Principal Studies

Thinking Outside The (Windows) Box
While many businesses depend on Microsoft and its various product suites, alternatives exist, some of which are not well known.

• Part 4: Free Windows Firewalls
  [March 3, 2006] Part four of this series examines free firewalls for Windows users.
  
  
• Part 3: Free Mail Clients
  [March 2, 2006] Part three of this series examines free e-mail clients.
  
  
• Part 2: Free Web Browsers
  [December 30, 2005] Part two of this series examines freely-available alternative web browsers.
  
  
• Part 1: Introduction
  [December 23, 2005]

Wireless LAN Tools: Analyze This by Lisa Phifer
Certain that just about every ISP that uses wireless technology could benefit from a better understanding of the traffic on that network, ISP-Planet produced a broad overview of the tools available.

• Wireless LAN Tools Part 4: Monitoring and Reporting
  [August 17, 2004] In the final part of this four part study, we discuss how to use WLAN analyzers to help keep your WLAN running smoothly.
• Wireless LAN Tools, Part 3: Discovery and Planning
  [August 10, 2004] In part three of this four part study, we tackle the toughest part of WLAN deployment, patrolling your network.
• Wireless LAN Tools, Part 2: Building Your Toolkit
  [July 27, 2004] In part two of this four part study, we focus on choosing the tools you'll use to analyze your wireless local area network.
• Wireless LAN Tools: Analyze This Part 1
  [July 20, 2004] In this four part study, we show you what tools are available to enable you to learn how your WLAN is being used and whether it could be improved.

Security Tools for the Budget Conscious ISP by Lisa Phifer
Aiming to aid ISPs on a tight IT budget, ISP-Planet examined affordable security tools.

• Security Tools for the Budget Conscious ISP, Part III:
  Analysis and Forensics
  [Febraury 6, 2004] In the conclusion of this series, we look at tools that will help you analyze network traffic so that you can understand any unusual network behaviors.
• Security Tools for the Budget Conscious ISP, Part II:
  Vulnerability Assessment and Audit
  [January 30, 2004] In this article we identify the tools that are available to you as you examine your system's vulnerabilities before and after an attack.
• Secuity Tools for the Budget Conscious ISP
  [January 23, 2004] As a service provider, you maintain the mailboxes that spamers want access to. Here are the inexpensive tools you need when the spammer becomes a hacker.

WIDS Series by Lisa Phifer
ISP-Planet evaluated Wireless Intrusion Detection systems (WIDS) from two major vendors, and provided a useful overview of WIDS.

• WIDS Overview: Vigilant Minds, and Conclusion
  [October 28, 2003] Vigilant Minds offers in-depth intrusion analysis and prevention for wireless and wired networks.
• WIDS Overview: Vigilar
  [October 21, 2003] Vigilar offers a complete portfolio of security services to companies of all sizes.
• WIDS Overview: Helping Customers Spot Wireless Intruders
  [October 14, 2003] Wireless intrusion detection is a logical extension of the security measures most companies already have in place. In this three part series, we examine the offerings of three different solution providers. We start with IBM, whose solution is supported by its global research network.

VPN RFP Series by Lisa Phifer
ISP-Planet conducted a series of appliance reviews evaluating Virtual Private Network (VPNs)systems from four major vendors. Essential ready for those who deploy VPNs for Internet-based remote access, Intranets, and Extranets.

