifier. Each hostname consists of a machine name, a subnet name, a domain name, and a top-level domain name (for example, well.sj.ca.us). Typically, hostnames are given in full format (for instance, mypc.mydomain.com). This full format is referred to as a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). Hostnames, however, can be specified relative to a subnet or domain.
Hop counts	The term used to describe the passage of a data packet (frame) between two network nodes such as routers. For example, if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to a remote server, that connection requires ten hops.  The Net.Medic Activity pane shows how many router hops your current Internet connection involves. Each router in the Web path (each Intranet router, ISP router, or Internet backbone router) involved in the Web path is represented as router hop icons (colored dots) in the Activity pane. If there are ten router hop icons your computer must traverse ten routers to get to the remote Web server.
Hot spots	Even when you are not transferring Web pages, Net.Medic is continually monitoring your Web path. Net.Medic uses colors to allow you to quickly identify potential points in your path that might be a bottleneck. For instance, the following Activity pane indicates there is a serious problem with your modem.  By simply double-clicking on a yellow or red icon in a Net.Medic pane or inlay, you can drill down to detailed performance information that tells you exactly what is occurring. These potential problem points are also called hot spots.
HTML	HyperText Markup Language. A formatting language used for documents on the Web. HTML files are plain text files with formatting codes that tell browsers how to display text, position graphics, and display links to other pages.
HTTP	HyperText Transfer Protocol. Method used to exchange information between HTTP servers and clients.
HTTPD	HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon. A program that serves information using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
HTTP proxy	A single computer is capable of running multiple servers. Each server connection is identified by a port number. A HTTP proxy server, liken an HTTP server, occupies a port on the computer.
HTTP server	A server that stores hypertext documents and sends them to such HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) clients as an Internet browser.  A Web server is an example of an HTTP server.
Hunt group	Trunk hunting is a method used to switch incoming calls to the next consecutive or available number in a hunt group. If the first number called is busy or unavailable, the call is automatically switched to the next number in the hunt group.
Hyperlink (link)	A path that connects one part of a Web document to another part of the same document or to separate document or location on the World Wide Web.
Hypertext	A set of text files that contains individual words that link one file to the next. The World Wide Web consists of hypertext documents.
I

Ingress router	The first router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers along your Web path. For example, the ISP ingress router is the router used to connect your PC to your ISP. Such a router is a component of your Web path and is monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with this router, it reports the problem in its health log. Ingress routers are also referred to as entry routers.
Inlay	An image from a companion application that is inlaid into another application's window. For example, because Net.Medic is a browser companion application, your browser window displays a Net.Medic inlay in its upper-right corner. By having this inlay in your browser, you can easily monitor the health of your current online session from your browser.
Internet	A world-wide network of different types of computers that are linked together. No particular organization has jurisdiction over it.
Internet ailments	Include bottlenecks and other common Internet problems, such as being unexpectedly disconnected from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Internet backbone	The connections between the primary computers in the Internet.
Internet Explorer	Microsoft’s Internet browser that acts as a graphical interface to the World Wide Web. For example, you can use Internet Explorer to retrieve Web documents, to download files, to participate in newsgroups, and to send and receive E-mail. Net.Medic is a companion application to such browsers as Internet Explorer.
Internet pane	The Net.Medic pane that indicates how the Internet portion of your Web path is performing. To open this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click any of the Internet router hop icons [image] in the Activity pane or pull down the View menu and choose Internet from the Details submenu.
Internet routers	The group of Internet backbone routers used to connect your desktop computer to the remote Web server. The first router in the group, which demarcs the start of the Internet backbone, is the Internet entry router. The last router in this group, which demarcs the end of the Internet backbone, is called the Internet exit or egress router. These routers are also called Internet backbone routers.
Intranet	A company-wide network of different types of computers linked together.
Intranet routers	The group of Intranet routers used to connect your desktop computer to the ISP portion of the path. The first router in the group. which demarcs the start of the Intranet, is the Intranet entry router. The last router in this group, which demarcs the end of the Intranet,  is called Intranet exit or egress router. The Intranet routers are the first group of routers, followed by the ISP routers, and Internet backbone routers.
IP	Short for Internet Protocol.  A networking protocol, which resides on both hosts and routers. It is responsible for relaying data from the source host to the destination host.
IP address	An Internet Protocol (IP) address for an Internet machine. It is a unique identification for each machine on the Internet. The address consists of four groups of numbers that are separated by dots. Each group of numbers is an 8-bit octet that can range from 0 to 255. (An octet is a byte that consists of 8 bits). The entire IP address is a 32-bit value.
ISP	Short for Internet Service Provider. A company or organization that provides Internet services to its customers.
ISP dial-in phone number	The phone number that you dial from your desktop computer to connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
ISP egress router	The ISP router that connects to the Internet backbone. The Net.Medic Activity pane uses green, yellow, and red to indicate the current state of this router. If problems are encountered with this router, you can obtain more information on the problem by displaying the Net.Medic health log.
ISP entry router	The Internet Service Provider’s router that your local router contacts to connect to your ISP. Such a router is a component of your Web path and is monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with this router, it reports the problem in its health log.
ISP pane	The Net.Medic pane that is an index of your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) current overall health from your unique perspective. It also provides performance information about your ISP based upon a periodic sampling. When you’re connected, the name of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane. To open this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click any ISP router hop icon [image] in the Activity pane or pull down the View menu and choose ISP from the Details submenu.
ISP routers	The group of ISP routers used to connect your desktop computer to the Internet backbone. The first router in this group, which demarcs the start of the ISP portion of a path, is called the ISP entry router. The last router in this group is called the ISP exit or egress router. For example, the ISP router that your local router contacts to connect to your ISP is called the ISP entry router. By double-clicking on a yellow or red icon for a router, you can open the Net.Medic health log with the matching entry highlighted.
J

Java	An Internet programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Java has been integrated with many of the popular Internet browsers, such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.
Java applet	A Java program is a small program that is executed when loading  a Web page into a browser window. Java applets are used to add video and sound to Web pages.
K

kilobit (kbps)	kbps is kilobits per second. A kilobit is one thousand bits, or units of information. There are eight bits in a byte. Computer memory is usually measured in kilobytes or megabytes while data transmission is typically measured in kilobits per second or megabits per second (one million bits per second). For example, if you are transferring data over the network at a rate of 22.1 kbps, then the data is being transferred at a rate of 21,100 bits per second.
L

LAN	Short for local area network. A network that consists of a set of devices that are connected for communication purposes. A LAN can connect to a larger network (for example, the Internet.)
Link	Short for hyperlink. A path that connects one part of a Web document to another part of the same document or to a separate document or location on the World Wide Web. For example, you click on links within the Net.Medic Help System to go to other help topics.
Local router	The router your modem goes through to connect to your ISP. Net.Medic uses green, yellow, and red to indicate the current health of this router within its Activity pane. If problems are encountered with this router, you can obtain more information on the problem by displaying the Net.Medic health log.
M

