Network General

Network General. It was a pioneering American corporation that specialized in network analysis and network management software. Founded during the rapid expansion of local area networks, the company became famous for its Sniffer product line, which set the standard for packet capture and protocol analysis. Its tools were essential for network administrators and engineers diagnosing problems in complex enterprise network environments throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

History

The company was founded in 1986 in Menlo Park, California by Harry Saal, who previously worked at Nestar Systems and IBM. Its creation coincided with the proliferation of Ethernet and Token Ring networks in corporate information technology departments. A major early milestone was the 1987 release of its flagship Sniffer analyzer, which quickly became an indispensable tool for troubleshooting. Throughout the late 1980s, Network General expanded aggressively, establishing a strong sales presence across North America and Europe. The initial public offering in 1992 provided capital for further growth and acquisitions, including the purchase of Vitalink Communications' network management division. However, by the mid-1990s, it faced intense competition from larger players like Hewlett-Packard and Novell.

Products

The core of its portfolio was the Sniffer Network Analyzer, a combination of specialized network interface controller hardware and sophisticated decoding software. This system could capture and interpret traffic from various LAN technologies, including Ethernet, Token Ring, and Fiber Distributed Data Interface. The company later developed the Distributed Sniffer System, which allowed centralized monitoring from a Sun Microsystems workstation. Other significant products included the Sniffer Portable for field engineers and the Expert Sniffer, which incorporated an artificial intelligence engine for automated diagnosis. These tools supported a wide array of protocols, from Transmission Control Protocol to Novell NetWare and Systems Network Architecture.

Corporate affairs

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, Network General was led for most of its existence by Harry Saal, who served as both Chief executive officer and Chairman. The company's 1992 IPO was underwritten by major firms like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Its acquisition strategy aimed to broaden its technical capabilities, leading to the purchase of assets from Vitalink Communications and Frontier Software Development. In 1997, facing market consolidation and competitive pressures, the company was acquired by McAfee Associates, which was later itself subsumed into Network Associates. The Sniffer product line continued under new ownership, eventually becoming part of NetScout Systems.

Technology and protocols

The technological innovation of Network General centered on its ability to perform real-time packet capture at wire speed on burgeoning local area networks. Its analyzers used promiscuous mode operations to intercept all traffic on a network segment for detailed protocol analysis. The software provided deep decoding for critical standards like Internet Protocol, Internetwork Packet Exchange, and AppleTalk. A landmark development was the introduction of the Expert Sniffer system, which used a rule-based system to emulate the decision-making of a senior network engineer. This knowledge base could identify common issues such as broadcast storms, routing loops, and collision problems on Ethernet networks.

Legacy and impact

Network General is widely credited with creating and defining the commercial network analyzer market, making the term "sniffer" synonymous with packet analysis. Its tools were critical for the operational stability of early corporate networks and internet service provider backbones. The technology and methodologies pioneered by the company influenced subsequent generations of network management software from vendors like WildPackets and Wireshark. The Sniffer product name endured for decades, becoming a foundational tool for network security professionals and digital forensics experts. The company's story is a classic example of Silicon Valley innovation, addressing a critical need during the explosive growth of business computing.

Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States Category:Companies based in San Mateo County, California Category:Computer network monitoring