ISPPlanet • Budget Network Management System Series - Wrap-Up

Installation and Setup
None of these products were difficult to install. All but SNMP ToolChest use a Setup program for software installation and basic configuration. Required steps and installed applications are enumerated below for each product.

Vendor	ACE*COMM	MediaHouse	SNMP ToolChest Company	MG-SOFT	Ipswitch	Castle Rock Computing
Product	NetPlus AutoManage	ipMonitor	SNMP ToolChest	MIB Browser NetInspector LITE	WhatsUp Gold	SNMPc
Prerequisites or plug-Ins	Current MFC42.DLL (e.g., 6.0.300)	Suitable browser	Tcl/Tk (Scotty or TickleMan/Lite)	Internet Plug-In (2.0 beta)	ODBC, NT Service & SNMP Threshold Plug-Ins	Notify!Connect
Install steps	Run setup, Customize .ini	Run setup, Enter site settings	Install Scotty, Set environment, Expand zip file, Run patch file	Run setup, Add plug-in	Install ODBC, Run setup	Install Notify!, Run setup
Installed Applications	NP_LDBED NP_DISCO NP_MIB NP_WALK NP_BROWZ NP_TABLE NP_TRAPS NP_BUSY NP_CHART	ipMonitor Service Config Web Server Reports Web Server	DiscoverPlus IPScope NetDelayPlus RouterScope SmartBrowser	NetInspector MIB Browser	WUG Service (NT) WUG Console WUG Web Server NetTools	Discovery Agent History Agent SNMPc Server SNMPc Console TrendView Bootp Server TFTP Server
Can be NT service?	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Introductory aids	None	Getting Started guide, To-Do list	None	None	Demo Network, Step-by-Step Guide	Brief Install Guide
Access controls	None	Password, IP	None	None	Password, IP, Levels (for web access only)	Password, Levels
Comments	Missing DLL should be supplied	Use non-default NT account and loopback IP for best results	Would benefit from a Setup program	After install, you're on your own	Friendly and approachable	You'll want to add passwords

Database software, report generators, X-Windows servers, and protocol stacks are often required by large, distributed management systems, increasing cost and complexity. Not so for these inexpensive managers. We encountered a few prerequisites and plug-ins, but no hidden "gotchas". CastleRock even includes Notify!Connect paging software, Bootp/TFTP servers, and an SDK at no additional cost. Only NetPlus AutoManage failed to include a required DLL, reasoning that many desktops may already have it.

Those familiar with other SNMP managers can probably use any of these products without introductory aids. But every product is different, and getting the hang of any new interface can take time. WhatsUp Gold includes an excellent demo network and step-by-step guide. ipMonitor includes a check list of first-time tasks that are crossed off as you go.

SNMP managers are configured with community strings and represent a privileged network portal that can be exploited in the wrong hands. Standalone managers are at minimum protected by Windows logon. Distributed systems should require password-protected logins and the ability to limit IP addresses used by remote clients. Administrators should exercise caution when using a public network for remote management, since none of these products encrypt management traffic.

Pt. 1: Introduction / What We Tested <	Pt. 5: Device Control
Pt. 2: Installation & Setup	Pt. 6: Network Montoring & Alerts
> Pt. 3: Network Discovery	Pt. 7: Reporting
Pt. 4: SNMP Browse and Query	Pt. 8: Product Support / Overall Evaluation