Network Supervisor's Toolkit/Network Supervisor's Toolkit.iso/demos/av-demo/read.me

Text File | 1996-07-10 | 10KB | 173 lines

                                ArcVision

                        The ARCNET LAN Monitor


DESCRIPTION

ArcVision, a member of the Triticom LANVision series, is designed to monitor
and display activity of an ARCNET (ARCNET is a Datapoint Corporation trademark
for Attached Resource Computer Network) LAN.  ArcVision works with all ARCNET
media types including RG-62 coax, twisted pair, and fiber.  Operations exist
to monitor ARCNET traffic activity in real-time, assign user names to network
addresses, locate active nodes, and monitor the ARCNET token rotation timing.
Using such information about traffic activity, enables the user to determine
network loading, show traffic generated by individual stations (also called
nodes), and resolve problems.

There are several real-time monitoring display modes available while
monitoring traffic.  These modes are:

    - normal -- Tracks packets sent by each station
    - high-speed -- Extended performance for busy networks
    - skyline -- Aggregate network traffic display over time

Within each display mode, there are error counters and numerous options to
tailor the display.

Alphanumeric names may be associated with network addresses making it easier
to interpret network activity displays.  This information is stored in a file
which may be recalled and changed at anytime. The addresses of all nodes which
are powered-on and actively participating in the ARCNET token-passing process
may also be displayed at anytime.  In addition, the token-passing process may
be monitored to check the token rotation time -- i.e. the time it takes a
token originating from the monitoring station to be passed around the nodes on
the network and returned to the monitoring station.

OPERATION

The demo for ArcVision (which monitors a simulated network) is run by typing
AV_DEMO from the directory where you unzipped the file.  When ArcVision is
first invoked, the user is presented with a main menu.  An action from this
menu may be selected by pressing the first letter of the option or moving the
cursor up/down with the up/down arrow keys and then pressing Enter. As a
shortcut, pressing the first letter of the option causes immediate action.
The user may return to the main menu at any time by pressing the Esc key. Each
menu option is described in more detail below.

Assigning Names

Selecting the ASSIGN LOGICAL NAMES from the main menu allows you to associate
names with network addresses.  For example, the name 'Dave' may be given to
the address 3E, making it easier to remember what devices and workstations are
at what network adapter addresses.

Upon selecting this option, a screen appears in which two new windows are
presented along with the function key options at the bottom of the display.
The Name Assignments window displays a column of network addresses (in hex)
followed by the name.  If no name has been assigned by the user, then the
default appears which consists of the station address preceded by "NAME?-".
If there are more names than can be displayed, an arrow will appear in the
lower left-hand corner of the window.  Then, the names which are displayed in
the window can be changed by moving the highlight bar up and down using the
arrow keys or PgUp/PgDn (page up/page down) keys.  Arrows will appear in the
upper left-hand corner and/or lower right-hand corner of the window to
indicate the presence of more names above or below the ones displayed. The
lower window is for user input.  To change a name, select the station address
by moving the highlight bar up and down using the arrow keys or PgUp/PgDn keys
and press Enter.

To perform other functions, use the function keys as follows: Function key F2
(Add Name) allows a name to be added or changed.  If the network has been
actively monitored prior to assigning names, the network addresses that were
active are displayed, followed by name currently associated with that network
address.  Pressing F2 allows the user to input a new or different name for a
given address.  Function key F3 (Del Name -- Delete Name) will prompt the user
to delete the name currently selected at the highlight bar. Function key F4
(Sort Addr -- Sort Address) sorts the entries in ascending order by station
address.  Function key F5 (Sort Name) sorts the entries in ascending order by
alphanumeric name.  Function key F6 (Load -- Load File) allows the user (in
the operational version only) to load a previously created name file.  The
file may be created with a spreadsheet (with ASCII comma delimited
import/export capability), word processor, or within ArcVision itself.
Function key F7 (Save -- Save File) will (in the operational version only)
saves the name assignments to a file, in ASCII comma delimited format.
Function key F8 (CLR -- Clear) will clear all of the name entries. To leave
Assign Logical Names, press the Esc key to return to the main menu.

