Paessler Announces Latest Version of PRTG Network Monitor; Introduces Continuous Rollout Software Deployment Model

BURLINGTON, Mass. and NUREMBERG, Germany, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Paessler AG, the innovative network monitoring solutions specialist, today announced the upcoming availability of version 12.2 of its PRTG Network Monitor software, as well as its adoption of a continuous rollout software release model that will provide users with new product features and improvements immediately after testing.

PRTG Network Monitor version 12.2 follows this past January's release of version 9.2. Paessler's "skipping" of versions 10 and 11 reflects the company's adoption of a new product rollout model under which users with a maintenance contract will continuously receive PRTG Network Monitor's current version. Version 12.2, for example, refers to 2012's second quarter. Each version update within a given quarter will also carry a four digit "build number" for unique identification.

"Our team has worked hard on this trendsetting transition to the continuous rollout model, embodied in PRTG Network Monitor version 12.2," said Dirk Paessler, Paessler CEO. "Given that our customers work in complex IT environments that are constantly changing, we want them to benefit from new software features, enhancements and improvements immediately after our team develops and tests them, instead of having to wait an extended period of time for a major new version with several upgraded features."

Version 12.2 builds upon PRTG Network Monitor 9.2 with new features including a so-called "Configuration Guru," new sensor types, and interactive geo-maps. In addition to Google Maps, version 12.2 enables the integration of geographical maps including MapQuest, with data from the Open Street Map project, Nokia Maps, and CloudMade.

The inclusion of interactive geo-maps provides users with easy-to-view status information for devices or entire groups from PRTG in a map, especially useful for globally distributed networks where the overall conditions of many separate sites are color coded and are viewable on one common geographical map. This enhancement also provides an interactive zoom feature for increased flexibility. In addition, the improved "Toplists" feature enables the administrator to quickly understand the current traffic pattern in the network by providing advanced visualization of flow and packet sniffer data with more varied and detailed diagrams than ever before.

PRTG Network Monitor 12.2's "Configuration Guru" guides users through initial set-up, asking pertinent questions about the network environment and, in response, automatically selecting and setting up the first set of sensors to be used. The new version's new sensor types include those for monitoring a VMware host's health status, SharePoint processes, IIS web services, VPN-connections and traffic on a Cisco ASA, SIP options "Ping" on a SIP server, Google Analytics values, Ping times measured via a remote system using WMI, as well as a sensor for monitoring XEN host servers.

"We're implementing this continuous rollout model and have introduced the latest software version's enhancements as we've always done, by integrating customer feedback, experiences and suggestions into each of our development processes," Paessler said. "Working in two- to- three-week spurts, our team will continually deliver improvements. The version number will ultimately become redundant and customers on an active maintenance contract can rest assured that they will always have access to the latest version."

Under the continuous rollout model, PRTG Network Monitor users can choose between three delivery channels: stable, preview, and canary. The stable channel delivers the most conservative, thoroughly tested software versions once or twice monthly, as well as significant bug fixes. The more frequently updated preview channel provides successfully tested new features and fixes to users more quickly, helping Paessler test new developments "in the wild." The canary channel provides "nightly builds," and will usually be updated daily. Code comes directly from the company's development floor; users therefore should only use such versions in test scenarios.

Regardless of the chosen channel, PRTG Network Monitor customers under the new continuous rollout model benefit from the best, most up-to-date version as soon as it becomes available, rather than having to wait for the next major release.

For more information, visit http://www.paessler.com/.

About Paessler AG:
Paessler AG leads the industry in providing the most powerful, affordable and easy-to-use network monitoring and testing solutions. The company's suite of just-right software products deliver peace of mind, confidence and convenience for businesses of all sizes – from Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) to large enterprises, including more than 70% of the Fortune 100 companies. Based in Nuremberg, Germany, Paessler's global reach includes more than 150,000 active installations of its products. Founded in 1997, Paessler AG remains a privately held company and is recognized as both a member of the Cisco Developer Network and a VMWare Technology Alliance Partner. For more information, visit www.paessler.com. 

SOURCE Paessler AG