Microsoft Internet Explorer	Microsoft’s Web browser that acts as a graphical interface to the World Wide Web. For example, you can use Internet Explorer to retrieve Web documents, to download files, to participate in newsgroups, and to send and receive E-mail. VitalSigns Net.Medic is a companion application of such browsers as Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Modem	The internal or external device that allows your desktop computer to  make telephone calls to other computers.
Modem Connect Time pane	The Net.Medic pane that displays your modem connection time by current session, day, and month. Total time is shown in hours and minutes.  To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.
Modem pane	The Net.Medic pane that indicates your modem’s performance and overall health. To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click the modem icon [image] in the Activity pane.
N

Navigator	Netscape’s Web browser that acts as a graphical interface to the World Wide Web. For example, you can use Netscape Navigator to retrieve Web documents, to download files, to participate in newsgroups, and to send and receive E-mail. VitalSigns Net.Medic is a companion application to such browsers as Netscape Navigator.
Net.Medic Activity pane	The Net.Medic pane Indicates overall performance. Reports the status of your current Web path (for example, “Transferring data...”). Color is used to indicate the current health of the Web path components. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health of each Web path component. It tells you how many router hops your current Internet connection involves. Each router icon is a router hop. Net.Medic counts the number of router hops (Intranet routers, ISP routers, and Internet backbone routers) involved in your current Web path. For example, if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.
Net.Medic Client pane	Indicates your desktop computer’s performance and overall health. Displays the name of your computer (for example, “My Computer”) in its upper left corner.
Net.Medic health log	A log that records significant problems encountered during your online sessions as monitored by the Net.Medic software. The log explains what the problem is in plain language. To display this log, click [image] in your Net.Medic toolbar or choose Health Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.
Net.Medic history reports	The Net.Medic reports that track and rate the performance of your ISP, your modem, and  the Web sites you’ve visited over the past month.
Net.Medic icon	The Net.Medic icon [image] appears in the system tray area of your Windows task bar when Net.Medic is running. Note that the color of the Net.Medic icon changes colors to indicate your overall health of your current online session.  Green indicates good health. Yellow and red indicate moderate to poor health.
Net.Medic inlay	A Net.Medic pane that is inlaid into the upper-right corner of your browser window. By having this inlay in your browser, you can easily monitor the health of your current online session from your browser.
Net.Medic Internet pane	Indicates how the Internet portion of your Web path is performing. To open and close this pane, click on one of the Internet router hop icons in the Activity pane.
Net.Medic ISP pane	An index of your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) current overall health from your unique perspective.  It also provides performance information about your ISP based upon a periodic sampling. To open and close this pane, click on one of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane or pull down the View menu and choose ISP from the Details submenu.
Net.Medic menu bar	Bar near the top of the Net.Medic dashboard that consists of a set of pull-down menus. To pull down a menu, click on it in the menu bar.
Net.Medic modem call log	The Net.Medic log that tracks modem calls. The log provides information about your modem’s success rate, the bandwidth it achieved for each call, its average connection rate, and the percentage of busy signals it encountered. This vital data can help you decide whether to upgrade to a faster modem. You can use this log to audit your monthly usage and fees as well as the level of service provided by your ISP.
Net.Medic Modem Connect Time pane	Displays your modem connection time for the current session, day, and month. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. This pane is automatically displayed in  the Net.Medic dashboard when you open the dashboard.
Net.Medic Modem pane	Indicates your modem’s performance and overall health. To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the Activity pane.
Net.Medic Retrieval pane	Indicates how effectively you are transferring data over the network. To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image]  in the Net.Medic toolbar.
Net.Medic Server pane	The Net.Medic pane that provides an estimate of the health or performance of the Web server.   To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image]  in the Activity pane.
Net.Medic Session Connect Time pane	Displays your session connection time for the current session, day, and month. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. To display this pane, right-click on the Modem Connect pane and choose Session Connect Time from the pop-up menu.
Net.Medic system tray icon	When the Net.Medic program is running, the Net.Medic icon [image] appears in the system tray area of your taskbar. Note that the Net.Medic icon changes colors to indicate the overall health of your current online connection. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate or poor health.
Net.Medic ticker tape	A  tape that displays streams of messages. The Net.Medic dashboard has a ticker tape that reports information such as the name of the Web site you’re connected to along with the number of times you’ve visited the site.
Net.Medic title bar	Bar at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard.
Net.Medic Throughput pane	Indicates how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. Transfer speed is shown in kilobits per second (kbps). A kilobyte is 1024 bytes. For example, if you are receiving a Web page across the network at a rate of 54.0 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 54,000 bits per second (bps). To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.
Net.Medic toolbar	Row of icons at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard. Click an icon to perform certain tasks such as opening and closing panes in the dashboard or displaying Net.Medic logs and reports.
Netscape Navigator	Netscape’s Web browser that acts as a graphical interface to the World Wide Web. For example, you can use Netscape Navigator to retrieve Web documents, to download files, to participate in newsgroups, and to send and receive E-mail. VitalSigns Net.Medic is a companion application to such browsers as Netscape Navigator.
Node	An end point of a network connection or a junction that is common to two or more lines in a network. Nodes can be interconnected by links and act as control points in the network. Processors, controllers, bridges, routers, and workstations are all examples of network nodes.
O

P

Packet	An electronic envelop that is used to transmit user data over a network. This is also referred to as a frame.
Primary DNS server	The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer on the Intranet or ISP, which implements the DNS protocol. One of the main functions of the DNS server is to translate the hostnames of network nodes of a domain it is responsible for into IP addresses. (A domain is a part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)  The primary DNS server is the first DNS server that a host contacts for the translation of the hostname into an IP address. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.
Proxy server	A computer that is used to access the Internet around a firewall. (Networks have firewalls at different entry points to block access to unauthorized users.)
Q

R

Response time	The amount of time to respond to a request. Net.Medic measures the response time of your ISP, the Internet, and the Web server in your Web path. The Net.Medic Service Provider Report shows the ISP’s response time over the past month. The Net.Medic Frequently Visited Sites Report shows the response time of the ten sites you’ve visited the most often the past month. The Slowest Sites Report reflects the response time of the slowest five sites you’ve visited over the past month.
Retrieval pane	The Net.Medic pane that indicates how effectively you are transferring data over the network.
Retrieval rate	The average speed of the network during the transfer of a Web page. The Net.Medic Retrieval pane digitally reports this average speed in kilobits per second (kbps).
Retrieval time	The amount of time it takes to retrieve a Web page from a remote server. The Net.Medic Retrieval pane digitally displays this retrieval time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Router	An internetworking device that is used to connect different networks, or two network segments in a local area network (LAN).
S

