Gavin Scott wrote:
>
> Dave asks:
> > What can I do on the 3000 to monitor the amount of network
> > activity in near-real time?
>
> :LINKCONTROL @;STATUS=ALL
>
> will give you some counters that will let you see the raw traffic
> volume numbers in units of packets and bytes for all users of a
> particular physical network interface.

Slightly off-topic, but while I'm thinking about it, are the figures
for LINKCONTROL linkname;STATUS=D documented anywhere?  The regular
status numbers are pretty self-explanatory, but not the extended debug
ones (some are pretty bizarre).

The interface values are available via SNMP for which MRTG does an
excellent (and free) job of graphing long-term history, but anything
that can query standard MIBs can get the data.  We use InterMapper (runs
on a Mac, http://www.dartware.com) to monitor all of our servers
and Cisco switches.  It also tracks uptime (there is a MIB for that, or
there's Stan's free 'uptime' program to display it at the MPE command
line).

> > Short of external devices like protocol analyzers, what can I run
> > on the 3K to get an idea of the relative impact to networking.
>
> Keep in mind that there are a couple good *free* protocol analyzers
> for Windows and Linux these days, so you no longer have to pay
> $10,000 for a copy of Sniffer or Lanalyzer to get into the PC-based
> protocol analysis business.

NetXRay isn't too expensive and runs on Windows, it's a derivitave of
the original Data General Sniffer product line.  It not only gives you
protocol and traffic stats per device, it also extends that to
source-destination "pairs" so you can see where your traffic is coming
from/going to.

Jeff Kell <[log in to unmask]>