release of version 7.0 of its market-leading Observer®, Expert Observer®, and Observer® Suite network troubleshooting and protocol analysis software tools. Observer is a cost-effective, software-only, Microsoft Windows-based, real-time network monitor and LAN troubleshooting tool. Observer offers event notification and a complete trending and baselining collection system to view historical data collected for days, weeks, months - and even years.

"With the release of Observer 7.0, Network Instruments continues to provide the most cost-effective, feature-rich expert network analysis tools in the industry," said Douglas Smith, President, Network Instruments. "With the new features in Observer 7.0 and its Extensions, we have taken expert event notification a bold step further to empower our customers not only to identify network problems, but also analyze the captured data and model a full range of possible solutions to correct the problem."

Observer 7.0 In addition to increased general performance and more efficient data handling, key highlights of the many enhanced features of Observer 7.0 include:

New post capture statistics including Summary, Protocols, Top Talkers, Matrix and Internet Usage

Improved packet capture timing resolution - from 1 millisecond on Windows 9.x to 1 microsecond on NT/2000.

Expert Observer 7.0 Providing real-time and post-capture expert analysis, Expert Observer contains all of the new features of Observer 7.0, plus these additional key features:

What-If Live Modeling - Measures actual client/server conversations and peer-to-peer conversations then plots possible response times, utilization, and packet flow scenarios.

VoIP Expert - Reports and analyzes problems with VoIP/H.323 connections and determines at what level of network load H.323 conversations are exhibiting acceptable quality behavior.

Expert Summary - Displays error events in a single, concise display. For connection-oriented problems, a simple double-click "drills down" for further analysis.

"The What-If Live Modeling feature of Expert Observer enables network administrators to determine how the network will respond to enterprise-wide changes or even an individual worker's needs," said Smith. "For example, if an employee in a corporate department needs to work from home using a DSL line, the network administrator can capture system data on the corporate LAN and use the What-If Live Modeling feature to determine response time and other aspects of network performance in that situation."

Observer Suite 7.0 All of the features of Observer and Expert Observer are included in Observer Suite, the most complete, feature-rich network management and analysis product available anywhere. Key highlights include the following new features for enhanced management and interoperability:

SNMP Extension - SNMP device trending provides long term trending, data collection and full reporting from any SNMP device, Web access to trending data (requires Web Extension); improved handling of slow SNMP devices.

WEB Extension - Built-in web server reduces configuration time; new reporting interface provides both graphical and text based reports for hours during a day, or day in a month; comparison reports provided to compare two time periods.

"Web Extension makes the Observer Suite the most flexible tool for accessing network data because it makes the data available through any PC with a Web browser," said Smith. "For example, Network administrators can respond instantly and easily to system problems, even if they are away from their office, by logging on to any PC in the company, typing in their password, and getting the information they need to troubleshoot the problem."