Secondary DNS server	The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer on the Intranet or ISP, which implements the DNS protocol. One of the main functions of the DNS server is to translate the hostnames of network nodes of a domain it is responsible for into IP addresses. (A domain is a part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)  The primary DNS server is the first DNS server that a host contacts for the translation of the hostname into an IP address. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.
Server	The computer that handles the primary data delivery tasks for its clients. To initially view a Web page, the server that stores the page must deliver it to your browser. After the page is retrieved, you can use your browser to view it on your computer (the client portion of the client/server pair). Web servers are called Web sites or remote Web servers.
Server pane	The Net.Medic pane that provides an estimate of the health or performance of the Web server. . To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image]  in the Activity pane.
Session Connect Time pane	The Net.Medic pane that displays your session connection time by current session, day, and month. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. To display this pane, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar, right-click on the Connect Time pane and choose Session Time from the pop-up menu.
SMTP	Short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The E-mail protocol most commonly used by the Internet. It is implemented by the mail server SMTP channel. You can use the Net.Medic Preferences window to specify the E-mail protocol Net.Medic should use when sending E-mails. To display the Preferences window choose Preferences from the Net.Medic View menu.
Snapping panes	The process of displaying a Net.Medic pane within your browser is called “snapping a pane” on your browser. To snap a pane, right-click on the dashboard pane and choose Snap on Browser. The Net.Medic pane opens as an inlay in your browser.
Subnet	A subnet is a portion of an IP network that shares the same subnet address. Subnets are arbitrarily created by a system administrator to provide a multilevel, hierarchical routing structure. Such hierarchical structures shield the subnet from the addressing complexity of networks that are attached to the subnet.
Subnet mask	A 32-bit address mask used by the Internet Protocol (IP) to calculate a particular subnet.
System tray	The lower-right corner on your desktop. The Net.Medic icon  automatically appears in this tray to indicate Net.Medic is currently running. Note that the color of the Net.Medic icon changes colors to indicate your current overall health. Gray indicates good health. Yellow and red indicate moderate to poor health.
T

TCP	Short for Transmission Control Protocol.  Networking protocol that resides on host computers and assures reliable data delivery.
TCP/IP	Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The main network protocol for the Internet and Intranet (company) networks.
Throughput	The total traffic between network stations (your desktop PC and a remote Web server) per unit of time. Net.Medic tracks the throughput of the server involved in the Web path. It reports how fast the Web server transfers the Web page to your desktop computer. The server’s transfer rate is measured in kilobytes.
Throughput pane	The Net.Medic pane that Indicates how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. The transfer rate is measured in kilobits (kbps). A kilobit is one thousand bits, or units of information. There are eight bits in a byte. Computer memory is usually measured in kilobytes or megabytes while data transmission is typically measured in kilobits per second or megabits per seconds (a million bits per second). For example, if you are receiving a Web page the network at a rate of 54.0 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 54,000 bits per second (bps).   To display this pane in the Net.Medic dashboard, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar.
Ticker tape	A  tape that displays streams of messages. Net.Medic has a ticker tape on its dashboard that reports such information as the name of the Web site you’re connected to along with the number of times you’ve visited the site.
Title bar	Bar at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard that you use to close the Net.Medic dashboard (main window).
Toolbar	The row of buttons at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard that you use to perform such tasks as opening the Net.Medic health log.
U

URL	Uniform Resource Locators. The address that identifies a page on the Web. An URL consists of the following four parts: the service (for example, http or ftp), the host computer, the port number, and the full path name of the Web page (for example, http://www.vitalsigns.com).  You can also click [image] in the dashboard to view the VitalSigns home page in your browser window.
V

Virtual memory	The Windows operating system uses a portion of your hard drive to simulate Random Access Memory (RAM). Through the use of virtual memory,  your computer acts as if it has more RAM than it actually does. This allows your computer to run more programs than it could otherwise.
VitalSigns	Company that manufactures the Net.Medic product.
W

Web	Short for World Wide Web.
Web browser	A program that provides a user interface to the Web. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are two examples of graphical Web browsers.
Webmaster	The individual at a Web site who administers all the Web resources at that site.
Web page	A document you can read with a Web browser. Such pages can vary in complexity from a simple text page to pages containing hypermedia (video and sound)
Web path	The connection between your computer and the remote server. For example, a Web path would be the connection between a PC in San Jose) and a remote Web server in Tokyo. Net.Medic monitors the health of your Web paths.
Web server	A computer equipped to provide Web services to client computers that access it. Web pages are stored on such servers. Web servers are also called Web sites.
Web site	Another name for a Web server.
World Wide Web	A collection of hypertext- and hypermedia-linked documents that are accessible through the Internet. You access Web documents through a Web browser.
X

Y

Z


Activity pane

Use the Net.Medic Activity pane to animate your online connections and to determine your overall performance. Colored dots are used to represent the health of the various components in your Web path. This pane also reports the status of your current online activity (for example, “Transferring data”), the animation of Web pages being retrieved, and the number of hops in your path. Each dot [image] represents a router hop. For example, if your computer traversed ten routers to connect to a remote server, that Web path involves ten router hops.


Balloon help

Balloon help is available for certain objects in the Net.Medic dashboard. Move your pointer over an object. If balloon help is available, a magnifying glass appears and Net.Medic displays a brief description of the object. For example, move the pointer over one of the groups of router hop icons. As the following figures show, Net.Medic displays a brief description of the router hop group.


Backup DNS server

The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer that acts as the server for a domain. (A domain is a part of a network in which the data processing resources are under common control. Each domain in a network is managed by a domain name server.) One of the main functions of the Domain Name Server is to convert the host names of network nodes to IP addresses.

If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server, which is a fail-safe server at the core of the Internet. Although use of this backup server ensures connection to the Internet, it may not be the most direct route. Therefore, you should routinely use your ISP DNS servers to ensure you’re using the most direct route.


Bandwidth

The maximum transmission speed of a Web path or connection that is usually measured in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). More bandwidth indicates that more data can be transmitted per second. Capacity is sometimes used to refer to bandwidth.


Bank of health lights in the Client dashboard pane

The overall health of the client (your computer) is signified by the bank of health lights in the Client dashboard pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Note

The color of this bank of health lights corresponds to the color of the [image] client icon (your desktop computer) in the Activity pane.


Browser

A program used to explore the World Wide Web (Web). Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of browsers. Net.Medic is a browser companion.


Browser companion

Net.Medic works with most 32-bit Windows 95 communication programs. Examples of such programs include Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Netscape Communicator. Because Net.Medic works so closely with your browser, you can run Net.Medic as an inlay in the browser. This allows you to conserve desktop space and to work in a single window as you “surf the Web.”


Cache

The portion of your computer’s RAM used to locally store a copy of the data you retrieve from the network.  By caching the data (Web pages), your computer avoids having to make duplicate retrievals from a remote server during a current online session. By preloading such pages, it speeds up how quickly you can reload the Web page.


Cache hits

To save time, certain information that you retrieve from the network is automatically saved on your computer for later retrieval. When your computer retrieves the stored information from its cache (disk) the retrieval is called a cache hit. Net.Medic displays the percent of retrievals during a current Internet session that are retrieved from your computer's cache versus the network. This number is displayed in the Cache Hits meter. High numbers in this meter indicate good cache management.


CIO

Short for Chief Information Officer.


Client

A smaller computer that connects to other larger, more powerful computers functioning as servers. Your browser is an example of a client/server system. The client program running on your desktop takes advantage of the more powerful server at a remote site. Net.Medic tracks the performance of your desktop computer (for example, Client A that is a PC in San Jose). Desktop computers are also referred to as clients.


Client pane

Indicates the performance and overall health of the client (your desktop computer).

