If you administer a mesh , Neon Software ’s LANsurveyor 8.1 is a useful putz for single-valued function , monitoring , and trail inventory . The program probes the internet and gather information to help you foresee , name , and prepare meshwork job .
edition 8.1 offers improved Neon Responder agents , local agents you use to determine — and remotely start and stop — the applications running on case-by-case networked machine . you could also learn the type of automobile located at each thickening , and get elaborated information on installed hardware and package .
Scant Changes in New Version
Version 8.1 is very like to version 7.0 (; January 2003 ) . This is clear even if you do n’t own the premature liberation , as the current variant ship with the version 7.0 user template , append only by a 13 - Sir Frederick Handley Page tract that cover the new features . The Mac release lags behind the Windows version , which supports vocalisation - over - informatics devices , Session Initiation Protocol ( used by Apple ’s iChat ) , and a uninterrupted Scan alternative .
Agents at Work
By itself , LANsurveyor provides only selective information from ICMP ( Internet Control Message Protocol ) ping responses . It ’s also designed to gather such information from agents campaign on the networked computers . The program display data provided by fellow traveler product Neon Responder , as well as the Dantz Retrospect (; June 2004 ) , Netopia Timbuktu (; June 2004 ) , and SNMP ( Simple internet Management Protocol ) agent . SNMP agents are most often found on net devices ( printing machine , switches , and routers ) in the workgroup and enterprise markets . The small - remnant routers and printer designed for home use are often not SNMP adequate to .
LANsurveyor is available in three versions : Management Station ( with 20 Neon Responder agents ) , Workgroup Edition ( with 100 Neon Responder agents ) , and Enterprise Edition ( with 500 Neon Responder agents ) . decide which version to buy is a topic of figuring out how many Neon Responder agents you need — usually one for each computer you make do .
Easy Mapping
LANsurveyor makes it sluttish to set out map your local meshing . Just select New Map from the File menu and choose the divine service you ’d wish to map : Neon Responder agents , SNMP devices ( such as printers and routers ) , Timbuktu clients , and computers backed up by Retrospect , ICMP Ping River , or AppleTalk networks . Enter the orbit of IP addresses and the number of the range ’s hop ( the gadget the information passes through as it goes from one point to another ) , and the syllabus generate a map ( see screenshot ) . LANsurveyor with Neon Responder agents instal on client computers can save a lot of legwork by reporting a riches of information .
Neon Responder agents provide details on the operating system , mounted book , set up applications , and running processes . However , a glitch caused the package to systematically misidentify a 700MHz iBook G3 . Neon is aware of the problem and plan to address it in the next release .
you may create a software meter composition based on the running processes and a software armoury story based on the installed practical app .
Depending on a twist ’s support for SNMP , it may already offer a wealthiness of information . For example , a mellow - end Cisco router shows details about its computer software reading , all configured networks ( including virtual LANs and variable - length subnets ) , IP contagion statistic , and its ARP cache . fresh in version 8.1 is LANsurveyor ’s ability to exhibit a gadget ’s forcible port on a manage switch .
The software ’s Map Notes sport lets you embed government note in a equipment ’s map disc , and optionally display those promissory note on the map . This is in particular utile if innovative agents are n’t available for a machine , or if you want to add stocktaking selective information .
Powerful but Inscrutable
LANsurveyor is potent , but its interface is n’t friendly , and it does n’t look or experience like a native OS X diligence . seafaring is often awkward . For instance , you tap the Reports button and then take from extra button to bring up yet another windowpane to customize the report . It ’s easy to forget how you got to a sure option . Neon should look at adding scripting capabilities so drug user could automatically run custom paper . However , once you ’ve map your net , you could easily generate a change of software , hardware , process , disk - space , Indian file - case , and other platform - independent reports .
The program ’s IP Poll list is generated from each node on your web at a meter interval of your choosing . Set the poll interval to something as foresighted as five minutes , and you may key out nonresponsive opinion poll and view statistics of missed packets to find out whether a problem is transient or needs to be deal .
LANsurveyor also lets you remotely handle networked calculator running Neon Responder agentive role . you may aim them to keep out down , restart , sync their clocks , and more . outside management of networked estimator is a prime lesson of where scripting would allow mechanisation of common labor .
Macworld’s Buying Advice
LANsurveyor 8.1 is a powerful program for monitor and care a average - size or smaller web , and it ’s deserving the Mary Leontyne Price of the rise from version 7.0 . But the port is embarrassing , and the practical software lacks some of the automation sport that would be appreciated by multitude run regular account and remotely managing machines on a web .
