Monitor and troubleshoot critical areas of the network with probes.
Network Instruments offers a complete line of probes that monitor network activity across multiple topologies. Network Instruments hardware probes support LAN, WAN, gigabit, and 802.11 a/b/g, and have the option to support RMON and HCRMON. Hardware probes report to Observer consoles located anywhere on the network for distributed visibility.

10/100/1000 Ethernet Probes

Probe Appliance for 10/100/1000 Networks

The Probe Appliance for 10/100/1000 networks has the option to monitor one or two links. This probe permits multiple sessions by users, includes user-based access permissions, and perfoms real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth.

Multi-Port Probe Appliance for 10/100 Networks

The Multi-Port Probe Appliance for 10/100 networks monitors four Fast Ethernet links simultaneously, speeds problem solving with its multi-session support and Expert analysis, performs packet decodes at the individual probe level to conserve bandwidth, and includes user-based access permissions.

10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance

Designed to monitor traffic at the edge of the network, the 10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance eliminates dependence on a SPAN or mirror port, reduces switch load, and ensures data integrity. Comes pre-loaded with Advanced Expert Probe software allowing for multiple sessions by users, real-time Expert processing at the probe, and individual levels of probe access.

Gigabit Probes

Gigabit Probe Appliance

The Gigabit Probe Appliance is a rack-mountable 4U unit that monitors up to four full-duplex gigabit links at wire speed. The Gigabit probe offers visibility into individual or trunked links, real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth, multiple sessions by users, user-based access permissions, and support for the industry’s largest memory buffer (up to 124 GB).

GigaStor™ Probe Appliance

The GigaStor is a rack-mountable 4U unit specifically designed to capture hours, days, even weeks worth of full-duplex traffic at gigabit line rate for data mining. Go back in time and isolate issues down to the nanosecond with a simple time-based navigation interface and reconstruct captured data (web pages, e-mails, phone conversations, instant messages). The GigaStor also allows for multiple sessions by users and individual levels of probe access.

WAN Probes

WAN Probe Appliance

The WAN Probe Appliance monitors all header and payload data on serial and digital WAN links. Monitor up to 16 links individually or in aggregate, obtain metrics in real time, and solve issues immediately with a comprehensive Expert system. The probe also displays DCE/DTE traffic individually or in aggregate, shows CIR to compare with SLA, and tracks conversation through up to 10 segments or hops.

Specialty Probes

10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance

The 10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance monitors full-duplex Fast Ethernet networks, allowing multiple sessions by users, real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth, and user-based access permissions.

Probe Management

Network Instruments Management Server (NIMS™)

The NIMS retains a list of usernames, passwords, and permission levels for multiple probes on the network to globally authenticate users. NIMS can link up to a local Windows system, Active Directory server, or RADIUS system to consolidate user account lists. For the network manager, the NIMS provides centralized licensing, security, and an update system as well as failover redundancy for more efficient probe management. For network administrators, the NIMS provides shared access to analysis tools, including Observer's filter library.