Marketing: Market Positioning
FCAPS
FCAPS is the ISO Telecommunications Management Network model and
framework for network management. It is an accepted standard for identifying the
major tasks in network monitoring. Different products will address different areas
(some products may focus only on one category, and some may provide
solutions to multiple categories to some measure).
The five areas are:
 Fault Detection
 Configuration Management
 Accounting Management
 Performance Management
 Security Management
PathSolutions’ Support for FCAPS
Category
Fault Detection
PathSolutions Note
Strong
PathSolutions detects network faults no
matter where they lie (any link, any device).
No competitor comes close to our broad
coverage in this area.
Configuration
Management
Basic
PathSolutions includes some components that
assist with configuration management, but is
not a complete configuration management
platform. A TFTP server is included, and
there are scripts on the PathSolutions website
that help with automating device configuration
backups.
Accounting
Management
Strong
PathSolutions performs well in this area due
to its ability to measure every link in the entire
network for usage. Individual users can be
billed according to this usage if desired.
Performance
Management
Strong
PathSolutions excels in this area due to the
fact that we have a lot of metrics for each
interface on the entire network. If an issue
occurs that affects performance it will be
immediately detected and an alert generated
so resolution can immediately be applied.
Security
Management
n/a
PathSolutions does not have any capabilities
that enhance network security.
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Summary of PathSolutions Offering
Feature
Description
Problem Prevention
Insures that all network devices and links are
healthy and won’t incur any problems.
Faster Trouble Resolution
Discloses exactly when, where, and why
network problems occur.
Advanced Netflow
Discloses WHO’s taking up bandwidth and
WHAT they are doing in real-time
Outage Notification
Tracks availability of devices on the network
as well as link status. Includes device
parent/child relationships for intelligent
notifications.
Wan Dashboard
Dynamic Network Map discloses real-time
utilization and status of all WAN links
Network Device Inventory
Reports on device internal capabilities as
well as Cisco serial numbers and OS
versions. Includes downloadable Excel
spreadsheet
Service Contract Tracking
Monthly reports on service contract status
and expiration dates
Device Event Logging
Built-in syslog server with alerting capability
Device Config Backups
Built-in TFTP server
Complimentary S olutions
 Sniffers/Packet analyzers
o Wireshark
o Etherreal
o Netmon
 Hardware cable testers
o Fluke
o Agilent
 Network configuration & change management software
o SolarWinds Orion Network Config Manager
o NetCordia
o ManageEngine DeviceExpert
 Intrusion detection/Security management
 Application performance monitoring (perfect compliment to this solution)
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Competition

Network Performance & Fault Monitoring
o SolarWinds Orion Network Performance Monitor
o WhatsUp Gold
o HP OpenView Network Node Manager
o CiscoWorks Internetwork Performance Manager
o CA eHealth Performance Manager
o NetIQ AppManager Performance Profiler
o IBM Tivoli Network Manager
o ManageEngine OpManager
o NetScout nGenius Performance Manager
o Nimsoft NimBus

SNMP Graphing tools
o MRTG/RRD Tool
o CastleRock SNMPc
o Paessler PRTG
o Cacti
o Nagios
Typical Budget Sources

IT Network Operations
o Network Management Tools
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