Dear t4see,
I only caught sight of this question a few days ago, and I thought I
should answer it before it expires. I hope you are pleased with the
results of my research.
Below you will find capsule descriptions of each of the seven
products, followed by a compressed tabular representation of their
features. I believe you will find a suitable package if you restrict
your consideration to SolarWinds, WhatsUp, NimBUS, and LanHound. I
cannot recommend the other three packages as a solution in your
circumstances. The most complete package of all is SolarWinds. If SQL
reporting is a crucial requirement of yours, WhatsUp is the way to go. The
most economical solution would be LanHound, and the most expensive would
probably be NimBUS, although you would have to speak with a salesman to
determine exact pricing.
It has been an interesting challenge to address this question on your
behalf. If you feel that any part of my answer requires correction or
elaboration, please notify me through a Clarification Request so that
I may fully meet your needs before you assign a rating.
Regards,
leapinglizard
================================================================
SolarWinds Engineer's Edition Toolset
http://www.solarwinds.net/Tools/Engineer/index.htm
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management +
application management +
security tools +
SQL report database -
free trial +
review
------
"This is the definitive network toolbox. It has a ton of utilities,
ranging from simple, variable ping monitors and subnet calculators to more
sophisticated performance monitors and address-management functions. What
appeals to us most about SolarWinds is that, though it is definitely
a bunch of separate, immediately usable utilities, there is structure
tying the tools together. [...]
"We don't like that SolarWinds lacks a centralized database. We know,
we know: We said the products had to be quick and easy to be included in
our tests, but after adding the same addresses in two of three places,
a little data sharing is in order. SolarWinds claims it will create a
single database with a new discovery engine later this year."
Network Computing: Review: SolarWinds Sheds Light on Networks
http://www.nwc.com/1315/1315f42.html
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: $1390
verdict
-------
SolarWinds is a fully-featured infrastructure management package that
provides everything you'll ever want except SQL connectivity.
================================================================
IPswitch WhatsUp Professional
http://www.ipswitch.com/products/whatsup/professional/index.html
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management -
application management +
security tools -
SQL report database +
free trial +
review
------
"WUP's improved polling, grouping and data storage make it ideal for
networks and systems with 50 to 1,500 devices. A big part of this sizing
improvement is the addition of a SQL data store. WUP has an Explorer-like
interface, and devices are now grouped so they're shared between Win32
and Web interfaces--no more duplicate maps and polling, as with the old
WhatsUp Gold. [...]
"WUP is a good next step for midsize businesses. Although it lacks some
bells and whistles--for example, automatic dynamic grouping of devices
and Layer 2 topology-- WhatsUp Gold users should be pleased with the
improvements."
Information Week: Review: Ipswitch WhatsUp Professional
http://informationweek.smallbizpipeline.com/infrastructure/60400133
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: $1495
verdict
-------
WhatsUp has almost as much network-management functionality as SolarWinds,
with SQL support to boot. It does cost 50% more, however.
================================================================
Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 Workgroup Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/mom/evaluation/overview/default.mspx
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management -
application management -
security tools -
SQL report database -
free trial -
review
------
"Management Pack set-up requires installing the software and running
a certain series of performance-monitoring scripts for 24 hours or
more. This procedure gives MOM 2005 a baseline of performance data.
"This initial baseline will reveal any outstanding problems with
a server installation, but it needs to be run in strict accordance
with the Deployment Guide to achieve a proper installation. Worse,
each Management Pack has its own set of scripts that must be run this way.
"These set-up circumstances are not a huge ding against the product,
but they should ring as a loud warning to administrators that MOM 2005
will require significant attention to initial installation and user
training. [...]
"That means MOM is at best a fairly expensive add-on tool in enterprises
with large numbers of heterogeneous servers. For Windows-centered
infrastructures, however, MOM 2005 is a powerful management tool that
caters as much to CIO-level management as it does to front-line systems
management firemen."
InfoWorld: Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005
http://www.infoworld.com/Microsoft_Operations_Manager_(MOM)_2005/product_51200.html?view=1&curNodeId=127
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: $729 plus $539 per managed device
verdict
-------
MOM is a slick network management package with a weak feature set. SQL
support is only available in a much more expensive edition.