Bank of health lights. An indication of the overall health of your computer. The color indicates good, moderate, or poor health. For example, yellow indicates a moderate to serious problem with your computer. To obtain more information about PC-related problems, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red PC icon [image] in the Activity pane.

CPU Load gauge. Reports what percent of your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) is currently utilized. The CPU load is sometimes referred to as the system load. The more occupied it is, the slower your browser may work. Spiking (occasional high percentages) in this gauge is normal. However, a continually high reading on the gauge indicates a sustained heavy CPU load, which could signify an overtaxed computer. Windows 95 will often run at 100% if you have multiple applications open.

Cache Hits meter. Reports the percent of Web pages this session retrieved from local disk cache (cache hits) rather than retrieving them from the remote Web site. The local cache, or Web page storage, keeps pages from Web sites you have previously visited, and stores them on your local hard drive. Once these pages are stored on your hard drive, they can be quickly retrieved from your computer the next time you visit that Web site. It is faster to “download” from your local drive than from the remote Web site. High numbers in this meter indicate good cache management and thus good browsing performance.


Colored dots

Net.Medic uses colored dots to indicate the current health of the router hops involved in your current Web path. Gray indicates a healthy state. Yellow and red respectively indicate moderate to poor health.

•	To display more information about an unhealthy hop (router), click once on its icon in the Activity pane. The corresponding pane opens in the Net.Medic dashboard. For example, in the preceding figure the group of Internet backbone routers are experiencing problems. Click once on any of the router icons to open the Internet dashboard.

•	To drill down into the cause of the problem, double-click on one of these yellow router icons. The health log will open with the matching entry automatically highlighted. By double-clicking on the health log entry, Net.Medic displays a diagnosis and prescription for the problem whenever possible.


Components of a translogue
Components of a Web path

The components of a Web path include:

•	Your computer (the client)

•	Your modem

•	Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

•	Network (Internet backbone) portion of the connection

•	Remote Web server


Connect Time pane

Use the Net.Medic Session Time/Connect Time pane for the following purposes: (1) to track your modem connection time if you’re connected via a modem, or (2) to track your browser activity time. Total time is shown in hours and minutes. Note that the session time is reported for both modem and LAN connections; whereas, the modem connect time is only reported with modem connections. You can switch between these two views (Modem Connect Time and Session Connect Time) by right-clicking on this Net.Medic pane and choosing Session Time or Modem Connect Time from the pop-up menu.

Session digital display. Time on current session.

Today digital display. Time on all sessions today.

This Month digital display. Time on all sessions this month.

Note

•	The session connect time stops incrementing when the browser is idle for more than 3 minutes.

•	Note that ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change them. For example, various ISPs use different methods to round up the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although the Net.Medic Connect Time dashboard pane reflects your online time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables.


CPU load

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the hardware that processes instructions for the computer. Different types of CPUs have various levels of processing power. The CPU's processing power that is currently being used in your computer is called the CPU load. Net.Medic reports your CPU load percentage in its dashboard. A continually high percentage, for example, could indicate your current CPU is being overtaxed. A possible solution would be to upgrade your computer to a more powerful CPU.


Current load

The current load is a percentile that reflects the server’s current load relative to its past load (its load when you have visited the Web server in the past).


Current traffic congestion levels

The current traffic congestion level is a percentile that reflects the traffic congestion on the Intranet, ISP, or Internet relative to the past traffic congestion on the Intranet, ISP, or Internet (its traffic congestion in your past experiences).


Net.Medic dashboard


Diagnosis window

Net.Medic displays its diagnosis and prescription for a problem in its Diagnosis window. To obtain a diagnosis and prescription for a problem, double-click on the health log entry, or click once on the entry and then click Diagnosis.

The Diagnosis window opens. If Net.Medic can cure the problem, it tells you to click AutoCure. In the following example, Net.Medic fixes the problem by increasing the baud rate of your serial port. If the cure had been to notify your ISP, you could have Net.Medic generate an E-mail describing the problem to your ISP by clicking Notify. After formatting the text for the E-mail, Net.Medic asks if you want to send it. Unless you tell Net.Medic to send the E-mail message, it will not be sent. Note that the E-mail notification feature is only available with the retail version of Net.Medic.

Note

If you keep the Diagnosis window open, you can continue to display a diagnosis and prescription for various entries in the health log by clicking once on another log entry. The contents of the Diagnosis window are updated to reflect the diagnosis and prescription for the currently selected entry.


Dial-in string

Phone number used to dial into your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from your desktop computer. It is also called a dial-in phone number.


Domain

A part of a network in which the data processing resources are under common control. Each domain in a network is managed by a domain name server.


Domain Name Service (DNS)

When you use an Internet program and enter a domain name rather than an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the Internet program automatically uses the Domain Name Service (DNS).  DNS translates the supplied domain name into the IP address. The duration of this DNS translation impacts the time needed to begin a connection to a remote server. Other factors can also extend this pre-connection process.


Domain Name Server

The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer that acts as the server for a domain. (A domain is a part of a network in which the data processing resources are under common control. Each domain in a network is managed by a domain name server.) One of the main functions of the DNS server is to convert the host names of network nodes to IP addresses. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.


Domain Name System

A system used by machines on a network to convert names of network nodes into their corresponding Internet numbers (addresses). Typically, machines obtain this translated information from a DNS server, or they look it up in tables maintained on their systems. If your computer has been configured with the wrong DNS address, it is unable to convert the Internet names to IP addresses. This, in turn, prevents you from being able to use your browser to locate the server.


End-to-end connection
The connection between your computer and the remote Web server. For example, an end-to-end connection would be the connection between Client A (a PC in San Jose) and Server B (a remote server in Tokyo). Net.Medic monitors the health of your end-to-end connections. The term Web path is used to refer to such connections throughout this help system.


Egress (exit) router

The last router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone router hops along your Web path. Such routers are components of your Web path and are monitored by Net.Medic. To display balloon help for a router, move the pointer over its icon in the Activity pane.

If Net.Medic detects any problems with these routers, it reports the problem in its health log. To display information about a router hop, double-click on its yellow or red icon in the Activity pane. To open the corresponding dashboard pane, click once on any of the router hop icons in the Activity pane or pull down the View menu and choose the appropriate option from the Details submenu. For example, to open the Internet pane choose Internet from the Details submenu.


Entry router

The first router in a group of Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers (hops) along your Web path. Such  routers are components of your Web path and are monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with these routers (hops), it reports the problem in its health log. To display balloon help for a group of router hops, move your pointer over any of its router hop icons [image] in the Activity pane.

To display more information about a router hop, double-click on its yellow or red icon in the Activity pane. To open the corresponding dashboard pane, click once on any of its router hop icons in the Activity pane or pull down the View menu and choose the appropriate option from the Details submenu. For example, to open the ISP pane choose ISP from the Details submenu.


Firewall

Large networks typically have firewalls at different entry points to block access to unauthorized users. A proxy server is a computer that is used to access the Internet around a firewall.


Gateway

Networking hardware that allows messages to be transferred between two different types of networks.  For example, you need a gateway to communicate between a Macintosh AppleTalk network and a UNIX-based network.


