Network quality test

[biglebowski]

We have 7 sites throughout europe (germany, italy and belgium) all connected via sattelite and microwave. We have oracle databases in each location that are replicating back to 2 sites. We are experiencing majors problems with the rep failing and are seeing lots of tns errors and want to run a test to see if it is caused by a poor network (also need evidence). Is there a s/w product out there I can use that I can put on 2 different servers and run a test over 12 hours to check the status of the network connection. It also needs to be able to generate a report. I can only think this could be some sort of ping app.

Thanks.

That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

 

[SimonDavies]

It depends on how much money you want to spend.

Have a look at this googled link.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=network+sniffing&spell=1

Just to let you know tho... I have used Fluke Network Inspector in the past as well as NAI Sniffer Pro, there is also Ethereal although I have never used that.

 

[PalmTest]

A freeware tool which can test the throughput of your network is

http://www.raccoonworks.com/Products.htm

Install the software on both ends. Start one end as a server, select a TCP/IP port, select a large file to transmit.
On the other end start the client and enter your Raccoon Server IP and Port number. Then select Speed Test Server and hit Connect.

If you want to make a Network Trace, you can use the freeware tools Ethereal and/or Packetyzer.
Ethereal is a tool which is developed on Unix/Linux, and also made available on the Windows Platform.

http://www.ethereal.com/download.html

Packetyzer is developed for the Windows Platform, and uses the Ethereal engine.

http://www.networkchemistry.com/products/packetyzer/

Other freeware stuff can be found at

http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/categories/8/

Two excelent (and expensive) commercial tools are Sniffer Pro from Network General:

http://www.networkgeneral.com/Products_details.aspx?PrdId=20046243936754

Sniffer pro can 'listen' on your network and show you an 'Expert Analysis' to show you what is going on.
and Observer from Network Instruments:

http://www.networkinstruments.com/products/observer.html

Observer is capable of comparing two traces and perform a WAN analysis. Make a network trace on both ends of your WAN and Observer will compare the two network traces and show you some interesting info.