Micromuse Unveils Netcool/Precision v1.0; Root-Cause Analysis Software Deploys Off the Shelf To Pinpoint the Location of Layer 2 and 3 Faults in Realtime

Business Wire, June 28, 2000

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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2000

Micromuse Inc. (Nasdaq: MUSE), the leading provider of fault and service-level management software, today announced the availability of Netcool(R)/Precision(TM) version 1.0, its offering for the root-cause analysis and auto-discovery market space. The application, which is based on technology obtained in Micromuse's acquisition of Calvin Alexander Networking (CAN), Inc. last November, has been fully integrated with the Netcool ObjectServer(TM), a high-speed in-memory database that is the core component of the Netcool suite. In realtime, Netcool/Precision allows operations center personnel to pinpoint the most highly probable location of Layer 2 and Layer 3 faults down to the port/slot address.

The Netcool/Precision application includes a hyper-accurate and reliable network topology server and probable fault engine. These components work together to analyze network-wide fault information received from more than 200 environments by the Netcool ObjectServer, allowing Netcool/Precision to isolate sources of network problems that could potentially disrupt network-based business services. Using patent-pending Network Slice(TM) technology, Netcool/Precision creates a realtime picture of paths through which data traverses the network. It discovers the most probable cause of the fault at the actual data entry and departure port/slot on a given router or switch, then presents a live ranking of all possible faults in the Netcool EventList(TM). This list provides operators with the information they need to immediately begin troubleshooting the problem.

"Our goal is to develop realtime, distributed, scalable, vendor-independent technology solutions that empower service providers and enterprise customers to effectively manage their offerings," said Michael Wood, Micromuse's Senior Vice President, Software Development and co-founder of CAN, who conceived and designed the technology. "Netcool/Precision meets that goal by providing a true root-cause analysis technology that is rapid, accurate, and readily adaptable to the ever changing communication industry."

The Netcool/Precision application allows operations personnel to target key business and technology issues such as:

-- What faults do we need to troubleshoot to get my network fully operational again?

-- Is it one of the hundreds of reported alarms or something else?

-- What are the actual paths used for communications in my network?

-- What devices are on my network now and what state are they in?

"By extending the boundaries of traditional root cause analysis tools, Micromuse is furthering its Netcool suite to help address key business issues," said Elisabeth Rainge, Program Manager with IDC in Framingham, Mass. "Netcool/Precision delivers the functionality that will allow service providers and enterprises to provide ongoing multi-layer network monitoring and automated fault analysis, allowing them to maintain the uptime of their business services."

"It is critical to our business processes that we have a firm grasp on our network topology to maintain an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of the availability of services we are delivering," said Clint Summers, Director of the Network Operations Center at Urban Media, a nationwide telecommunications services provider. "Netcool/Precision will integrate with our existing Netcool applications to help us to maintain and support our growing infrastructure from the ground up by automating the most difficult part of the troubleshooting process."

The Network Slice technology discovers the actual paths of IP packets between two points - showing the departure/entry addresses of all devices it traverses in between - enabling network operations personnel to discover the problem efficiently and effectively. The Network Slice collects relevant data on multiple levels, rather than just merely routing logical topology information or MAC layer data. With this approach, Netcool/Precision detects moves, adds or changes of devices. Netcool/Precision keeps topology data current providing accurate Network Slices by not only calculating physical path definitions, but by understanding how various vendors' Layer 2 devices (hubs and switches) and Layer 3 devices (routers) are interconnected in data networks. This also allows it to determine the location of unmanaged devices.

Netcool/ Precision surpasses existing root-cause offerings by providing up-to-date information that immediately reflects changes made to the physical and logical network. In addition, Netcool/Precision has the advantage of determining the cause of faults, alerts, and alarms reported by Netcool applications to the Netcool ObjectServer. As the fault information fed into the Netcool ObjectServer increases, the probability that Netcool/Precision will identify the source of the fault also increases.

Netcool/Precision will be made available on Friday, June 30th, as scheduled.