================================================================
NetiQ AppManager Suite
http://www.netiq.com/products/am/default.asp
features
--------
network monitoring -
network discovery -
router management -
application management +
security tools -
SQL report database -
free trial +
review
-------
"NetIQ's AppManager Suite is a mature solution for monitoring and managing
system performance. Our testing showed that it covers the basics and
beyond in viewing and reporting how applications and services use system
resources. [...]
"Knowledge scripts are at the heart of AppManager's performance-management
strategy. They're associated with resource objects that gather performance
data on managed systems (read: systems with agents). Scripts can be
dragged and dropped onto managed computers or services in the operator's
console."
Network Computing: Review: NetIQ AppManager Suite 5.0.1
http://www.networkcomputing.com/showitem.jhtml?articleID=17603517&pgno=4
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: $600
verdict
-------
AppManager is designed for performance monitoring and management within
a system but not over a network. IT managers will want to look elsewhere.
================================================================
Nimsoft NimBUS for Network Monitoring
http://www.nimsoft.com/netman/index.shtml
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management +
application management -
security tools +
SQL report database -
free trial +
review
------
"Nimbus uses robots and probes to gather data. A robot must be
installed on a given server platform before any probes or monitors can
be deployed. An administrator can install the robot directly on a given
server or set it up on various servers using an enterprise deployment
tool.
"Once the robots are in place, the probes can be defined through the
administrative console. Nimbus supports a variety of monitors, including
those for Web servers, application servers, databases and server health,
which looks at the CPU, memory and disk. [...]
"After exiting the design mode, we again generated network traffic
against our Web sites. We then viewed the results in the two dashboards
we created. We again took a server off-line on purpose during one of
our simulations, and Nimbus correctly identified the problem and issued
an alert."
FCW: Web site sleuths
http://www.fcw.com/article88255
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: varies
verdict
-------
NimBUS is a fine general-purpose network management package with a
variable pricing model. Give it serious consideration if the salesman
offers a good deal.
================================================================
Sunbelt Software LanHound
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/LanHound.cfm
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management +
application management -
security tools -
SQL report database -
free trial +
review
------
"Network analysis is no longer the domain of the wealthy as an increasing
number of software solutions at sensible prices is now becoming
available - and you don't have to sniff around for long to find them,
either. Sunbelt Software's LanHound typifies this dogged determination
as it provides a surprisingly deep toolbox of analysis and packet capture
features. [...]
"LanHound's main interface is simple enough to use although due to
the number of features it can be easy to lose track of where some are
accessed from. [...]
"The packet capture and protocol analysis tools turn LanHound into
a pedigree product. Captures can be run on demand or scheduled for
specific times each day and extensive filters are provided for weeding
out extraneous data. You can decide how large the capture buffer should be
and either stop the capture or let it wrap around when it becomes full."
TechWorld: Sunbelt Software LanHound
http://www.techworld.com/networking/reviews/index.cfm?ReviewID=165&ProductID=170
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: $744
verdict
-------
LanHound is an inexpensive integrated network management suite with
strong reporting features.
================================================================
HP OpenView Network Services Management
http://www.managementsoftware.hp.com/solutions/nsm/index.html
features
--------
network monitoring +
network discovery +
router management -
application management +
security tools -
SQL report database -
free trial +
pricing
-------
annual single-CPU license: varies
verdict
-------
HP OpenView is not a single package but a collection of IT management
tools that are integrated by HP personnel to serve a customer's specific
needs. Possibly good but definitely pricy.
================================================================
the bottom line
---------------
SolW WhatUp MOM AppMan NimBUS LanHd OpVw
network monitoring + + + - + + +
network discovery + + + - + + +
router management + - - - + + -
application management + + - + - - +
security tools + - - - + - -
SQL report database - + - - - - -
free trial + + - + + + +
license cost $1390 $1495 $729 $600 varies $744 varies
recommended yes yes no no yes yes no
================================================================ |