Health Summary Report popup
The Health Summary Report rates the overall health of your online sessions for the past month. The report provides a distribution of problems along with the top five causes of the problems. The report can help you pinpoint problems that persistently cause a bottleneck in your online connections.

To display this report

	In the Net.Medic menu bar, pull down the Window menu, choose History Reports then drag right and choose Health Summary Report.
	In the Net.Medic toolbar, click [image], pull down the Reports menu in the displayed History Reports window and choose Health Summary Report.


Hop

The term used to describe the passage of a data packet (frame) between two network nodes such as routers. Net.Medic tracks the number of router hops your current Internet connection involves. Each router hop in the Web path (each Intranet router, ISP router, or an Internet backbone router) is shown as a router hop icon (a gray, yellow, or red dot) in the Activity pane. For example, if your computer must traverse ten routers to connect to a remote server, that connection requires ten router hops.

To check which portion of the path a router hop is part of, move your pointer over its icon. Net.Medic’s balloon help displays a brief description of the router hop group.


Host

Typically, individuals access the Internet by using a modem to connect to a host. Hosts are large computers that have their own Internet address. For example, to access the Internet from your home computer, you can use a modem to dial a phone number that connects you to one of your Internet Service Provider’s host computers. Hosts are also referred to as host computers.


Hostname

Name assigned to each machine on the Internet. A hostname is similar to an Internet Protocol (IP) address because it is a unique identifier. Each hostname consists of a machine name, a subnet name, a domain name, and a top-level domain name (for example, well.sj.ca.us). Typically, hostnames are given in full format (for instance, mypc.mydomain.com). This full format is referred to as a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). Hostnames, however, can be specified relative to a subnet or domain.


Hot spots

Even when you are not transferring Web pages, Net.Medic is continually monitoring your Internet path for you. Net.Medic uses colors to allow you to quickly identify potential points in your path that might be a bottleneck. For instance, the following Activity pane indicates there is a health problem with your modem.

By simply double-clicking on a yellow or red icon in a Net.Medic pane or inlay, you can obtain additional information. These potential problem points, which you may choose to investigate, are also called hot spots.


HTTP server

A server that stores hypertext documents and sends them to such HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) clients as an Internet browser.  A Web server is an example of an HTTP server. Routers are examples of a gateway.


HTTP proxy

A single computer is capable of running multiple servers. Each server connection is identified by a port number. A HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) proxy server, like an HTTP server, occupies a port on the computer.


Hunt group

Trunk hunting is a method used to switch incoming calls to the next consecutive or available number in a hunt group. If the first number called is busy or unavailable, the call is automatically switched to the next number in the hunt group.


HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Method used to exchange information between HTTP servers and clients. Your browser is an example of an HTTP client program. A Web server is an example of an HTTP server.


Identify feature

Net.Medic’s Identify feature allows you to quickly obtain identity information about your Intranet, ISP, or remote server. This information includes such details as the network address, domain name, name and address of the contact. To obtain this information, Net.Medic contacts a well-known server that maintains a database of all the remote servers and network elements.

To identify any of these objects, right-click on the Intranet, ISP, or Server dashboard pane and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. You can also display this information by right-clicking on the component’s icon (for example, the server icon) in the Activity pane and choosing Identify from the pop-up menu.


Inlay

An image from a companion application that is inlaid into another application's window. For example, because Net.Medic is a browser companion application, your browser window displays a Net.Medic inlay in its upper-right corner. By having this inlay in your browser, you can easily monitor the health of your current online session from the browser.


Internet

A world-wide network of different types of computers that are linked together. No particular organization has jurisdiction over it.


Internet ailments

Internet ailments include bottlenecks and other common Internet problems, such as being unexpectedly disconnected from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).


Internet backbone

The connections between the primary computers in the Internet. An Internet cloud is typically used to depict this portion of the network.


Internet backbone routers

The group of Internet backbone routers used to connect your desktop computer (for example, your PC) to the remote Web server. The first router in the group, which demarcs the start of the Internet backbone, is the Internet entry router. The last router in this group, which demarcs the end of the Internet backbone,  is called the Internet exit or egress router. By double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon in the Activity pane, you can open the Net.Medic health log with the matching entry highlighted.

By clicking once on a router hop icon, you can open the corresponding dashboard pane. For example, the Internet pane opens if you click once on any of the Internet router hop icons in the Activity pane. You can also open the Intranet, ISP, or Internet panes by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, or Internet from the Details submenu.


Internet egress router

The last router in the Internet router group, which demarcs the end of the Internet backbone, is called the Internet exit or egress router. Internet routers are also called Internet backbone routers.


Internet entry router

The first router in the Internet router group. which demarcs the start of the Internet backbone, is the Internet entry router, Internet routers are also called Internet backbone routers.


Internet pane

Use the Net.Medic Internet pane to check the performance of the Internet portion of your Web path.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of the network delay attributable to the Internet backbone. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by the Internet backbone. The delay attributed to the Internet backbone is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the remote Web server and the last ISP router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Internet traffic level along your path. Lower percentile numbers in this gauge mean lower congestion and vice-versa.

Peak Speed meter. Reports an estimated peak transfer speed as a percent of the speed limit of your online connection. The speed limit refers to the number of bits per second (bps) that can be transferred by the thinnest pipe (connection) between your computer and the Web server. A low percentage in this meter indicates poor utilization of the bandwidth available end to end. Consequently, high values in this meter are desirable and indicate the Internet backbone is passing traffic without introducing delays.


Internet router hop icons

The group of Internet backbone routers that are used to connect your desktop computer to the remote Web server.

Each Internet backbone router that your computer must traverse to connect to the remote Web server is a router hop. Each router hop is represented as a [image] in the Activity pane. To display a brief description of a router hop group, move your pointer over one of its icons in the Activity pane.


Internet Service Provider (ISP)

A company or organization that provides Internet services to its customers.


Intranet

A company-wide network of different types of computers linked together.


Intranet pane

Use the Net.Medic Intranet pane to determine the following: (1) the health of your Intranet from your unique perspective, and (2) your Intranet’s performance based upon a periodic sampling. The name of your Intranet appears in the upper-left corner of this pane. Note that most modem users are not using an Intranet and therefore will not see this pane in their Net.Medic dashboard.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay attributed to the Intranet. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your Intranet. The delay attributed to the Intranet is computed by taking the difference of round trip times between reaching the last (egress) Intranet router and the first (ingress) Intranet router.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the Intranet traffic level in your Web path. Note that this is along your path through the network This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the Intranet and comparing that against the historical distribution of Intranet delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 10% indicates that the current response was in the 10th percentile, which means that the current Intranet delay was more than 10% of previously seen delays and was less than 89% of other previous delays. Therefore, lower percentile numbers mean lower congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your performance over the Intranet is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your Intranet services (for example, IP connectivity and Domain Name System (DNS). Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.


Intranet pane bank of health lights

The overall health of the Intranet is signified by the bank of health lights in the Intranet pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.


Intranet hop (router) icon
Intranet router hop icon

The group of routers in your corporate Intranet that are used to connect your desktop computer to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Each Intranet router that your computer must traverse to connect to your ISP is a router hop. Each router hop is represented as a [image] in the Activity pane. Move your pointer over a router hop group to display a brief description of it. To identify the Intranet, right-click on one of its router hop icons and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.


