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From: gassman@jedi.DEC
Newsgroups: net.lan
Subject: Re: Desired features in a LAN monitor
Message-ID: <613@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Tue, 21-Jan-86 22:53:48 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.613
Posted: Tue Jan 21 22:53:48 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jan-86 10:53:43 EST
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Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
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! What features should be included in a LAN monitor?
!  Michael O'Hair - Tektronix

        There are several approaches to a LAN monitor.  I'll describe
        my thoughts based on an ETHERnet V2 or 802.3 LAN since that's
        what I use daily.
     
        The most simple approach would monitor the electrical signal
        on the cable, via carrier sense, and present an averaged value
        to the user.  Calibrated in % signal present, or megabits (1-10).
        It's by nature protocol independent, inexpensive, and a rough
        measurement of what the LAN is doing.  Portability is required
        for documenting measurements in regions, while installing bridges.
        Price of one of these could go from $89 to $495, depending on
        packaging.  I'd like to see one that would fit in my briefcase
        and be able to attach to BNC or 9 pin plugs.  I'd like the face
        calibrated in megabits, from one to ten.  The area between zero
        and three megabits would be colored green, three to six megabits
        would be colored yellow, and red above that.  Much like a tachometer.
        If you call it an "ETHERmeter", please give me royalities.   :-)
     
        There of course is a need for a moderate cost monitor that can pick
        out the various protocols, and give traffic stats.  Any monitor
        must be able to run at a very high packet rate, so none are missed.
        Very few ethernet boards can catch it all today, and process the
        information.  Collision statistics might be interesting as well,
        as % collision of total packets can tell you a lot.

        bill gassman
        digital