In the immediate, it is more work. In the long run, when we can see
useful data about not only customers who are having problems, but about
a large segment of our customer base, it becomes largely beneficial.
With the software tool we are using, we can look at average connect rates,
etc. correlated the way we need them, when we need it.
As an example, after upgrading some of our racks to 3.8.2, I was able to
use the data to see that over the three day window following the upgrade,
our average connection speeds [1] to the upgraded modems increased while
average connection speeds to non-upgraded pools were rather stagnant.
We've been using a package called "AccessRamp" for several months now.
Currently, AccessRamp dialers are only available for the Win95 platform.
Here's how it works:
-- Users download and install the software on their machines.
-- AccessRamp logs each and every connection to a text file.
-- When the user makes a successful connection, it uploads the logged
information for all prior successful/unsuccessful attempts it has in
the log, and then removes it from the log (so as not to fill up the
user's HD).
-- The company which makes AccessRamp receives the data directly,
correlates it and produces real-time reports we view over the web.
They will also transfer the raw data to you upon request. (We have
them FTP it to us automatically.)
The drawbacks:
-- Possible compatibility issues with programs that use ARMON32.
However, while typing this I called our contact at InverseNet, and
he indicated that there are new builds available which hopefully
correct that.
-- We seem to have a hard time getting our support reps to regularly
recommend the product to users. One of our support managers actually
told me last week "we only recommend it to users who are having
problems." (That's changing, quickly.)
The product page is at http://www.inversenet.com/products/ip-insight/.
They've bundled the AccessRamp product in with their IPInsight suite, as
the "Connection Performance" module.
-CA
Christopher Allen
Network Administrator
Northwest Link
http://www.nwlink.com
cra@nwlink.com
(425) 451-1151 ext. 128
[1] AccessRamp only reports the initial connection spped - it does not
report renegotiations or retrains once the connection is established.
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