Reaching out for the right approach

Because no two networks are the same and hundreds of vendors now classify themselves as application management vendors, choosing a product can be a daunting task.

Deciphering which approach a vendor takes will help IT managers decide whether they need a tool that focuses on a specific application or an end-to-end product that can measure the impact of one application on the rest of the network. Analysts also note that IT managers should expect some teething problems because many products are relatively immature and much of their success depends on the installation.

Optimal Networks and NextPoint Networks are two examples of companies that believe application …