Ipswitch updates WhatsUp network admin tool

Ipswitch, Inc. is rolling out an upgrade to its WhatsUp Gold network monitoring software product, giving administrators multiple and more customizable views of their network's performance.

Along with graphical network mapping and remote notification capabilities, WhatsUp Gold 5.0 ($695) now includes a "SmartScan" hierarchical mapping component that finds and automatically categorizes all of a network's devices during autodiscovery.

The software's graphical network mapping capabilities are also improved, thanks to a plug-in for Seagate Software's Crystal Reports Runtime.

The new release "lets network managers literally see what's going on, draw conclusions quickly, and take corrective action right away," said Tere' Bracco, principal analyst for Enterprise Infrastructure at Current Analysis, in Sterling, VA.

Ipswitch is positioning WhatsUp Gold 5.0 as a first-alert tool for larger organizations looking to compliment their existing network management infrastructure with a low-cost network monitoring tool.

"Administrators need to know...when a mission-critical device like a server or router is down in order to quickly solve the problem," said Ipswitch President Roger C. Greene. WhatsUp Gold 5.0 lets them "quickly identify and fix network problems before users or customers are aware of it."

Phil Morneault, network specialist at Central Maine Power, likes the software's reporting capabilities and Web access to network performance reports. "I can already see myself reducing my response time, addressing network problems before they happen and, overall, saving me time which nowadays is hard to come by," he said.

Ipswitch, Inc. can be reached at (781) 676-5700.