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lantoo.txt
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1992-09-08
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Network Performance Institute debuts two low-cost local area
network design and planning tools, LANModel and LANBuild. These tools
are intended to assist in the planning, design, management, and expansion
of data communication networks. Unlike most other network management
tools, these software-only solutions furnish information in advance
of actual network installation; they also yield value throughout the
life of the local area network or enterprise-wide resource.
LANBuild and LANModel are designed for use by network managers, network
designers, contractors, technicians, and consultants. Ideally, these
tools are useful in planning corporate and campus networks and in
analyzing the requirements for client-server processing and distributed
databases. Installation (and removal) of these tools is automated.
While these tools are network planning, design, and optimization tools,
they do not require a network to operate; they work on a standalone
PC (DOS with MS Windows or OS/2 2.0). All three tools run on Microsoft
Windows-compatible PCs, notebook computers, laptop computers, and
networked stations. For organizations with established networks, these
tools also will function properly on a MS-Windows network client.
These tools automatically adjust for monochrome or color displays.
Display can be optimized for contrast for most notebook and laptop PCs.
LANModel
LANModel is intended to validate a network design and optimize LAN
performance. LANModel generates network performance statistics without
detailed information; even before the network is built. Output is
both numerical and graphical. Onscreen reports include network utilization,
delivery latency, expected delivery times, transmission waiting times,
channel bandwidth and packet component utilization, and other relevant
statistics. Calculations with statistical confidence intervals are
provided. Proforma (adjust parameters in real time) onscreen graphs
include bandwidth utilization based upon changes to packet size, transmission
frequency, and channel utilization.
This information is a useful agency for estimating the capacity and
performance of planned networks or assessing the capacity and performance
of proposed expansions. It is also effective for modeling division
of overloaded networks into workgroup LANs with bridging or routing
pathways. LANModel quickly generates onscreen estimates, utilization
graphs, and reports based upon several statistical models. LANModel
is useful for designing and building networks that adequately meet
requirements without providing excessive overcapacity for significant
cost savings.
Specifically, LANModel provides network capacity assessment, transaction
performance and transaction latency times, traffic analysis, and expansion
modeling for speed or volume throughput optimization. The software
adjusts for various network configurations, standards, media, protocols,
and transmission or signal propagation speeds. This includes optical
fiber, SDDI or CDDI, wireless infrared (IR) or radio-frequency (RF)
technologies. This is representative of Novell, Banyan, Proteon, SynOptics,
3Com, Ungermann-Bass, TCP/IP, NFS, Cabletron, OS/2 LAN, LAN Server,
and LAN Manager components and network operating systems. These network
planning tools are pertinent for networks based upon coaxial cable,
optical fiber, twisted-pair, or wireless signaling.
LANModel accommodates the indicated error conditions and rates, transmission
failures, network overload, traffic saturation, and compensates for
node bursts. This includes consequences from software-based network
management tools including SNMP, CMIP, UDP, or IP subpacket alarms,
and multicast and broadcast transmissions. The client-server model
is an important planning tool when downsizing mainframe hosts to LAN-based
distributed computing environments. Modeling results incorporate expected
norms and statistical confidence intervals for constructing a robust
network. Results are based upon multiple mathematical models (combinatorial,
Markovian, and Monte Carlo) and balanced queueing models.
LANModel tool is not limited merely to a planning role. It forms the
perfect partner for hardware- or software-based protocol analyzers
and extends their capacity for network management. Captured network
data yields a more accurate source for planning and network optimization.
This represents important information to resolve bottlenecks based
upon peak network loading, high error rates, excessive collision rates,
station beaconing, packet size and type distributions, as well as
channel saturation.
LANModel is $80 plus shipping for the ARCnet, Ethernet, FDDI, and
Token-Ring planning and modeling kit. LANModel requires MS-Windows
3.X, at least 2 MB of RAM, from 650,000 to 1.2 MB of disk space to
install. It uninstalls completely in two minutes.
LANBuild
LANBuild assists in the design and construction of local area networks.
It generates detailed one graphical onscreen report and eight different
printed reports including:
User network specifications
Warning and violation report
Installation component report
Spares report
Mission-critical spares report
Installation labor requirements
Maintenance labor requirement report
Recommended tool and supplies list
The component report lists required for efficient and methodical network
installation. The component list includes wiring, network adapters,
hubs and patch panels, jumpers, software, and ancillary components.
This software produces a spare component inventory to maintain on
site in case of part or channel failure, as well as a contingent wiring
plant for mission-critical networks. The recommended tool list includes
the specialized tools for each network protocol and wiring plant,
general purpose installation and ongoing maintenance, as well as consumable
supplies.
Furthermore, LANBuild estimates electrical power and A/C cooling
requirements for the network and attached equipment so that site capacity
will not be overtaxed. It indicates specification flaws and design
oversights. Also, LANBuild optionally designs alternate configurations
to optimize site costs and network performance. LANBuild estimates
time and labor installation requirements, as well as expected maintenance
costs during the life of the LAN. LANBuild is useful for designing
and building networks that adequately meet requirements without providing
excessive overcapacity.
LANBuild networking protocols and wiring currently supported include
Ethernet and Token-Ring. This is representative of Novell, Banyan,
Proteon, SynOptics, 3Com, Ungermann-Bass, TCP/IP, NFS, Cabletron,
OS/2 LAN, LAN Server, and LAN Manager components and network operating
systems. These network planning tools are pertinent for networks based
upon coaxial cable, optical fiber, twisted- pair, or wireless signaling.
LANBuild is $35 plus shipping for the Ethernet and Token-Ring design
and planning kit. LANBuild requires MS-Windows 3.X, at least 2 MB
of RAM, and 450,000 of disk space to install. It uninstalls completely
in two minutes.
For Further Information
Please call for information on the availability of the enterprise
networking model, NETModel and WANModel. This is expected to feature
hub, bridge, router, and gateway capability, as well as support for
frame relay, MNP, serial dial- up, SMDS, T-1, T-3, X.25, and X.400.
Contact Network Performance Institute at (305) 864-2744 for availability
and pricing details, or write to NPI at Box 41-4371, United States
Post Office, Miami Beach, FL 33141-9998. The CompuServe mail number
is 70373-1350.
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About Network Performance Institute
NPI consults on issues of data communications, publishing, software
design and development, and performance optimization. Notably, NPI
provides system and network audits and subsequent repairs of dysfunctional
networks. NPI designs and installs LANs and WANs, as well as builds
MS-Windows and database applications. Areas of likely service include
assessment of MIS requirements, LAN and WAN performance tuning, network
server tuning, optimization of imperfect client-server operations
(transactional bottlenecks and slow operation), design of distributed
databases, LANs, WANs, multiprotocol interoperability and multiplatform
connectivity.