Real-time analysis and line rate packet capture for full duplex Gigabit Ethernet
Deploying mission critical applications or troubleshooting related problems on high-speed 10/100 or 1000 Mbps switched Ethernet links requires a distributed hardware analyzer to work with your protocol analysis software. The OptiView™ Link Analyzer remotely monitors and captures traffic, at full line rate, on full-duplex links, to provide accurate timing and traffic analysis. Designed for your network management staff in the IT operation center, the OptiView Link Analyzer works with OptiView™ Protocol Expert and OptiView™ Console to provide full visibility of traffic on high performance, switched Ethernet links.
- ASIC-based application analysis engine correlates traffic patterns across every OSI layer, in real-time, even on full duplex, high utilization Gigabit Ethernet links
- Line rate packet capture and traffic generation on Gigabit links
- Distributed traffic analysis for switched Ethernet links, including aggregated Gigabit links using 802.3ad or Etherchannel
- Dual interface design works with inline taps for full-duplex traffic analysis
- Easy to set up and operate using OptiView Protocol Expert, web browsers or Telnet
- Optional 80 Gigabyte hard drive for extended packet capture
- Support for RMON2 statistical traffic analysis
- VxWorks OS immune to Windows virus attacks, worms or service pack maintenance
Powerful packet capture and application analysis
When analyzing real-time applications, such as VoIP, dropping one frame during a call setup session could mean losing visibility of the entire session. The OptiView Link Analyzer uses silicon-accelerated hardware to capture every frame on an Ethernet segment, no matter how heavily utilized. Each Link Analyzer has a nanosecond accurate system clock that can be synchronized to an external NTP server for multi-link analysis. Combined with line rate filtering, customer counters and triggers, users can employ multiple Link Analyzers to accurately track packets of interest as they pass across numerous locations on the network.
Combinations of the following capture filter criteria may be applied in a multistage filtering hierarchy for special events capturing:
- Source and destination address
- Protocol type
- TCP/UDP port number
- ASCII text, hex or bit patterns anywhere in the frame data field
- 8 custom counters triggered by user-defined events
- Frame-type = good frame, CRC, short frame or jabber
Application Analysis
Detect Slow Response Time
The OptiView Link Analyzer works seamlessly with OptiView Protocol Expert's real-time Expert Analysis function to detect and isolate slow response on applications such as http, POP3, TNS, SMB or VoIP. Root cause analysis can be conducted quickly by correlating applications to TCP/UDP connections, network layer and MAC layer statistics in real-time.
VoIP quality measurement
Analysis of VoIP traffic requires measuring real-time parameters such as jitter and packet loss for each direction of a call. To ensure accurate VoIP service assessment and troubleshooting, you must have visibility of traffic through the POP and other critical junctions of the network.
The OptiView Link Analyzer and in-line tap can be easily deployed to perform the necessary analysis. In addition, OptiView Protocol Expert Plus software and the VoIP option offer easy to read, real-time VoIP Quality of Service (QoS) metrics with "Quality Grades" and alarms to quickly assess whether toll-like voice quality is guaranteed through the network.
Secure Architecture
OptiView Link Analyzer is specifically designed for analysis within critical core network locations. Because so many end users are supported by these locations in the network, IT engineers require a reliable solution to troubleshoot issues when they occur.
The OptiView Link Analyzer is built with custom analysis boards that run on top of a VxWorks OS which is reliable and invulnerable to infection from network bugs and viruses. While other systems on the network might not perform reliably during network brownouts, the Link Analyzer can always be counted on as an insurance policy for your networks health.
High Performance Hardware
In order to effectively analyze high speed, high utilization network lines, the IT staff must have high performance equipment that is capable of analyzing every packet even at full line rate speeds. The OptiView Link Analyzer is built with this capability in mind. Both custom analysis interfaces are specifically designed to filter, trigger and capture packets at line speeds, even if complex filtering or triggering conditions are applied.
Every OptiView Link Analyzer comes standard with two analysis interfaces that support 10/100/1000 MB/sec Ethernet connections for copper and fiber. Investing in the OptiView Link Analyzer will ensure that any troubleshooting situation can be effectively solved without concern for missing packets or traffic.
Integrated support for multiple topologies - 10/100 Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.3x and VLAN
The OptiView Link Analyzer supports 10/100BASE-T and three different versions of Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX and 1000BASE-T) using hot-swappable GBIC MAU interfaces. The Link Analyzer is shipped with a pair of 1000BASE-SX GBIC MAU interfaces.
When connecting to a link between switches, the OptiView Link Analyzer will automatically decode 802.1Q and ISL frames, in real-time, offering unique VLAN statistics at the core switch level. Top users and conversations can then be tracked per VLAN id, without having to make any special configurations.
Full visibility for full-duplex core links
The OptiView Link Analyzer is equipped with two media modules that can simultaneously monitor two traffic data streams. It can synchronize the two media-modules and aggregate the data captured or monitor the application response time and other events in various conversations on a full-duplex link.
Alternately, traffic on two separate network segments or switch links can be monitored independently with one Link Analyzer connected to two mirror/SPAN ports.
Many data centers are utilizing aggregated Gigabit Ethernet links to create 4 Gig trunks using 802.3ad or Etherchannel technology. Two Link Analyzers, time synchronized, provides visibility into these trunks with line rate packet captures for application analysis and troubleshooting.
The OptiView Link Analyzer with integrated hard drive (LA/HD) combines all of the features of the OptiView Link Analyzer, and includes 80 gigabit hard drive for extended packet capture that assist in the indentification of intermittent network events.
Remote management
Each OptiView Link Analyzer has a dedicated 10/100 Mbps Ethernet RJ-45 management port. Using OptiView™ Protocol Expert software or a built in web interface, the OptiView Link Analyzer can be controlled remotely from any point on the network without interfering with the traffic being analyzed.
Remote system administration of the Link Analyzer can be performed using a console port, Telnet or a web browser.
Fluke Networks began as a business unit within Fluke Corporation in 1992. Fluke Corporation has a history of more than 50 years as the world leader in electronic test tools, and was looking for new markets in which to grow. By 2000, Fluke Networks had grown substantially, and differences between Fluke Networks and Fluke Corporation were apparent – different customers, different sales channels and sales processes, and different products designed for different applications. In 2000, Fluke’s parent company, Danaher Corporation, separated Fluke Networks from Fluke Corporation and it is now a separate operational division with a new brand and a separate identity. Fluke Networks has been continuously profitable since then and in 2006 its annual revenues exceeded $300M. Approximately 45% of Fluke Networks’ revenue comes from outside the U.S.
