With South Africa`s limited WAN bandwidths, large corporations utilising Microsoft architecture will welcome the introduction of software that ensures access to business-critical services by proactively monitoring and troubleshooting Microsoft`s Active Directory.
According to Frank Appunn, MD at network security distribution company SourceTech, the management of valuable information resources within networks as well as monitoring bandwidth implications are vital. This is now possible with DirectoryAnalyzer from NetPro Computing Inc.
"In the US the product is regarded as a `must-have` for sites over 10 000 user accounts. But in SA with our limited WAN bandwidth, the solution is likely to achieve that status at 1000 user enterprises already," says Appunn.
He says that while having a directory system is a big benefit, it also implies a lot of work to insert all the information and keep it current.
"Having done that, it becomes a central resource that needs to be protected. A failure in this arena implies many man-years of information loss and the business will quickly become dependant on the value of a good directory - thus the resultant loss of efficiency is much greater," says Appunn.
DirectoryAnalyzer is the first solution available to monitor and troubleshoot the infrastructure of Active Directory, the directory service at the core of Microsoft`s Windows 2000 operating system.
It ensures the health of Active Directory`s infrastructure by monitoring and troubleshooting all of its key components, including domains, domain controllers, sites, and Active Directory-related DNS functions. Administrators are alerted immediately when problems are developing and pinpoints the location and nature of the trouble so that it can be repaired quickly, before user access to business-critical services is impacted.
The product provides a consolidated view of the entire directory, enabling administrators to manage the directory from a central location. Further, DirectoryAnalyzer conducts troubleshooting tests on such components as domain controllers and DNS servers, and it delivers a knowledge base of context-sensitive solutions, including the definition of the problem, its possible cause and recommended steps for resolution.
"Administrators deploying Windows 2000 want assurance that their directories are healthy because they know their users depend on the directory for reliable access to their vital applications," says Appunn.
According to Peter Houston, lead product manager for Active Directory at Microsoft, DirectoryAnalyzer gives administrators the confidence they need by constantly monitoring Active Directory and alerting them immediately when directory issues arise.
"Customers are always asking for ways to monitor and manage their Active Directory implementations," says Houston.
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