Compas

Network analysis in the palm of your hand

Microtest's Compas, a new, portable diagnostic device for Ethernetnetworks, makes troubleshooting a snap. Because you carry the Compas in yourhand, you can quickly troubleshoot a problem anywhere on the network. A rubberhousing on the unit makes it durable to protect the case from falls. And whenworking in poorly lit areas, you can turn on a handy backlight that illuminatesthe LCD monochrome display.

The Compas connects to an Ethernet network through a thin wire coaxialconnector and two RJ-45 jacks at the top of the device. Two DB-9-pin, male andfemale RS232 connections on the bottom of the unit let you upload modules, printhardcopies of diagnostic tests, and test serial connections. Currently, theCompas supports only a 10Mbps Ethernet connection.

Testing the Compas
I tested the Compas on a Windows NT network and found many of its functionsextremely helpful. For instance, I was able to ping a server, search for aDomain Name System (DNS) entry and retrieve a list of domains. I viewed themedia access control (MAC) address (the hardware address of a network card, alsoknown as the NIC). I also connected the Compas to a workstation and saw its MACaddress, which verified the network card was working.

During my test for diagnosing a wiring problem, the Compas graphicallydisplayed wire connections, showed wire length, and indicated the amount ofnoise on a particular wire. It even continuously blinked a hub light (using theLink Test Pulse--LTP--signal) for showing where the wire connected to the hub.This feature was useful for finding unlabeled connections that terminated 10offices and a floor away.

For these tests, I used the Compas model that came with the Internet and NTsoftware modules. (You can also purchase a Novell NetWare module.) To upload amodule, you connect a PC to the Compas' RS232 port and then run a PC-basedsoftware program that Microtest provides. After uploading the NT softwaremodule, I searched for domain controllers, viewed the results of a Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol (DHCP) discovery, and performed a Windows NT HostSummary. It checked the DNS and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) serverlists to verify and locate a machine on the network.

Internet tests provided some of the most useful information, such as the IPSummary, which listed all the known IP addresses on the network. Other featuresincluded Duplicate IP Address detection and IP Trace Route. The IP TraceRoute provided detailed routing information when I connected the Compas to aserver over the Internet. This feature compiled a listing of the router pathsand displayed all the IP addresses. The IP Trace Route function parallelsNT's TRACERT command. (The Duplicate IP Address function serves those networksthat don't have DHCP; because our network has DHCP, I did not test thisfeature.)

Detailing is one of the Compas' best features. It gives youa detailed summary of specific items, such as routers, protocols, servers, andhosts or clients. For instance, I detailed our Primary Domain Controller (PDC),and Compas listed all the services the PDC provided for the network.

The Compas contains a glossary of network terms, acronyms, and otherhelpful information. For example, while detailing PDC, I saw "MBR"--aterm I didn't immediately recognize--and the Help function identified MBR asMaster Browser.

More Features
Another useful feature is the error diagnostics option. By pressingDIAGNOSE, I displayed information on segment utilization, collision percentage,and error rate. When I detailed segment utilization, I saw a graphical overviewof the top three users' segment utilization, and a graph of each user's donationto the general flow of network traffic. That's a feature I appreciated becausethis type of information usually is available only on more expensive diagnostictools. Compas also comes with other options such as Top Talkers, Top Protocols,Top Error Sources, and Top Broadcasters, features usually associated with muchmore expensive tools.

Another feature I appreciated was the length of battery life. Aftercharging the battery for only three hours, I was able to continue past themanufacturer's specified six-hour life without any trouble or signs that thebattery was approaching an unusable voltage level.

I loved the Compas because it provided a handheld, powerful diagnostictool. It is not meant to replace your expensive network monitoring software, butit is designed to augment it by providing quick, informative information aboutyour network. Because of its price, however, I recommend Compas to only thoseworking in large companies with widely distributed users and office functions.