Xref: utzoo comp.dcom.lans:7607 comp.protocols.tcp-ip:15445
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!dftsrv!nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov!lanmaint
From: lanmaint@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov (Dave Yoest)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Looking for comments on network analyzers
Message-ID: <4669@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Date: 29 Mar 91 11:26:43 GMT
References: <5336.27f1d691@cpva.saic.com>
Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: lanmaint@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Lines: 42
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

In article <5336.27f1d691@cpva.saic.com>, marcus@cpva.saic.com (Mark Jenkins, (619) 458-2794) writes...
>We have been evaluating network analyzers. 

> (* TEXT DELETED *)
> 
>Does anyone have experience with any pair of these to offer a basis for
>comparison?   
> (* TEXT DELETED *)

>-- 
>Mark Jenkins, SAIC         CPVA::Marcus - SPAN    [28119::Marcus]
>Marcus@CPVA.SAIC.COM or Marcus%CPVA.SPAN@sds.sdsc.edu (elsewhere)


We have a LANALYZER (bought from Excelan before the Novell buyout)
that we have used for 4 or 5 years. I have also demo'ed the SNIFFER
and find them to be comparable. In my opinion the SNIFFER is just
a little better at protocol decoding and the LANALYZER is a little
better at finding physical layer hardware problems. Overall they 
are just about equal, If you're more into protocol "problem tracking"
then you might be better off with the SNIFFER. If you do more hardware
problem solving then the LANALYZER might be a better choice.


Not to cloud the issue since you have already narrowed the field, but 
did you look at the Hewlett Packard 4972 LAN protocol analyzer.
I like it better than both the SNIFFER and LANALYZER (my opinion).
If you add the plotter option then you can also use the 4972 to
create some really impressive multicolor graphs/charts for 
presentations on paper or overhead projector transparencies.
It also doesn't "drop" packets on very busy ethernets.

Dave Yoest
LAN section Supervisor 
Allied Aerospace/Bendix Field Engineering
NASACOM/Telecommunications Branch 
Code 543.8
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Md 20771 USA

DYOEST@ZAPHOD.GSFC.NASA.GOV
DYOEST@128.183.43.16