Emitec Delivers Scalable OPNET APM Solution to Swiss Bank with Anue Systems

By John

I recently attended a web briefing at which Emitec, a leading Switzerland-based APM and network services firm, described how they helped one of their clients exceed APM objectives with an integrated solution from OPNET and Anue Systems.

Challenges – A large Swiss Bank shared the following challenges with Emitec:

• Small team of performance specialists needed to support more (and more critical) applications with a very tight budget

• Desired monitoring of end user experience and ability to quickly resolve performance trouble tickets

• 23 different access points (SPAN/Taps) needed to be passively monitored in their asymmetric network across two data centers

• SPAN/Tap shortages due to security probes already using available access points

• High bandwidth monitoring requirements since eight of the 23 links to be monitored were 10G

Approach – The Anue Net Tool Optimizer (NTO) was implemented between network access points to enhance network traffic visibility for the APM platform. OPNET AppResponse Xpert was selected over rival technologies to meet the APM requirements.

• APM – The OPNET APM Xpert suite enabled the client to start with 24x7 application transaction monitoring, packet storage, and network analysis, while providing integrated software add-ons for dependency mapping, SNMP reporting, database monitoring, and pre-deployment application testing.

• Aggregation & Filtering - The Anue NTO was implemented to aggregate traffic from the 23 SPANs/TAPs and direct it to the OPNET appliance after filtering out irrelevant traffic.

• Planning ahead -- Anue's new de-duplication feature has not been activated, but is expected to eliminate 50% of duplicate traffic that is typically generated by VLAN SPAN ports. This was envisioned as important for freeing up CPU on the OPNET appliance to enable tailored "web transaction reports" for new applications in queue for deployment from other departments.

Results

• Rapid deployment of OPNET AppResponse Xpert impressed the client ("obvious value on first day")

• Exceeded the bank's technical objectives without the headcount they initially thought they would need to add

• No interference with security department's probes thanks to SPAN/Tap sharing

• Similar integrated solution was subsequently purchased for a second datacenter