Intranet routers

The group of Intranet routers used to connect your desktop computer to the ISP portion of the path. The first router in the group, which demarcs the start of the Intranet, is the Intranet entry router. The last router in this group, which demarcs the end of the Intranet, is the Intranet exit or egress router. The Intranet routers are the first group of routers, followed by the ISP routers, and Internet backbone routers.

To identify the Intranet, right-click on one of the Intranet router hop icons and choose Identify from the pop-up menu. By double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon, you can open the Net.Medic health log with the matching entry highlighted. By clicking once on a router hop icon, you can open the corresponding dashboard pane. For example, the Intranet pane opens if you click once any of the Intranet router hop icons in the Activity pane. You can also open the Intranet, ISP, or Internet panes by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, or Internet from the Details submenu.


IP

Short for Internet Protocol.  A networking protocol, which resides on both hosts and routers. It is responsible for relaying data from the source host to the destination host.


IP address

An Internet Protocol (IP) address for an Internet machine. It is a unique identification for each machine on the Internet. The address consists of four groups of numbers that are separated by dots. Each group of numbers is an 8-bit octet that can range from 0 to 255. (An octet is a byte that consists of 8 bits). The entire IP address is a 32-bit value.


ISP egress router

The last router in the group of Internet Service Provider (ISP) routers that connects to the first Internet backbone router in an end-to-end connection.

An egress router is used to leave any three of the regions (the Intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone portion) of an end-to-end connection.


ISP entry router

The Internet Service Provider’s router used to connect your desktop computer to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

This is the router your local routers contacts to connect to your ISP. Such a router is a component of your Web path and is monitored by Net.Medic. If Net.Medic detects any problems with this router, it reports the problem in its health log.


ISP pane

Provides an index of the current overall health of your ISP from your connection point. Also reports your ISP’s performance based upon a periodic sampling.

Delay chart. Provides an estimate of network delay that is attributable to your ISP. The chart provides a histogram of delay with the most recent information on the far right. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with this portion of the network. The taller the line on the Delay chart, the longer the delay caused by your ISP.

Traffic gauge. Provides a relative estimate of the ISP traffic level in your Web path. This estimate is computed by taking the delay introduced by the ISP and comparing that against the historical distribution of ISP delays. The current value is placed in that distribution by computing a percentile. In the preceding example, 89% indicates that the current response was in the 89th percentile, which means that the current ISP delay was more than 89% of previously seen delays and was less than 10% of other previous delays. Therefore, higher percentile numbers mean higher congestion and vice-versa. The traffic index for your ISP’s performance is baselined over time and will become more accurate over time.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the current overall health of your ISP. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.


ISP pane bank of health lights

The overall health of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is signified by the bank of health lights in the ISP pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.


ISP hop (router) icon
ISP router hop icon

The group of routers that are used to connect your desktop computer to the Internet backbone.

Each ISP router that your computer must traverse to connect to the Internet backbone is a router hop. Each router hop is represented as a [image] in the Activity pane. Move your pointer over a router hop group to display a brief description of it. To identify the ISP, right-click on one of the ISP router hop icons and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.


ISP routers

The group of ISP routers used to connect your desktop computer to the Internet backbone.  The first router in this group, which demarcs the start of the ISP portion of a path, is the ISP entry router. The last router in this group is the ISP exit or egress router. By double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon, you can open the Net.Medic health log with the matching entry highlighted. To identify the ISP, right-click on one of the ISP router hop icons and choose Identify from the pop-up menu.

By double-clicking on a yellow or red router hop icon, you can open the Net.Medic health log with the matching entry highlighted. By clicking once on a router hop icon, you can open the corresponding dashboard pane. For example, the ISP pane opens if you click once on one of the ISP router hop icons in the Activity pane. You can also open the Intranet, ISP, or Internet panes by pulling down the View menu and respectively choosing Intranet, ISP, or Internet from the Details submenu.


Java applet

Java is an Internet programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Java has been integrated with many of the popular Internet browsers, such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. A Java applet is a small program that is executed when loading a Web page into your browser window. Java applets are used to add video and sound to Web pages.


kbps

kbps is short for kilobits per second. A kilobit is one thousand bits and is a unit of measurement to indicate the speed at which data is being transferred. For example, if you are retrieving data from the network at a rate of 22.1 kbps, then the data is being retrieved at a rate of 22,100 bits per second.


LAN

Short for local area network. A network that consists of a set of devices that are connected for communication purposes. A LAN can connect to a larger network (for example, the Internet.)


Link (Hyperlink)

A path that connects one part of a Web document to another part of the same document or to a separate document or location on the World Wide Web (Web).


Local router

The router your modem goes through to connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Net.Medic uses gray, yellow, and red to indicate the current health of this router within its Activity pane. Gray indicates a healthy state. Yellow and red indicate moderate or poor health. If problems are encountered with this router, you can obtain more information about the problem by displaying the Net.Medic health log.


Modem

The internal or external device that allows your desktop computer to make telephone calls to other computers, as shown in the following figure.


Modem pane

Use the Net.Medic Modem pane to determine your modem’s performance and overall health.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the overall health of your modem. Green, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Compression scale. Provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression scale setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The blue arrow will slide back and forth to indicate the level of compression. If the blue arrow turns white when it is active, this signifies compression is in effect. If your modem is using compression, you can download Web pages faster. You can have Net.Medic enable compression via its AutoCure feature.

Speed meter. Reports the connection speed of your modem. The meter indicates what percent of the rated modem speed was actually achieved during the “handshake” between your modem and the ISP’s modem. A low percentage in this meter indicates your modem is not connected at optimal speed. For example, if you had a 28.8 kbps modem and the speed is reported at 26.4 kbps, the Speed meter registers 92% because 8% of your modem’s potential capacity is not being utilized.


Modem pane bank of health lights

The overall health of your modem is signified by the bank of health lights in the Modem pane. Green, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate, or poor health.

Note

To fully utilize compression, a DTE rate that is four times higher than the modem’s rated baud rate is needed.


Net.Medic health log

The Net.Medic log that describes the problems encountered with your online connections.

To display the log, use any of the following methods:

•	Click [image] in your Net.Medic toolbar.

•	Double-click on a yellow or red Net.Medic icon.

•	Choose Health Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.

Note

To display a diagnosis and prescription for a problem listed in the log, double-click on the log entry or click on the entry once and then click Diagnosis.


Net.Medic history reports

The Net.Medic reports that track and rate the performance of Web sites you’ve visited over the past month. They enable you to compare your current and past performance. This information, in turn, allows you to make an informed decision about which sites to visit. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) performance rating notifies you about ISP bottlenecks. If the ISP is a bottleneck, then the information helps in deciding  whether to change service providers. If your ISP isn’t a bottleneck, you avoid needlessly calling your ISP for assistance or unnecessarily changing to a new ISP.


Net.Medic inlay

A Net.Medic pane that is inlaid into the upper-right corner of your browser window. By having this inlay in a browser, you can easily monitor the health of your current online session from your browser.


