NETSCOUT Further Reduces MTTR with New nGenius Solution Versions

16 Apr 2007

Fusion of Flow-based Aggregate Views with Detailed Packet-Level Analysis Accelerates Troubleshooting

WESTFORD, Mass., Apr 16, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT), the industry pace-setter for advanced network and service assurance solutions, today announced substantial upgrades to two products with the release of nGenius(R) Application Fabric Monitor (AFMon) 4.0 and nGenius(R) Performance Manager 4.0. One of the most compelling features announced today is the tight integration of flow and packet-based information, enabling network managers to quickly zero in on a potential problem through high-level views and then "drill-down" to packet detail to verify and analyze it.

The combination of the two products lets the user seamlessly roam from weekly, daily, hourly, minute-by-minute through millisecond resolution within a single session and via a single log-in. In one customer's network, the streamlined workflow of the nGenius Solution has sliced the Mean Time To Restore (MTTR) by an astounding 75 percent.

"More often than not, what network managers need isn't simply to bulk up the infrastructure, but better capabilities for monitoring, optimizing and managing the network in support of application service performance," said Dennis Drogseth, vice president with Enterprise Management Associates. "Troubleshooting and optimizing based on interdependencies across the infrastructure and between the infrastructure and the services it delivers - including intermittent problems such as interface flaps and random link traffic delays - will help provide better and more cost-effective service performance, and provide collaborative resources to help network and application managers work more effectively together."

Additional new functionality announced today includes:

-- New configurations. The nGenius AFMon is now available in 2, 4 and 8 TB storage configurations, for broader, more flexible, and more cost-effective alternatives, with pricing starting at $39,995.

-- FIX protocol support. The 4.0 versions announced today provide support for the Financial Information eXchange (FIX) Protocol, a messaging standard developed specifically for the real-time electronic exchange of securities transactions. While other products support only decodes for FIX, the nGenius Solution supports monitoring, reporting and alarming for volumes of discrete FIX-based applications and further tracks response times for actual FIX Orders.

-- Improved nGenius Solution for NetFlow and IP SLA. This version includes a cost-effective solution for high-density NetFlow projects. NetScout has also added integrated high-value analysis of IP SLA tests, such as DHCP, DNS, ICMP echo (network), TCP Socket Connect, UDP jitter for VoIP, and Web Page retrieval tests.

-- MTTR Enhancements. Several enhancements are aimed at hastening MTTR, including the addition of microburst alarms, virtual circuit alarming, and application discovery within previously undefined traffic - all of which allow for quicker identification of elusive or intermittent performance problems.

"As the amount of mission-critical data flowing over the network continues exponential growth, business opportunity hinges on the network and network management is receiving more and more executive-level attention," said Michael Szabados, NetScout's chief operating officer. "Shipments of nGenius AFMons tripled from the first half of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 to the second half. This strong trend confirms that the ability to seamlessly navigate between flow data and packet data is no longer viewed as a nice-to-have-- it is a must-have to get to the heart of intermittent problems that can negatively impact the bottom line. Customers can depend upon NetScout to continue developing and delivering next-generation tools to ensure the network team is primed to reduce MTTR."

Availability

The new versions of nGenius Performance Manager and nGenius AFMon are shipping now, and upgrades are available to existing customers for no additional cost under the company's MasterCare program.

To read more about the nGenius AFMon, go to http://www.netscout.com/products/afpm_home.asp?cpid=otc-pr&date=2007- 04-16 (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About NetScout Systems

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT) has been the industry pace-setter for advanced network and service assurance solutions for over a decade, and counts the world's largest enterprises, government agencies, and service providers among its customers. Enterprise and government IT organizations deploy NetScout's nGenius(R) Performance Management System to increase service levels to their users by reducing or preventing service disruptions. Service providers depend on NetScout's proven IP performance management technology and expertise to protect the quality of their customers' experience with IP-based services. NetScout is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts and has offices worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.netscout.com.

NetScout and the NetScout logo, nGenius, and Quantiva are registered trademarks of NetScout Systems, Inc. The CDM logo, MasterCare, Progressive Analytics and the MasterCare logo, are trademarks of NetScout Systems, Inc. Other brands, product names and trademarks are property of their respective owners. NetScout reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to make changes at any time in its technical information and specifications, and service and support programs.

SOURCE: NetScout Systems, Inc.

NetScout Systems, Inc.
Christine Johansen, 978-614-4113
johansenc@netscout.com
or
Davies Murphy Group, Inc.
Brian Alberti, 781-418-2403
netscout@daviesmurphy.com