Dartware Releases InterMapper 4.5

Network alerting and monitoring software enhances view of network health and adds probe, alert, and administration features

Hanover, NH, October 9, 2006 – Dartware, developers of InterMapper network monitoring and alerting software, has released version 4.5 which improves its ability to display network health, monitor network elements, alert network administrators, and work with other network monitoring systems. “Version 4.5 is a direct result of end-user input,” explains Rich Brown, Dartware CEO. “Through conversations and in-depth surveys we determined which features were needed to keep InterMapper ahead in the market. And those features make up this release.”

Already in use at thousands of organizations around the world, InterMapper helps network managers proactively maintain uptime, plan network expansion, troubleshoot problems, and document elements and connections.

Craig Sellars of O2 Secure Wireless, Inc. uses InterMapper to monitor wireless access points at remote customer premises. “We check on 20-120 access points per property to make sure that end-users have constant service.” Sellars was originally attracted by InterMapper's wide cross-platform support and the fact that it wasn't solely web-based. As a 4.5 beta tester, he's been impressed by InterMapper's speed, stability, and customizability. “This new version is very responsive. Data syncs quickly with little overhead, and our support teams get specific per-device and consolidated information even faster.”

New InterMapper 4.5 features include:

Network Health Display – In addition to maps and charts, InterMapper 4.5 users can track network performance status with:

  • List/Icon/Notifier View – Maps are displayed in multiple views: the List view shows device name, address, status, uptime, probe type, etc.; the Icon view graphically displays the interconnections between devices; the Notifier view lists current alerts to show who is responsible for the device.
  • Status Badges – Mapped devices and connections appear with status badges that show status severity (down, alarm, warning, critical).
  • Device Info and Network Info Windows – These windows give information about SNMP device configuration and status. In addition, these windows provide a convenient shortcut for editing the map.
  • Map slideshow – Maps automatically rotate at a user-configured interval.
  • Color-blind accessibility – In addition to coloring the icons, InterMapper places status badges that show status (down, alarm, warning, critical). These badges help visually distinguish good states (green) from bad states (yellow, orange, or red).

Device and server monitoring – InterMapper 4.5 adds these new probes to its current set of nearly 100 SNMP and server probes:

  • LDAP and LDAP-SSL – These probes support optional passwords that allow specification of an alternate search field, and can send an alert if an insufficient number of records are returned.
  • DNS – New DNS probes send queries for A, MX, NS, PTR, and TXT records.
  • Host Resources – This probe allows selection of disks to monitor.
  • Subversion – There are new probes for the Subversion source code system.
  • Wireless – Updated probes for smartBridges, Tranzeo, Mikrotik, and other equipment have been added to the Wireless Probe Pack.

Alert Options – New performance measures can trigger alerts or notifications.

  • Critical status – Critical status is represented by a blinking red icon on the network map. It indicates a severe problem and can be set to trigger an alert.
  • Device-specific thresholds – Interface errors, short-term packet loss, and round-trip time thresholds can be set to trigger an alert.
  • Short-term packet loss – InterMapper computes short-term packet loss using the last 100 queries. A comparison to thresholds determines and sends the appropriate alert status (critical/alarm/warning).
  • Interface Outages – Router or switch interface outages can trigger notification. These may be acknowledged independently.
  • Critical status – The new Critical status is shown by a non-blinking red icon on the map. It indicates a severe problem and can be set to trigger an alert.

Administration – New features make InterMapper easier to administer and use with other network monitoring systems.

  • Writing to Syslog – InterMapper can write any of its log file entries to a remote syslog server.
  • Import/Export facilities – In addition to currently available formats, data can be imported in XML and imported and exported in CSV. In addition, lists of maps and their associated status and lists of device interfaces can be exported.
  • Enhanced trap processing – InterMapper parses all fields of an SNMP trap, allowing for more sophisticated custom probes.
  • Autosave – InterMapper continually saves map changes. Named back-up copies can also be saved; making it easy to restore previous map configurations.
  • Additional polling behaviors – InterMapper can be set to Ignore Outages when a device is unresponsive to control for desktops that get shut off overnight or laptops that get taken home. Additionally, administrators can choose to automatically reprobe a device every 12 hours (rather than 6).

InterMapper supports and runs on Macintosh, Windows, Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD.

About Dartware — www.dartware.com — Dartware, LLC develops the InterMapper® family of network monitoring software. InterMapper earns quick return on investment by proactively alerting administrators to potential slow-downs, crashes, and other business interruptions. Its real-time, color-coded maps and other displays provide users with an instant view of their network and device status. Dartware's software is installed in financial services, healthcare, retail, education, government, non-profit, WISP and ISP organizations around the world.

Contact:

Rich Brown, Dartware LLC
603-643-9600
rich.brown@dartware.com

Karen Kaliski, Business and Marketing Communications
802-785-3196
karenkaliski@yahoo.com