Menu bar pop-up
Menu	Option	Description
File	Close	Closes the Net.Medic dashboard on your desktop without shutting down the Net.Medic program. Because the Net.Medic program is still running, its icon remains in the system tray area of your taskbar.
View	Home	Opens only the Activity pane, the Throughput pane, and the Retrieval pane in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Preferences	Opens the Net.Medic Preferences window, which you can use to change the Net.Medic E-mail, ticker tape, display colors, and performance preferences.
	Open All	Opens all the panes in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Close All	Closes all the panes in the Net.Medic dashboard.
	Details	Opens the Details submenu from which you can open a particular pane in the Net.Medic dashboard: • Choose My PC to open the Client pane. • Choose Modem to open the Modem pane. • Choose Intranet to open the Intranet pane. • Choose ISP to open the ISP pane. • Choose Internet to open the Internet pane. • Choose Server to open the Server pane.
Window	Call Log	Opens the Net.Medic call log.
	Health Log	Opens the Net.Medic health log.
	History  Reports	Opens the submenu that lists the history reports you can display and print.
	Session Summary	Opens the Net.Medic Session Summary window, which gives you a summary of your current online session.
Help	Help	Opens this Net.Medic help system on your desktop.
	VitalSigns Home Page	Opens the VitalSigns home page in your browser.
	Version Update Information	Opens the VitalSigns Web page that you can use to obtain information about Net.Medic version updates.
	Register Net.Medic	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which allows you to register your Net.Medic product.
	Release Notes	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which contains release note information about the Net.Medic product.
	Technical Support	Opens the VitalSigns Web page, which contains information about obtaining technical support for the Net.Medic product.
	About Net.Medic	Displays the version number of the Net.Medic software.


$ K + Modem pane

Use the Net.Medic Modem pane to determine your modem’s performance and overall health.

Bank of health lights. Indicates the overall health of your modem. Green, yellow, and red indicate good, moderate, or poor health. To obtain more information about problems related to your modem, check the Net.Medic health log by double-clicking on this pane’s yellow or red health light, or on the yellow or red modem icon in the Activity pane.

Compression scale. Provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression scale setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The blue arrow will slide back and forth to indicate the level of compression. If the blue arrow turns white when it is active, this signifies compression is in effect. If your modem is using compression, you can download Web pages faster. You can have Net.Medic enable compression via its AutoCure feature.

Speed meter. Reports the connection speed of your modem. The meter indicates what percent of the rated modem speed was actually achieved during the “handshake” between your modem and the ISP’s modem. A low percentage in this meter indicates your modem is not connected at optimal speed. For example, if you had a 28.8 kbps modem and the speed is reported at 26.4 kbps, the Speed meter registers 92% because 8% of your modem’s potential capacity is not being utilized.


Net.Medic modem call log
Net.Medic call log

The Net.Medic log that tracks your modem calls over the past month. The log provides information about your modem’s success rate, the bandwidth it achieved for each call, its average connection rate, and the percentage of busy signals it encountered. To display this log, click [image] in the Net.Medic toolbar or choose Call Log from the Net.Medic Window menu.

Note

This vital data can help you decide whether you should upgrade to a faster modem. In addition, you can use this log to audit your monthly usage and fees as well as the level of service provided by your ISP. You can also use the log to audit your monthly usage and fees as well as the level of service provided by your ISP. However, ISPs vary in their billing policies and can also periodically change their policies. For example, various ISPs use different  methods  to roundup the billable hours while others bill in minimum time increments. Net.Medic does not account for such variables. Consequently, although this log reflects your actual online modem time over the past month, the reported time may not reflect your final ISP bill because of these variables in billing policies.


Net.Medic icon

When the Net.Medic program is running, the Net.Medic icon [image] appears in the system tray of your taskbar. Note that the Net.Medic icon changes colors to indicate the overall health of your current online connection. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate or poor health.


Net.Medic system tray icon

When the Net.Medic program is running, the Net.Medic icon [image] appears in the system tray area of your taskbar. Note that the Net.Medic icon changes colors to indicate the overall health of your current online connection. Gray, yellow, and red respectively indicate good, moderate or poor health.


Net.Medic ticker tape

The Net.Medic dashboard has a ticker tape that reports such information as the name of the Web site you’re connected to along with the number of times you’ve visited the site. You can snap this ticker tape onto your browser by right-clicking on the ticker tape in the Net.Medic dashboard and choosing Snap On Browser. With Netscape Navigator, you can snap the ticker tape and a Net.Medic dashboard pane onto the browser concurrently. With Internet Explorer, you can only snap the ticker tape or a Net.Medic dashboard pane onto the browser.


Net.Medic title bar

Bar at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard window used to close the Net.Medic dashboard.


Net.Medic toolbar

Row of buttons at the top of the Net.Medic dashboard used to perform such tasks as opening the Net.Medic health log.


Network gauge

Net.Medic separates the amount of delay in retrieving the page into two portions. The delay caused by the network and the delay caused by the server. This network delay is the amount of time it would take to make the request from the client to the server and the amount of time it takes the results to be brought back from the server to the client. Some of this delay is the propagation delay in the links. The rest of it is the delay in packet queues of intermediate devices such as routers. In the following example, the network contributed to 43% of the delay and the rest belongs to the server.


Non-peak times

Generally, the best time to log on is early morning or late evening. The busiest Internet time is the afternoon.


Packet

An electronic envelop used to transmit user data over a network. This is also referred to as a frame.


Primary DNS server

The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer on the Intranet or ISP, which implements the DNS protocol. One of the main functions of the DNS server is to translate the hostnames of network nodes of a domain it is responsible for into IP addresses. (A domain is a part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)

The primary DNS server is the first DNS server that a host contacts for the translation of the hostname into an IP address. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.


Proxy server

A computer used to access the Internet around a firewall.


Response time

The amount of time to respond to a request. Net.Medic measures the response time of your ISP, the Internet, and the Web server in your Web path. It reports how long each of these Web path components took to transfer a Web page. The Net.Medic Service Provider Report shows the ISP’s response time over the past month. The Net.Medic Frequently Visited Sites Report shows the response time of the ten sites you’ve visited the most over the past month. The Slowest Sites Report shows the response time of the slowest five sites you’ve visited over the past month.


Retrieval pane

Use the Net.Medic Retrieval pane for the following purposes: (1) to determine how effectively you are transferring data over the network, (2) to establish how much time it takes to retrieve a Web page, and (3) to pinpoint the source of the delays.

Time digital display. Reports the total time (delay) taken to retrieve the current Web page. (The retrieval of a Web page is an HTTP transfer.) The transfer time is shown in minutes, seconds and tenth of seconds.

Network gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay in the network that is between the Web site and the client (your desktop computer).

Site gauge. Reports an estimated percent of retrieval time caused by a delay on the server (Web site). The Network gauge and the Site gauge measurements combined always total 100%. The Network gauge gives a real-time indication of the percentage of transfer time attributable to the network. The Site gauge indicates the percentage of transfer time attributable to the Web server (the site). For example, if the Network gauge reads 43% and the Site gauge reads 57%, this indicates the site is causing most of the delay.

