Conference azur::mcc

5738.0. "PathDoctor prototype available" by MOLAR::MALONEY () Mon Nov 15 1993 14:12

                           *** ANNOUNCEMENT ***
                               ------------


 The Network Management Application (NMA) group is making available for
 internal use the prototype version of POLYCENTER PathDoctor, a NMA application
 product that is scheduled for a Feb 93 product announcement.  


                     *** POLYCENTER PathDoctor Description ***
                         ---------------------------------

 POLYCENTER PathDoctor is an "interactive" SNMP-based network management
 software tool, to be offered on the DEC OSF/1 AXP and DEC RISC/ULTRIX
 platforms.  It assists users in evaluating the health and performance of
 network paths  between given source and destination address pairs.

 PathDoctor is for extended LAN environments that use multi-protocol routers 
 which support SNMP.  The first release of PathDoctor, V1.0, is limited to 
 evaluating IP protocol paths only. It is particularly adept at determining
 IP routing problems and inefficiencies for Cisco, Wellfleet, 3COM, Proteon, 
 Digital,  IBM, Proteon, and HP routers.  

 POLYCENTER PathDoctor V1.0 graphically displays the end-to-end path between
 any user specified pair of IP addresses.  It provides the user real-time
 information regarding the configuration, health, and performance of the
 various interfaces and nodes in the path.  Via the use of color coded 
 status, PathDoctor easily identifies interfaces or nodes in the path 
 that are having data forwarding problems.  

 For example, PathDoctor will identify when a Cisco router's IP module is 
 discarding greater than 1.5%  of good traffic because of buffer allocation 
 failures. And, allow users to also graph the previous sixty minute history 
 of percent good traffic  discarded by the IP Module and the corresponding 
 values for buffer allocation failures.  

 A typical PathDoctor scenario is when a user is experiencing IP performance 
 problems between two remote system and reports the problem to network support. 
 With PathDoctor, technical support can easily determine the forward and
 reverse paths between the two systems and uncover within minutes whether any
 component along that path is experiencing routing or forwarding performance
 problems.

 PathDoctor is very simple to use in its identification of IP router and 
 interface problems and operations. From using it, users of all technical
 levels gain greater insight in the operations and effectiveness of their
 IP networks. From which, network inefficiencies are reduced and network
 operations are improved.

 POLYCENTER PathDoctor can be used standalone, or in conjunction with
 other network management tools such as POLYCENTER NetView V2.1


                          *** PROTOTYPE POINTERS ***
                              ------------------

 The PathDoctor prototype is available via anonymous ftp on puoplo.ogo.dec.com
 (16.121.0.167).  Simply cd /pub and get either:
  
     pathdoctor-prototype-osfaxp.tar.Z     <-- OSF AXP kit
     pathdoctor-prototype-ultrix.tar.Z     <-- Ultrix RISC kit

 You can also obtain these kits via DECnet copy from PUOPLO (56.845) as:

  puoplo::/usr/users/ftp/pub/pathdoctor-nov10-prototype-osfaxp.tar.Z  
  puoplo::/usr/users/ftp/pub/pathdoctor-nov10-prototype-ultrix.tar.Z

 Simply copy the appropriate compress tar image to your target system and
 issue the following commands:
 
      1) uncompress <file.tar.Z>
      2) tar -xvf   <file.tar>
      3) cd pathdoctor
      4) PathDoctor  <IP ADDR or NAME>  <IP ADDR or NAME> -f &

 The -f switch is optional. If used, it checks the forward path only.
 The default is to check both the forward and reverse paths.

 On puoplo::/usr/users/ftp/pub the draft SPD (pathdoctor-draft-spd.txt) and 
 the phase 0 product description (PathDoctor_Phase0.ps) are also available.


                       *** FEEDBACK NEEDED ASAP ***
                           --------------------
 The current PathDoctor prototype has a number of limitations that will be
 shortly addressed in upcoming weeks as product development continues. For  
 example, the prototype rules' are currently limited  to MIB-II and Cisco 
 private mib only. The product user interface being developed is greatly
 improved than what is currently in the existing prototype. The prototype
 is slow, etc. etc. Upcoming product development pre-releases will address
 these shortcomings soon.

 So far, only a small group of people have seen the existing prototype.  
 Feedback has been very positive but now we need feedback from a wider
 population.  Over the next couple of weeks we need to especially address
 business plan issues such as:

    * Pricing (What to charge for POLYCENTER PathDoctor ?)
  
    * Packaging (e.g., charge separately for private mib rules ?, if time
      available port to what other platforms ?)    

    * Sales Volumes (What sales volumes to expect from Digital direct sales
      for FY95 (assume OSF-AXP and Ultrix versions only with all rules included
      in standard kit, priced at $5000 per copy.)

 We need to firm up the business plan in the next two weeks and like 
 more internal feedback on the above areas of pricing, packaging, and 
 projected sales volumes.  


                            *** DEVELOPMENT TEAM ****
                                ----------------

  Development team leaders for PathDoctor include:

  Jim Maloney     MOLAR::MALONEY   DTN 381-2347   Engineering Manager

  Jerry Puoplo    SISE::PUOPLO     DTN 276-9068   Product Manager

  Dave Zeltserman SISE::ZELTSERMAN DTN 276-8131   Engineering Project Leader

  Ruth  Callahan  TNPUBS::CALLAHAN DTN 227-3283   Documentation Project Leader


                         *** MARX::PATHDOCTOR NOTES FILE ***
                             ---------------------------

 Please send feedback and watch for addition product development updates
 in the notes file MARX::PATHDOCTOR.