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Protocol Monitor is one of the general TrafficDirector monitoring applications, and generates utilization, packet rate, and kilobyte rate for predefined domains in graphical format. Protocol Monitor gives you an overview of network activity by converting raw network data gathered by agents and switches into graphical displays that you can manipulate to see different views of the same data. Protocol Monitor graphically displays network traffic statistics for several agents at once, providing an instant comparison of multiple network segments.
Protocol Monitor is a good place to start monitoring or diagnosing your network at the protocol level. Use it to establish a baseline of normal or expected performance, or to monitor multiple sites simultaneously. For example, you can compare or contrast packet rates for SNA protocol traffic on your Ethernet segment and your Token Ring segment. Protocol Monitor also supports Protocol Zoom, an application you can use to look further into the activity being reported. Monitoring the traffic on your network with Protocol Monitor gives you a complete picture of your network operation.
To begin working with Protocol Monitor, you must be logged in to TrafficDirector and have the TrafficDirector main window open. See Chapter 2, "Launching TrafficDirector."
To launch the Protocol Monitor application, take the following steps:
Step 1 In the TrafficDirector main window, select the Agent, AgentGroup, Switch, or FrameRelay radio button.
Step 2 Select a device from the list box.
Step 3 Select a domain group from the list under the Domain Group list.
Step 4 Click the Protocol Monitor icon.
The TrafficDirector NET Protocols Protocol Monitor window (Figure 32-1) opens.
Step 5 From this window, you can begin to monitor your network in terms of protocol makeup and behavior using the procedures described here.
Protocol Monitor lets you monitor multiple sites by protocol. You can view selected statistics, such as utilization, byte rate, and packet rate in terms of the protocols that make up your network traffic. With Protocol Monitor you can see the relative utilization of the different protocols detected on a segment.
Protocol Monitor displays selected network information in graphical format, giving you an at-a-glance overview of your network. To select the type of graphical display you want to use, select the type of display from the Format menu. The following graphical display choices are available:
To view a bar graph in inverted form, select Format>Horizontal Bar. This inverts the axes of the 2-D and 3-D bar graph displays. Depending on the data you are displaying, you can switch the x and y axes as a matter of viewing preference. Inverting the graph may provide a clearer picture of the data and devices you are monitoring.
In any 3-D graph, such as a bar graph or pie chart, you can change the elevation, depth, and angle of the displayed graph. This increases or decreases the three-dimensional effect of the graph.
To manipulate the displayed 3-D graph, take the following steps:
Step 1 Move the cursor to a free area in the three-dimensional graph.
Step 2 Do one of the following:
Step 3 Drag the cursor to manipulate the graph. When the graph is positioned the way you want it, release the mouse buttons.
With Protocol Monitor, you are monitoring protocol-based samples collected by RMON2 agents or switches that you have added to the TrafficDirector client software. When you choose to monitor selected data in Protocol Monitor, TrafficDirector polls the agents or switches you select at the intervals you specify and updates the display. The default refresh rate is one minute. You can change the interval by selecting a refresh rate from the Refresh menu.
Protocol Monitor is one of the TrafficDirector general monitoring applications. It gives you an excellent overview of protocol usage and distribution on a network segment, based on the agent and the domain group you selected. You can launch additional applications to take a closer look at a particular aspect of your network for more detailed monitoring or network diagnosis. Select an application from the Applications menu in the Protocol Monitor main window, or click anywhere within the window to display the Launch Application window. Applications such as Protocol History and Protocol Zoom let you focus on your network and the data flowing through it for a more detailed analysis.
Although Protocol Monitor lets you monitor several types of data, you can only monitor one type of data at a time. You can, however, display several different Protocol Monitor windows and select different data types to monitor for each. Each window you open uses additional TrafficDirector resources.
The TrafficDirector NET Protocols Protocol Monitor window shows the utilization and agent name by default. Table 32-1 lists the additional display options available.
| Option | Display |
|---|---|
| Utilization | Network utilization used by each protocol as a percentage of the total usage (Figure 32-1). |
| Kbyte Rate | Kilobyte rate per second (Figure 32-2). |
| Packet Rate | Packet rate per second (Figure 32-3). |
The viewing option you select determines how protocol information is displayed (Figure 32-2 and Figure 32-3). Select an option from the View menu. Table 32-1 describes the options.
The Protocol Monitor main window shows a 3-D vertical bar graph by default. To select a format option, select an option from the Format menu. Table 32-2 lists the additional formats you can choose.
| Option | Display |
|---|---|
| 2-D Bar | Two-dimensional vertical bar graph |
| 3-D Bar | Three-dimensional vertical bar graph |
| Pie | Pie chart |
| Horizontal Bar | Two-dimensional or three-dimensional horizontal bar graph |
When you select a format option, the graph changes to show the information differently.
You can launch related applications from Protocol Monitor. Select Applications, then select from the available applications.
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