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AGENCY CONTACT Janis Ulevich Ulevich & Orrange, Inc. 650.329.1590 info@u-o.com |
PACKET DESIGN'S ROUTE EXPLORERT LOOKS INTO IP NETWORK
'CLOUDS' TO REVEAL HIDDEN ROUTING-PATH DYNAMICS
Layer 3 Diagnosis/Visualization Tool Lets IP Network Operators Enjoy
Same Level of Visibility as with Circuit-Based Networks
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 20, 2002 -- Packet Design has introduced a new network appliance that for the first time lets network operators look into the IP network "cloud" and see the actual routing paths being traversed by traffic -- allowing for earlier detection and faster resolution of IP problems.
Packet Design's Route Explorer is a layer 3 visualization, diagnostic and analysis tool for IP networks that uses the routing protocols themselves to gather and display information on end-to-end routing paths, both on-line and historically. Previous network management products have operated only up to layer 2, identifying problems with individual devices or inter-device links but not presenting a complete picture of how the network functions.
The Visibility of Circuit Networks, the Flexibility of IP
Route Explorer gives IP service providers and enterprises the operational visibility they enjoyed with their legacy (e.g., telephony or SNA) circuit-switched networks, which required them to pre-set static circuit paths between nodes.
"Network operators in circuit-switched environments have always known exactly what paths their traffic would take because they set up those paths themselves," said Judy Estrin, Packet Design CEO. "While recognizing the many benefits of moving to IP, many network operators have been uncomfortable with IP's cloud-like, black-box nature, which obscures their visibility into the constantly changing routing paths.
"The only tools available thus far have limited users to making best-guess diagnoses of IP network problems based on correlated data about the 'up' or 'down' status of individual boxes or links. It's like having a very accurate road map but not knowing where the traffic jams and construction detours are. Carrier and enterprise network managers need dynamic knowledge of the condition of their 'roads' to keep their operations running and meet their service-level agreements."
'Listening' to Routing Protocols to Map and Visualize Route Paths
Route Explorer presents a routing-level view of the IP network that lets the operator see routing-path changes and anomalies as they happen. It has two main architectural elements: The Route Recorder is a discovery engine which "listens" to the network's routing control plane and automatically builds a routing topology map, logging all routing events in a local database. The Route Explorer creates a picture of this information, displaying the routing topology and any changes within seconds of their occurrence.
For example, starting from a high-level view of the network showing all active routes and routers, the operator can highlight a single route between any two locations, and view the details (e.g., link state, link metrics, router parameters) of the routers along that route.
The network can be displayed either in its entirety or hierarchically or selectively -- e.g., showing only backbone routers while hiding edge routers and links.
The Route Recorder and Route Explorer both reside on a single network appliance. Unlike common SNMP management tools, Route Explorer adds no additional monitoring traffic to the network, so one appliance can support a network of thousands of routers. The visualized data can be displayed and manipulated from a remote console.
Initially the system supports the widely-used routing protocols OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and IS-IS (Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System); support for additional protocols will be added later.
'Rewind and Replay' Topology Map Helps Diagnose Recurring 'Route Flaps'
An animated historical playback and analysis feature lets the operator diagnose inconsistent and hard-to-detect problems such as the intermittent router failures known as "route flaps," which can severely degrade network performance. Route Explorer also can import customer-collected time series data (e.g., information on MPLS tunnels or traffic data collected with an application such as MRTG) and correlate it with the accumulated topology history, pinpointing the effects of routing on key performance parameters such as link utilization, delay and packet loss.
The user can "rewind" and "replay" his network topology map from any point in time since it began logging data. Starting with a coarse ("fast forward") playback from the time a network service problem was detected, he can slow the playback to step through individual routing events and other correlated data, watching their effect on the network map (e.g., how a problem customer's traffic is rerouted during an outage).
Route Explorer also lets the user show specific routes on the network map, and then observe the potential impact of bringing down links or changing router parameters (e.g., link metrics) along that route on how the network operates. The result is an improved ability to understand the impact of network failures on customers and to incorporate the optimal level of redundancy into the network.
Pricing and Availability
Route Explorer, priced at $25,000, is currently in lab trials, with general availability scheduled for the third quarter of 2002.
About Packet Design
Packet Design was founded in May 2000 to develop technologies that enhance the performance, scalability and manageability of the Internet infrastructure for telecom carriers and enterprises. The company conducts research and development through the product prototype stage, with marketing done through separate venture-funded spin-out companies, technology licensing agreements, or directly through the Packet Design CNS business unit. Packet Design's first spin-out, Vernier Networks, addresses security, management and control of wireless LANs.
Packet Design is the fourth networking company started by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Judy Estrin and Bill Carrico. The pair founded Bridge Communications in 1981, Network Computing Devices in 1988 and Precept Software in 1995. Estrin served as Cisco Systems' chief technology officer from 1998-2000, and Carrico was senior vice president of Cisco's small and medium line of business. Estrin, who sits on the boards of directors of The Walt Disney Company, The Federal Express Corporation and Sun Microsystems, has been named three times to Fortune Magazine's list of the 50 most powerful women in American business.
Packet Design has raised $29 million in private funding from Foundation Capital, Sun Microsystems and individual investors, including former Netscape CEO James Barksdale and Sun Microsystems Chief Scientist Bill Joy. For more information, visit http://www.packetdesign.com.
© 2005. Packet Design Inc.
