APRIL 29, 2008 -- Fluke Networks (Fluke Networks) today announced new capabilities for the company's EtherScope Network Assistant that help value added resellers (VARs) and system integrators (SIs) install, validate, and document LAN installations faster and at a lower cost, say company representatives.
The EtherScope Network Assistant is a handheld network analyzer that helps network professionals solve problems on 10-Mbit, 100-Mbit, and Gigabit twisted pair and optical fiber LANs and wireless LANs.
The EtherScope's new Service Performance Tool enables installers, VARs, and SIs to validate LAN performance during installation, demonstrating and documenting that those network services that are critical for acceptable LAN operation (DHCP, DNS, Web) are available and responsive. Such documentation may be a client requirement, or installers may use this feature to differentiate their service from the competition, say Fluke representatives.
These validation results are captured by the EtherScope Network Assistant and turned into easy-to-interpret documentation that thoroughly characterizes LAN and WAN link performance at turn-up. Any performance issues later noted by the customer can be compared against this turn-up documentation. Validation documentation serves as proof of a project successfully completed.
Other new installation tests are provided by the expanded Ethernet performance test suite. According to Fluke Networks, users can now measure and assess end-to-end Ethernet performance using new RFC 2544 procedures and other advanced tests, including jitter and bit errors, with customizable pass/fail criteria. The EtherScope analyzer can now also be paired with a low-cost Gigabit LinkRunner Pro packet reflector for end-to-end testing. The smart LinkRunner Pro packet reflector supports Layer 2 and 3 networking at a price that allows installers to instrument multiple links or to equip multiple field technicians.
In addition to these new installation-centric features, the EtherScope Network Assistant now offers enhanced troubleshooting with the addition of draft 802.11n access point detection and location.
The EtherScope Network Assistants is available for immediate delivery from Fluke Networks sales partners worldwide. All EtherScope Network Assistants shipped after April 28 will include new Version 4 software.
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