Locating Active Nodes

Selecting LOCATE ACTIVE NODES from the main menu locates and displays all
network stations which are powered on and actively participating in the ARCNET
token-passing protocol.

Monitoring Traffic

Selecting MONITOR TRAFFIC from the main menu traffic puts ArcVision into its
real-time monitoring mode showing various activity on the ARCNET. The top of
this display shows the date and time when monitoring began or when the
displayed was cleared using the F7 function key. Most of the display is
devoted to showing the stations (up to 80; use the arrow keys or PgUp/PgDn to
show additional stations if there are more) and their packet counts (those
packets sent by that station).

The bottom portion show counters and errors.  These indicators (from left to
right) are as follows:  STNS or stations, shows the total number of active
stations (counting the number of stations on the display would yield the same
result).  Packets shows the grand total of all packets counted. Bcast or
Broadcast, shows the number of packets that were broadcast to all stations.
PPS/Peak indicates the packets per second and peak packets per second since
monitoring began. Recon shows the number of reconfiguration bursts that have
occurred because of a station leaving or entering the network or some other
disruption such as a cable connection/disconnection.  Each time a Recon
occurs, a "beep" will be heard.  Last Recon shows the time the last
reconfiguration burst occurred. Elapsed indicates the elapsed time since
monitoring began or was cleared using function key F7.

Function key F2 (Stn ID -- Station Identification) is used to change the way
in which the station IDs are displayed.  The default is either the node
address or the station's logical name.  The logical name is shown if the user
loaded names or assigned names prior to monitoring, using the Assign Names
option from the Main Menu (if there is a name assigned to an address which is
not active, then a '-' will appear after the name instead of a packet count.)
If the logical name is not chosen for display, then the station ID is shown as
the station's network addresses in hex notation.  The third choice is the
station address in decimal format.   Pressing function key F2 will cycle
through these three different formats.

Function key F3 (Sort STN -- Sort Station) will sort the station by IDs, in
ascending order.  The ordering is determined by the way the station IDs are
displayed.  For example, if the station names are displayed, then the sort
will be by name.  Likewise, if the station addresses are displayed, then the
sort will be by station address. Both sorts are in ascending order. Function
key F4 (Sort CNT -- Sort Count) will sort the stations by the number of
packets.  The sort is in descending order such that the most active stations
appear first. Function key F5 (Cnt/Pct -- Station Count/Percent) toggles
between displaying of either the station packet counts or percentage of total
packets counted.

Function key F6 (Pkt/Sky -- Packet/Skyline) toggles between the packet count
display and skyline display.  If the skyline shows total packet counts by the
second or by the minute, for the last 60 seconds or 60 minutes respectively,
selected by F8 in this mode.

Function key F8 (Norm/HS -- Normal/High Speed) Toggles between normal and high
speed mode.  High speed mode allows for a higher degree of packet count
accuracy especially when monitoring heavily loaded networks or with slower
8088/80286 PCs.  All of the counters are maintained during high speed mode,
but the display is not updated until it is returned to normal mode.

Observing the Token Rotation Timing

Selecting the TOKEN TIMING option from the main menu calculates and displays
the token rotation time -- the amount of time required for the token to make a
complete trip (visiting each active node) "around" the ARCNET.  The minimum,
current, and maximum times observed are displayed.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATIONAL VERSION

ArcVision is designed to work with virtually all PC/MS-DOS machines with a
Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMC) compatible ARCNET adapter card (such
as those that work with the Novell RXNET shell) installed.  PC/MS-DOS 3.1 or
higher is required.  To achieve the best possible network monitoring
performance, a PC with an 80286 or 80386 processor is recommended.  A
monochrome or color display may be used.  ArcVision is not copy-protected but
is serialized.

ORDERING INFORMATION

The operational ArcVision may be ordered for $150, which includes a user
manual, and choice of 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" diskette, from Triticom, P.O. Box
11536, St. Paul, MN 55111; [phone].