Cloud Monitoring by InterMapper Keeps Track of Amazon ec2 Instances

New tool extends InterMapper’s network monitoring capabilities to Cloud computing

West Lebanon, NH - September 2, 2009 - Dartware has just released Cloud Monitoring by InterMapper, a new plug-in for Amazon Web Service’s (AWS) CloudWatch technology. InterMapper, Dartware’s network monitoring and mapping software, uses the new AWS API, to keep track of performance metrics for Amazon ec2 Instances and alerts systems administrators to threshold violations.

“Network managers know how important it is to monitor network performance,” says Rich Brown, CEO of Dartware. “It was a natural move for us to extend InterMapper’s network performance monitoring and reporting capabilities to the cloud. Any business-critical service requires careful monitoring and management and there’s no better way to ensure cloud operations that with a proven network management solution.”

The main benefit of cloud computing is reduced cost and management overhead. Cloud Monitoring with InterMapper is designed to preserve those benefits by carefully tracking performance and activity while imposing very minimal overhead. “Cloud service costs escalate when auto-scaling mechanisms add Amazon ec2 virtual servers on demand or when misconfigurations and bugs send processes out of control,” explains Brown. “By carefully tracking performance, InterMapper quickly points to Instances that might need to be reined in.”

Other benefits include:

• simple deployment for newly launched virtual servers
• deep process level monitoring and detail performance analysis
• maintenance of historical data to enable root failure analysis

Cloud Monitoring with InterMapper taps into AWS CloudWatch metrics to report on CPU utilization (percent used), disk reads and writes (bytes per second), disk read and write operations, , and network in and out (bytes per second). Network managers specify which parameters and processes will be monitored on each virtual server and set threshold values that will trigger notifications. Two tables, one that lists monitored Instances and the other that tracks metric history, provide easy access to management and diagnostic information.

Testing indicates that Cloud Monitor takes 10 – 15 minutes to set up. A free, community version of Cloud Monitoring with InterMapper monitors up to 5 ec2 Instances through one InterMapper client. The community license can be automatically upgraded to accommodate more ec2 Instances by purchasing a commercial license. More information can be found at www.intermapper.com.

About Dartware – www.intermapper.com - Dartware, LLC develops the InterMapper® network mapping and monitoring software with an integrated NetFlow analyzer. InterMapper earns a quick return on investment by proactively alerting administrators to potential slow-downs, crashes, and other business interruptions. Its real-time, color-coded maps and other displays provide users with an instant view of their network including device status and bandwidth usage. Dartware's software is installed in financial services, healthcare, retail, education, government, non-profit, WISP and ISP organizations around the world.