New APCON Software Supports
Key Enterprise Business Goals

NetVis simplifies network analysis equipment connections – increasing efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring critical network performance

WILSONVILLE, Ore., February 2, 2010 – Enterprise IT managers can breathe a bit easier today thanks to APCON’s latest release of its NetVis™ software. This product allows IT departments to make better use of existing network analysis devices, and can actually reduce the need to invest in new devices, leading to better support of enterprise objectives aimed at cost management and operational efficiency.

“NetVis sets a new standard for the industry,” said Richard Rauch, APCON president and CEO. “Not only is it packed with the richest feature set available today, but it elevates the value of network monitoring technology by making both people and devices more productive.”

NetVis Streamlines the Connectivity of Analysis Equipment

NetVis supports all of the latest aggregation and filtering capabilities available in APCON’s IntellaPatch^® switches, including the ability to:

• aggregate multiple links and multicast to several destinations,
• apply filters to both sources (ingress) and destinations (egress),
• build, save, recall and share filters among user groups.

Working through a specially designed screen in NetVis, users are able to build and combine filters with Boolean logic. Filter options include all common Layer 2 through Layer 4 parameters; and these filters can be saved, recalled and shared across multiple user groups. Users are also able to manage bandwidth from the interface. As levels approach the point of oversubscription, the user is alerted and can easily adjust the filters to manage traffic.

The main connection screen is user-friendly, presenting a customizable, two-pane view of only those ports a user is allowed to access for SPAN/Tap and tool patching purposes. The simplicity of this interface reduces the time typically required for making source-to-destination connections, in turn cutting down on the time needed to troubleshoot network issues.

Another new feature is a dashboard from which the user can monitor existing connections – quickly viewing critical information such as patched devices, filtering and bandwidth information, user name, job ticket and duration details, as well as link status. Further, the new version offers the user a graphic snapshot of switch status that includes chassis, blade, controller, power supply, fan and transceiver settings and alarms.

NetVis is specifically designed for enterprise networks utilizing APCON’s IntellaPatch Series 3000 switches, which provide the physical connectivity between SPANs or mirror ports and analysis devices. As an embedded and web-accessible interface, NetVis eliminates the security concern of installing software; and a wizard-based setup gets users up-and-running in less time.

“NetVis acknowledges the requirements that IT departments face to operate more efficiently, and specifically with an eye on every enterprise’s focus on the bottom line,” said Rauch.

APCON Technology Enables the Sharing of Monitoring Tools

In most enterprise networks, analysis tools are not an option. Rather, they are a requirement for maintaining a healthy network and meeting security and compliance regulations. However, with costs ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 per device, it is cost-prohibitive for companies to have devices sitting at every network monitoring point.

For the enterprise customer that has multiple data centers – each of which likely requires monitoring services that include deep packet inspection, traffic analysis, network break-fix, equipment upgrades and more – packet aggregation switch technology makes it possible for IT groups to electronically move and share an inventory of monitoring devices across an entire network infrastructure. This, in turn, enables companies to reduce monitoring equipment investments by an average of 50 percent per data center while still achieving 100 percent network visibility 24x7x365.

Also important to consider are the maintenance costs for these packet capture tools. Many CIOs spend 60-80 percent of their budgets on vendor maintenance fees, upgrade costs or multiyear outsourcing contracts according to research from Gartner, Inc. The annual cost savings offered by a packet aggregation switching solution alone can often pay for the installation of such technology.

About APCON

APCON is the leading provider of packet aggregation switching systems, which enable any IT group to consolidate and share an inventory of monitoring and security devices. Organizations in over 30 countries currently depend on APCON solutions in their network infrastructures. Customers include Fortune 500 companies, banks and financial service firms, telecommunication and service providers, government and military organizations, and computer equipment manufacturers. For more information, go to www.apcon.com.

Background information on APCON and images are available at: www.apcon.com/press.

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Press Contacts
APCON, Inc.
Lissa Gienty
503-682-4050
lissag@apcon.com

PRP, Inc.
Bill Trainer
503-720-3472
bill@theprpinc.com

Photos

• ACI-3036
• ACI-3036 and ACI-3072
• ACI-3072
• ACI-3144
• ACI-3288
• APCON Series 3000 Family
• IntellaFlex 32/4 Blade
• EnterPoint Software