Rethinking Web-based management

One debate that still needs to be settled with midsize network management tools is what interface to use with them.

One side of the argument maintains that Web-based interfaces are the best, since they offer the most flexibility in a multiplatform environment. It's one of the major areas that Heroix Corp. is focusing on for the future, according to product manager Brian Collins, because the ability to access and manage a network from anywhere becomes that much more important.

"We have a Web-based event monitor now, but we expect requests will come from customers to actually manage and change the network over the Web," he said.

Breakout Software also assumed a Web interface would be the best, and from day one it used Microsoft Corp. Internet Explorer to present its MonitorIT tool to its users. But company officials have rethought that position. "Not everybody reacted well to a Web-based interface from the security perspective," said Floyd Roberts, Break.out's chief executive officer. "Plus, you pay a certain performance price when you do remote access through the Web, so now I'm not sure that everyone assumes [people] want a Web interface."