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NetDecoder (16 SEP 2008)

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Release Notes
Free Viewer/Demo

Network communications problems come at you fast. Frontline is committed to doing everything possible to help you keep pace. Our chief goal is to provide the tools you need to tune and optimize networks in order to reduce down time and increase production. Stay ahead in the troubleshooting game: Get Control.

LATEST

Status

Download Version

Notes

Windows XP

Production

8.7.12.0

1-4

Attention: Starting with version 8.7.10.0 of NetDecoder, a new serial number will be required in order to install and activate your analyzer. Assuming your Premium Maintenance is in effect, this will be provided free of charge.

If you�re downloading a demo, or you already have a serial number for version 8.x,, click here.

Otherwise, if you need a new serial number click here.

To check on your Premium Maintenance and to find your current serial number, click on Help -> About in NetDecoder, your PM expiration date will be displayed.

Status

Download Version

Notes

Windows XP

Legacy

8.2.8.0

5-7

Windows XP & 2000

Legacy

NetDecoder 5.1

8-22

Windows 98

Legacy

NetDecoder 3.30.2.147

Other Information

Free Viewer

The Free Capture File Viewer is installed by selecting "File Viewer" when prompted during installation.

Demo

FTS software has a built-in fully functional demo mode. Just select "Demonstration" when prompted during installation. Note: The Demo does not allow live data capture from your network. It uses a previously captured data to simulate live capture

Status

PRODUCTION products are fully supported and thoroughly tested.

LEGACY products are kept active as a service convenience to customers who have not upgraded to Windows XP. These products are not guaranteed to operate at maximum efficiency and do not include tech support.

Release Notes - Current Version 8.7.12.0

1.	Frontline is pleased to announce the release of a new feature for our communications analyzers which will provide copy protection along with the ability to move/park the software license. This feature will be included in the Serialtest�, Ethertest�, MeshDecoder�, and NetDecoder� analyzers. The release of these analyzers with copy protection will occur in early September.
2.	The Frontline copy protected software can be activated via the Internet, with manual browser activation or with manual activation via email request or a telephone call to Frontline. More detailed information on the license protection functionality and activation options is available in a separate document. (Installing, Activating, and Managing Frontline Test System (FTS) Products. This NetDecoder version captures communications to a single file or to a series of files. By default, the analyzer comes ready to capture to a single file, but the file size selection and the capture to a series of files selection can be viewed by clicking on Options and then Systems Settings. Control Window with Network View and New Dashboard Buttons
3.	View the video for the Ethernet Network View feature.
4.	View the new Dashboard video. Key Dashboard View features: Provides a high level view of the key Ethernet network activities. Includes a 10-minute history of network utilization, statistics on the top talkers (with a histogram for high traffic activities). A speed meter with background color change alert for high network utilization. A meter to show bad packets percentage. A meter to show the top talker percentage. A chart for protocol specific activity. User-defined alarms with email notification will define a group of allowable IP addresses and NetDecoder will let you know when an unauthorized IP address is detected. As a reminder, the NetDecoder Communications Analyzer is a passive Ethernet network monitoring software which works through the Network Interface Card in most PCs.

Release Notes - Version 8.2.8.0

This NetDecoder version captures communications to a single file or to a series of files. By default, the analyzer comes ready to capture to a single file, but the file size selection and the capture to a series of files selection can be viewed by clicking on Options and then Systems Settings.

Control Window with Modified Save Functionality

Also included in this version is decoding for ProfiNet communications traffic. ProfiNet communications decoding is presented in an easy to view format. This format assists in easily understanding what is being communicated along with powerful filtering to get at the section of the communications traffic that you want to view. When combined with the Network View and Dashboard View functionality, NetDecoder becomes a powerful network diagnostic tool.

In addition to the customer requested Network View, which was released in August, is the new Ethernet Dashboard View. The Dashboard View provides a high level view of the key activities occurring on the Ethernet communications network. Key features of this release includes a 10-minute history of network utilization, statistics on the top ten talkers (with a histogram for each), a speed meter with background color change alert for high network utilization, a meter to show bad packets percentage and a meter to show the top talker percentage. Also included is a chart for specific protocol activity. User-defined alarms with email notification will be coming in the next version. The Dashboard includes user definable alarms with e-mail notification when an alarm is triggered. You may define a group of allowable IP addresses and NetDecoder will let you know when an unauthorized IP address is detected.

As a reminder, the NetDecoder Communications Analyzer is a passive Ethernet network monitoring software which works through the Network Interface Card in most PCs.

Release Notes - Prior Versions

8.	To upgrade from 5.1 to any new version contact sales for a new serial number.
9.	NetDecoder's new "Ethernet Network View" enables you to see the statistics on specific nodes, including communications traffic details and node information on all active nodes on the monitored side of the switch. Selectable views enable you to see Packets Transmitted and Received, Bytes Transmitted and Received, IP Addresses, MAC Addresses and more. You can even give each node a "User- Friendly Name" (such as PLC#2, Pump Station #2, etc.).
10.	Training videos on NetDecoder's Network View and NetDecoder Analyzer functionality are available to view in the NetDecoder section of this website.
11.	A ControlNet Decoder is now included in the NetDecoder decoder library.
12.	NetDecoder now has compatibility with Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). It adds many improvements to IPv4 in areas such as routing and network auto-configuration.
13.	As the result of customer feedback, you will also notice in this version that Frontline has updated the tool bar Icons in most displays. Some Icons have been changed to more closely represent their function.
14.	New enhancements have been made to "print" capability. The new print capability gives you options for printing out information in NetDecoder's Frame Display. Selecting options, as shown in the above screen shot of NetDecoder's Frame Display Print feature, results in a print-out as illustrated in the Print Preview screen shot below. You can also choose an option so that the print-out includes the decode information for each Frame number
	Other Features (Introduced with v7.2.1)
15.	NetDecoder has a new interface for launching the desired sniffer.
16.	Right-click filtering is now available.
17.	Display filter results are now placed into a tab on Frame Display and as a Named Frame Filter on Protocol Navigator.
18.	Event Display Export to HTML, CSV or text format - HTML and text formats look as similar as possible to the Event Display window.
19.	A View install is supported by all products.
20.	A Demo install is supported by all products.
	Other Features (Introduced with v5.1
21.	DH+ ( Data Highway Plus) Statistics Module: The new DH+ statistics module truly analyzes and summarizes both your individual nodes and the network traffic generated by those nodes. Features include: Active Devices and Health of Devices Top Talkers, Top Listeners and Top Conversations Token Rotation Time, Token Utilization and Time Token Held Device Response Times Event Log that lists problems seen on the network
22.	DeviceNet Support: The new DeviceNet decoder supports DeviceNet Objects with class and instance sizes of 8/8, 8/16, 16/8, and 16/16. The analyzer must be connected to the network when the master devices first establish their connection parameters with each slave device for explicit unconnected messages. This allows auto discovery of the class and instance parameters so that responses can be properly decoded. Otherwise, all class and instance sizes default to 8/8. top

Contact

For further information regarding pre-release software and protocol decoders, please contact our sales department at (800) 359-8570 or +1 434-984-4500 or send email to Sales@fte.com.

More questions? Contact Frontline Technical Support.