Avg. Rate digital display. Reports the average rate to retrieve the current Web page from the Web site. This rate is shown in kbps.


Router

An internetworking device that is used to connect different networks, or two network segments in a local area network (LAN).


Secondary DNS server

The Domain Name System (DNS) server is a computer on the Intranet or ISP, which implements the DNS protocol. One of the main functions of the DNS server is to translate the hostnames of network nodes of a domain it is responsible for into IP addresses. (A domain is a part of a network whose nodes are under some common control.)

The primary DNS server is the first DNS server that a host contacts for the translation of the hostname into an IP address. If the primary DNS server fails, the secondary DNS server handles the responsibility. If the secondary DNS server fails, Net.Medic supplies a backup DNS server.


Server

A computer that handles the primary data delivery tasks for its clients. For example, when you initially view a Web page, the server that is storing the page must deliver it to your browser. After the page is retrieved from the server, you can view it with your browser. (Web servers are also called Web sites.) Your computer is the client portion of the client/server pair.


Server pane

Use the Net.Medic Server pane (also referred to as the Web site pane) to obtain an estimate of the health or performance of the remote Web server. The name of the remote Web server (for example, “southport.jpl.nasa”) appears in the upper-left corner of this pane.

Delay chart. Reports the estimated server and application (HTTP) delay caused by the various Web sites you have most recently visited. The delay measurement is based on the amount of time the server takes to complete its response to a request. Blue indicates a reasonable delay. Yellow indicates slowness associated with the remote Web server and the application layer response. The taller the line on this chart, the longer the delay caused by the server or Web site.

Load gauge. Reports the relative load on the server or Web site. This estimate is computed by taking the server delay and comparing that against the historical distribution of server delays. Lower percentile numbers mean lower load and better responsiveness. The more you visit a site, the more accurate its load gauge percentage reading becomes.

Throughput meter. Reports the efficiency of the current server or Web site and its attempt to use the available network bandwidth. It’s an estimated percent of the speed limit achieved by the current Web site server averaged over the complete page transfer time. A high throughput percentage indicates good utilization of the bandwidth available to the current server or Web site. However, if the speed limit is high (such as “LAN” speed), even the fastest servers may not achieve a high percentage.


SMTP

Short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The E-mail protocol most commonly used by the Internet. It is implemented by the mail server SMTP channel. You can use the Net.Medic Preferences window to specify the E-mail protocol Net.Medic should use when sending E-mails. To display the Preferences window choose Preferences from the Net.Medic View menu.


Snapping

The process of displaying a Net.Medic pane in your browser is called “snapping” a pane onto your browser. The process of closing a Net.Medic inlay in your browser is called “detaching” a pane from your browser. You can snap and detach the Net.Medic ticker tape onto and off your browser.


Snapping a pane

The process of displaying a Net.Medic pane within your browser is called “snapping a pane” onto your browser. To snap a pane, right-click on the Net.Medic dashboard pane and choose Snap On Browser. The Net.Medic pane opens as an inlay in your browser.

To detach (close) the Net.Medic inlay, right-click on the inlay and choose Snap on Dashboard. You can also snap and detach the Net.Medic ticker tape onto and off your browser by right-clicking on the ticker tape and choosing Snap On Browser or Snap on Dashboard. Net.Medic remembers the last pane you snapped onto the browser and automatically resnaps it the next time you restart your browser.


Subject of an E-mail message

When Net.Medic creates an E-mail message, it automatically specifies its subject.


Subnet mask

A subnet is a portion of an IP network that shares the same subnet address. Subnets are arbitrarily created by a system administrator to provide a multilevel, hierarchical routing structure. Such hierarchical structures shield the subnet from the addressing complexity of networks that are attached to the subnet. A subnet mask is a 32-bit address mask used by the Internet Protocol (IP) to calculate a particular subnet.


Session Summary toolbar

To obtain more information about the source of a problem, click the corresponding tab in the Session Summary toolbar.


Session Summary window

The Session Summary window provides a summary of your current online session. To obtain more information about the source of a problem, click the corresponding tab in this toolbar. For example, click the Desktop tab for more information about your desktop computer.


TCP

Short for Transmission Control Protocol.  A networking protocol that resides on host computers and assures reliable data delivery.


Telephony

Pertaining to the transmission of voice or data between separate points.


Teleprotector

An external device that you can use to protect your data transmissions from line interruptions and interference.


Throughput

The total traffic between network stations (your desktop computer and a remote Web server) per unit of time. Net.Medic tracks the throughput of the server involved in the Web path. It reports how fast the Web server transfers the Web page to your desktop computer. The server’s transfer rate is measured in kilobytes.


Throughput pane

Use the Net.Medic Throughput pane to determine how fast you are currently transferring data over the network. Transfer speed is shown in kbps. For example, if you are receiving a Web across the network at a rate of 26.3 kbps, the Web page is being transferred at a rate of 26,300 bits per second (bps). The transfer speed rate is reported in: (1) the recv and send graph that indicates any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client, (2) the transfer gauge to the right of the recv and send graph, and (3) as a digital display (for example, 26.2 kbps). If white tips appear on the transfer gauge, this reflects a data transfer that is using compression and is exceeding the modem connection speed.

Speed limit digital display. The speed limit is the estimated maximum speed or bandwidth (capacity) available end-to-end during the current transfer. Net.Medic attempts to estimate non-modem bandwidth (for example, a T-1 line) and automatically calculates your speed limit. You may, however, want to change the current speed limit if the receive and transmit rates (the blue vertical bars in the recv and send graph) are high and difficult to read. In this case, raising the speed limit will increase the histogram maximum, thereby making the bars shorter in the graph and easier to interpret. To manually set the speed limit, right-click on this digital display, choose Speed Limit from the pop-up menu, then drag right and choose one of the manual settings.

Recv and send graphs and digital displays. The recv graph and digital display report the receive rate during each interval. The send graph and digital display report the transmit rate during each interval. Transfer rates for the previous several seconds scroll from right to left with the passage of every second. The send/recv graphs indicate any activity seen on the network/dialup interface of the client. If the blue lines have white tips at the top, your connection is using compression to speed up the download of Web pages.


Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

The address that identifies a resource on the Web. A URL consists of the following four parts: the service (for example, http or ftp), the host computer, the port number, and the full path name of the Web page.


Virtual memory

The Windows operating system uses a portion of your hard drive to simulate Random Access Memory (RAM). Through the use of virtual memory, your computer acts as if it has more RAM than it physically does. This allows your computer to run more programs than it otherwise could.


Webmaster

The individual at a Web site who administers all the Web resources (for example, the Web pages) at that site. A Web site is also called a Web server, as shown in the following figure.


Web page

A document you can read with a Web browser. Such pages can vary in complexity from a simple text page to pages that contain video and sound. Web pages are stored on Web servers.


Web path

The connection between your computer and the remote server. For example, a Web path is the end-to-end connection between a client (a desktop PC in San Jose) and remote Web server. Net.Medic monitors the health of your Web paths.


Web server

A computer that is equipped to provide Web services to the client computers, which access it. Web pages are stored on such servers. For example, Server A, Server B, and Server C are examples of Web servers. Web servers are also referred to as Web sites or remote servers.