Net Inspector LITE Version 1.5 This is the README.TXT file for Net Inspector LITE Copyright (C) 1996, 1999 by MG-SOFT Corporation. All rights reserved. ========================================================================== Table of contents ----------------- 1. About Net Inspector 2. Net inspector LITE 3. How to unlock the evaluation version 4. Net Inspector ordering information 5. Related products by MG-SOFT Corporation 6. Licensing agreement 7. Contacting MG-SOFT Corporation ========================================================================== 1. About Net Inspector ---------------------- Thank you for using Net Inspector, a general remote management system running on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT platforms. For successful management of a distributed system you have to use efficient management tools. Management tools are usually designed for specific distributed systems like computer networks or public switch networks and they support a proprietary management protocol. Generally, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used for the management of the distributed computer system. But there are still many devices that support only proprietary management protocols. Net Inspector is a network management integration tool which offers an easy way to manage different types of devices in distributed systems. Managed devices can support either a standard management protocol (SNMP) or a proprietary protocol. Net Inspector can manage such heterogeneous distributed systems. Net Inspector’s extensibility is achieved with various plug-in module interfaces (Proxy Front-end Server plug-in modules for communicating with various devices, Plug-out Client Connect modules for connecting various front-end consoles). Net Inspector is scaleable. It is available in three versions. Net Inspector Lite edition is a standalone management platform which integrates functionality of the Client and Server mode. Net Inspector Client/Server edition allows distributed management. The Server module can run only on Win32 platforms, while Client modules can be Win32 or Java applications. In the Net Inspector Enterprise edition multiple servers can be deployed in clusters ========================================================================== 2. Net Inspector LITE --------------------- Net Inspector LITE edition is a standalone management platform which integrates functionality of the Client and Server modules and provides framework for graphical presentation of managed devices, event/alarm collecting, logging and dispatching and an interface (API) for Proxy Front-end Server (PFS) plug-in modules. Net Inspector platform can be used for managing devices running either SNMP agents or devices that support a proprietary management protocol. By developing the appropriate PFS plug-in module that supports a given proprietary protocol, you can manage that type of device from the Net Inspector desktop. That means that it is possible to manage different types of devices on different types of networks, simultaneously from the same desktop. Graphical Presentation ---------------------- Net Inspector offers an easy way for setting up a graphical presentation of network nodes on the network. This presentation is based on a principle of maps and sub maps. Devices and sub maps are presented as icons on a map. Sub maps can be opened by clicking on the sub map icons. The map can also contain bitmaps, text and other graphical objects. Event Collecting, Logging and Alarming -------------------------------------- Net Inspector's Event Manager is a central system for collecting events from managed devices and notifying the user about the changed status of the managed device. This system enables collecting, saving (logging) and dispatching events to map objects and to appropriate messengers. Messenger units (E-Mail, WWW, ...) send event reports using their own protocols to desired recipients. Event reports can be daily, weekly, monthly or urgent (alarm). PFS Plug-in Modules ------------------- Functionality of Net Inspector depends on the number and type of installed PFS (proxy front-end server) plug-in modules that conform to the Net Inspector's PFS API. The Net Inspector PFS API defines an interface between remote agents (devices that we want to manage) and Net Inspector. Communication between a PFS and agent can run on any media (LAN, WAN, ISDN, PSTN, serial, wireless,... ). The PFS plug-in module thus provide a gateway between a given media/protocol and Net Inspector. Such architecture enables adding new types of managed devices at run-time, without a need to modify the Net Inspector software. By installing and utilizing various PFS modules it is possible to manage different types of devices on different types of networks, simultaneously from the same desktop. Currently Provided PFS Plug-in Modules for Net Inspector -------------------------------------------------------- In the current version of Net Inspector we provide the following plug-in modules: * Standard SNMP PFS module (MG-SOFT WinSNMP-based) * ICMP Ping PFS module (ICMP/ECHO protocol) * UDP Echo PFS module (UDP/ECHO protocol) Besides, an SDK for developing PFS plug-in modules is available. Net Inspector on the Web ------------------------ The latest information about Net Inspector can be found at http://www.mg-soft.si/netinsp.html. You are welcome to download the latest version of Net Inspector from http://www.mg-soft.si/download.html. If you would like to be promptly notified about new software releases, subscribe to our mailing list by filling in the subscription form at http://www.mg-soft.si/maillist.html. =========================================================================== 3. How to unlock the evaluation version --------------------------------------- The evaluation version of Net Inspector LITE without a license key is capable of monitoring and managing at most 16 devices. If you wish to evaluate the full featured version of Net Inspector LITE on real networks with thousands of devices to monitor and manage, do not hesitate to contact us and apply for a FREE 30-day license key that will remove all locks from the software. Please check the details in the enclosed fulleval.txt file or contact . =========================================================================== 4. Net Inspector ordering information ------------------------------------- Please contact for the latest ordering and licensing information. =========================================================================== 5. Related products by MG-SOFT Corporation ------------------------------------------ MG-SOFT offers the following products for networking software developers and network managers/troubleshooters: * MIB Browser Professional (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgMibBrowserPE.html) * Net Inspector (http://www.mg-soft.si/netinsp.html) * MG-SOFT WinSNMP SDK (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgWinSNMP.html) * MG-SOFT WinMIB SDK (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgmibc.html) * MG-SOFT MIB Compiler (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgWinMIB.html) * MG-SOFT Master Agent (http://www.mg-soft.si/agent.html) * SNMP EasyAgent toolkit (http://www.mg-soft.si/easyagent.html) * MONET LAN analyzer (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetla.html) * MONET SNMP analyzer (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetsn.html) * MONET LAN analyzer LITE/LLC (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetllc.html) * MONET LAN analyzer LITE (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetlt.html) * WPDECO32 protocol decoder (http://www.mg-soft.si/dll-deco.html) Announcing new releases ----------------------- Visit http://www.mg-soft.si/announce.html for the latest information about the scheduled software releases and updates. ========================================================================== 6. Licensing agreement ---------------------- Please check the LICENSE.TXT file for details. ========================================================================== 7. Contacting MG-SOFT Corporation --------------------------------- For more information about Net Inspector LITE and related products check the WEB site at URL http://www.mg-soft.si/ You can subscribe to our mailing lists on-line by filling in the form at URL http://www.mg-soft.si/maillist.html If you don't have access to the Internet, please let us know by email that you wish to subscribe and we will add you to the list of recipients. Send all questions, suggestions, requests for technical support and bug reports to: MG-SOFT Corporation Phone: +386 62 2295050 Strossmayerjeva 32A Fax: +386 62 2295051 2000 Maribor E-mail: info@mg-soft.si Slovenia Web URL: http://www.mg-soft.si/ ==========================================================================