• Managed VPN Appliances for Broadband SMBs
  [May 3, 2001] We evaluate 6 turnkey IPsec hardware devices suitable for ISP deployment to broadband-enabled businesses less than 200 employees by way of RFP.
• NetScreen Technologies
  [May 16, 2001] ISP-Planet continues conducting its VPN appliance reviews, evaluating IPsec hardware devices suitable for ISP deployment to broadband-enabled businesses with 10-200 employees. This week, NetScreen presents its comments. Lab Eval
• RapidStream
  [May 23, 2001] ISP-Planet continues conducting its VPN appliance reviews, evaluating IPsec hardware devices suitable for deployment to broadband-enabled businesses with 10-200 employees. This week, RapidStream presents its case. Lab Eval
• Rebel.com
  [May 30, 2001] ISP-Planet continues conducting its VPN appliance reviews, evaluating IPsec hardware devices suitable for ISP deployment to broadband-enabled businesses with 10-200 employees. This week, Rebel.com takes a stand.
• SonicWALL
  [June 6, 2001] ISP-Planet presents its final RFP in our VPN appliance review, evaluating IPsec hardware devices suitable for ISP deployment to broadband-enabled SMBs. This week, SonicWALL surpasses our VPN barriers. Lab Eval
• Our Take On VPN Vendors for Broadband SMBs
  [June 13, 2001] We've already showed you the original RFP sent to vendors and their responses. Now it's time to get down to the brass tacks and offer your our expert take on IPsec hardware solutions for ISP deployment to broadband-enabled SMBs.
• The Quest for Interoperability
  [June 20, 2001] Should your ISP stick with a single vendor solution to deploy VPN services or do multi-vendor systems deliver a better return on investment? Learn how to build a VPN offering around your ISPs short and long-term goals.
• VPN RFP Lab Eval: Final Thoughts
  [Jan. 4, 2002] We present a side-by-side comparison of the results of our lab tests of VPN solutions from three vendors: NetScreen, RapidStream, and SonicWALL, and we ask that you vote to choose the best.

NMS Review Series by Lisa Phifer
A collection of in-depth evaluations of entry-level network management systems ranging from granular services to selective maintenance.

• Entry-Level Network Management: NetPlus AutoManage
  [July 5, 2000] Want the benefits of automated network management and monitoring without the high costs typically associated with this kind of software? Try this entry-level solution.
• I'll Be Watching You: ipMonitor
  [July 12, 2000] A flexible and cost-effective network management system, ipMonitor is suitable for granular surveillance in small networks or selective surveillance in other networks.
• An Extensible SNMP ToolChest
  [July 19, 2000] Here's a collection of task-specific network management tools that can easily be customized or augmented via Tcl scripting. It's not a comprehensive NMS, but it can flexibly supplement such a system.
• MG-SOFT NetInspector and MIB Browser
  [Aug. 9, 2000] An overlapping duo, NetInspector and MIB Browser together offer nearly everything you'd expect from an under-$1,000 SNMP NMS, including a plug-in architecture for expansion.
• Show Me the Network: WhatsUp Gold 5.0
  [Aug. 15, 2000] This excellent, low-cost network and service monitor puts its awareness of connections between devices, subnets, and services to work in achieving highly efficient, scalable 24x7 surveillance.
• Managing Workgroups with Castle Rock SNMPc
  [Aug. 31, 2000] SNMPc 5.0 Workgroup Edition provides almost every feature we'd expect from an entry-level SNMP NMS. This reliable management server enables single-workstation monitoring and control for small-to-midsize networks.
• Series Wrap-Up
  [Oct. 5, 2000] At the carrier-class level, network management systems can easily run into the six-figure price range. But our NMS series has demonstrated that ISPs and other network admins can get serious query, monitoring, and control tools for well under $1,000.

Cache Review Series by Lisa Phifer
Evaluations of six different caching systems, from do-it-yourself squid programs to network appliances.

• Caching, Appliance-Style: Quantex WebXL 2000
  [Jan. 10, 2000] Newest of the Novell Internet Caching System-based appliances, we found Quantex's entry simple to install and quite stable in operation. However, it has the rough edges you'd expect on a version 1 product, and online support isn't yet up to snuff.
• Fail-Safe Caching: InfoLibria DynaCache
  [Jan. 17, 2000] This is a solid web cache for high-availability networks—with a price that reflects the target market.
• NICS With Integrated Management: Compaq TaskSmart
  [Jan. 24, 2000] Addressing the needs of both novice and experienced cache administrators, the TaskSmart successfully leverages Compaq's server-market pedigree to differentiate itself from other NICS-based products.
• Multiprotocol Caching: NetCache C720s
  [Jan. 11, 2000] The first unit to survive our tests without a reboot, the CacheFlow 545 offers many innovative features, including an intriguing hybrid config interface and a proactive 'adaptive refresh' algorithm.
• Do-It-Yourself Caching: Squid 2.3
  [Feb. 28, 2000] This open source solution is a great low-cost way to get into caching. We're not talkin' 'cost-free' here, though, since a stable Squid installation calls for some fairly hefty hardware—not to mention considerable tuning effort.
• Caching Series Wrap-Up
  [Feb. 28, 2000] Following our in-depth looks at six Web caches, we conclude by comparing their many strengths and weaknesses.
  

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