Observer Standard
Observer Standard provides first-level network analysis, including real-time packet captures and decodes, filtering, real-time statistics, triggers and alarms, trending, and more across multiple topologies (LAN, wireless, and gigabit).
Compare Observer Levels
This software-only network analyzer can simultaneously conduct wired and wireless network monitoring. Add Network Instruments’ software or hardware probes, to conduct multi-segment monitoring of LAN, WAN, gigabit and wireless networks.
Observer fully supports 64-bit Windows to maximize analysis performance. A 32-bit version is also included. The capture buffer is limited by the operating system (4 GB for 32-bit, 124 GB for 64-bit).
Observer is the only network analyzer built from a unified code set. This unique advantage, the Distributed Network Analysis (NI-DNA™) architecture, offers scalability and seamless integration across the entire Observer family. You'll need just one interface to carry out network monitoring across topologies, locations, and technologies.
Observer Standard Benefits:
Easily convert your PC or laptop into a powerful analyzer with Observer Standard. Capture, view, and decode traffic in real time and instantly assess the effectiveness of network changes. Best of all, Observer allows you to monitor wired and wireless networks together.
Packet Capture and Decode
Observer decodes over 590 primary protocols (see decode listing) and countless subprotocols (including wireless).
Nanosecond resolution means precise troubleshooting. Thoughtful security features such as concealing private IP addresses are also included.
Virtual Machines and Servers
Observer Standard views and analyzes virtual machines exactly as it would any physical device.
Real-Time Statistics
Collect over 30 real-time statistics for guaging network performance, including Top Talkers, bandwidth utilization, access point load, protocol distribution, and more. Top Talkers lets you understand bandwidth usage by device. It lets you determine whether a station is consuming too much bandwidth and make informed decisions about network segmentations. Use Top Talkers to find broadcast storms, detect faulty network hardware, view LAN use patterns, and review switch usage.
Complete list of Observer Standard statistics:
- Network summary
- Bandwidth utilization
- Internet Observer
- Access point load monitor
- Pair statistics
- Protocol distribution
- Network activity
- Wireless site survey
- Router Observer
- VLAN analysis
Powerful Packet Filtering
Immediately tackle network problems by filtering packets quickly and efficiently. Filter by address, address range, protocol offsets, and protocol presets. Use Boolean logic to create complex filters. Observer Standard also allows you to filter with Perl-compatible regular expressions. Best of all, share filter libraries with other Observer users.
More Filtering features:
Triggers and Alarms
Observer Standard constantly reviews network traffic based on parameters you set. It can be programmed to notify you immediately through Triggers and Alarms when a condition is found or a threshold crossed. You choose the alerts and the alert method (e-mail, pager, trouble ticket, start a packet capture, etc.).
Triggers and Alarms features:
Wireless Support
Observer Standard provides complete support for 802.11a/b/g. Gain WLAN-specific metrics, utilize site configuration tools, find rogue access points, understand signal quality, and more with Observer’s wireless capabilities.
VLAN Analysis
Observer Standard can track, monitor, and perform network analysis by VLAN. View VLAN data independently or in aggregate, monitor real-time statistics by VLAN, or determine loads by station and by VLAN.
IPv6
Observer now tracks, reports, and monitors IPv6 traffic, in line with a recent government mandate requiring all government agencies support IPv6 by 2008. All Observer data is listed with the appropriate IPv6 address displayed and, more importantly, IPv6 has been pulled through and integrated into all Observer features, including Forensics, Application Analysis, Expert, and VoIP Analysis.
Router Observer
Understand router activity, determine router usage, obtain a “heads-up” display of packets/sec, bit/sec, and interface utilization. Observer Standard provides traffic reports by direction (in, out, total) and percentages of interface utilization.
Network Trending and Reporting
Gain insight into typical network activity with trending and reporting. Observer Standard stores network, Internet, and switch data for days, weeks, months, even years.
View a single time period or create period-to-period comparison reports. Ready-made reports allow for quick snapshots while customized reports provide for more tailored analysis.
System Requirements
Minimum and Recommended System Requirements
The following chart displays recommended Observer Standard, Observer Expert, Observer Suite, and Observer Reporting Server minimum and recommended hardware requirements. As with any high-performance network analysis product, the more RAM, and the faster the processor the better.
The minimum system requirements are:
- Dual core Pentium class processor
- 2GB RAM
- Windows XP
The recommended system requirements are:
- Quad core Pentium class processor
- 8GB RAM
- Windows 64-bit operating system
Observer may run on systems with less power and RAM than those listed above, but Network Instruments does not support configurations with less than the minimum stated requirements.
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