🚀 go-pugleaf

dwyerpg@melbpc.org.au (Peter Dwyer) wrote:

>We are running about 300 devices on a couple of Token Ring segments (4MB and 
>16MB). The hosts include NetWare 3.12 Servers, Unix hosts, OS2 Lan Manager 
>Servers and Win NT servers.

>The 4mb ring is fairly over-crowded (a situation which we are moving to 
>alleviate). Every now and then the 4mb ring beacons and it can take hours to 
>find the offending device. It can ve caused by a loose connection, some idiot 
>plugging workstation with a 16mb NIC into the 4mb ring etc etc..... The 
>downtime is getting rather costly for the company!

>The latest beaconing problem caused an entire afternoon of lost time and 
>management have finally conceded that we need some sort of LAN analysis tool 
>to try and pinpoint the cause.

>I've looked at Lanalyser but it won't attach to a beaconing LAN - fat lot of 
>good that is! I need something which will run on a "sick" LAN and work with 
>IPX, TCPIP, NETBEUI, NETBIOS and maybe one or two other protocols. I need it 
>to be able to highlight the possible cause of the net problems (eg. 
>whereabouts on the ring the problem occurs).

Hmmmm...  Last time I checked, Lanalyzer for Windows does insert into
a beaconing ring.  It does so by forcing itself into the ring as the
"active monitor", and therefore is able to help you track down the
problem on a "sick" ring.

Having said that, one of the most obvious choices available is Network
General's Sniffer, but it's a wee bit more expensive than Lanalyzer
for Windows.  <g>  Somewhere over $20K in US dollars, if memory serves
me.

>Can anyone out there suggest their preferred solution? Of course, capital 
>expenditure is always an issue so if there's a $200,000 solution, I might like 
>it but my Boss will just laugh at me.


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Roger Kresge, Master CNE/CNI          Internet: rkresge@redrose.net
Inacom Information Systems                    Compuserve: 71023,447
Lancaster, PA     
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