This is the README.TXT file for Net Inspector LITE

Copyright (C) 1996, 1999 by MG-SOFT Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Table of contents
-----------------

1. About Net Inspector
2. Net inspector LITE
3. How to unlock the evaluation version
4. Net Inspector ordering information
5. Related products by MG-SOFT Corporation
6. Licensing agreement
7. Contacting MG-SOFT Corporation


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1. About Net Inspector
----------------------

Thank you for using Net Inspector, a general remote management system
running on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT platforms.

For successful management of a distributed system you have to use
efficient management tools. Management tools are usually designed for
specific distributed systems like computer networks or public switch
networks and they support a proprietary management protocol. Generally,
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used for the management of
the distributed computer system. But there are still many devices that 
support only proprietary management protocols.

Net Inspector is a network management integration tool which offers an
easy way to manage different types of devices in distributed systems.
Managed devices can support either a standard management protocol (SNMP)
or a proprietary protocol. Net Inspector can manage such heterogeneous
distributed systems. Net Inspector’s extensibility is achieved with
various plug-in module interfaces (Proxy Front-end Server plug-in modules
for communicating with various devices, Plug-out Client Connect modules
for connecting various front-end consoles).

Net Inspector is scaleable. It is available in three versions. Net
Inspector Lite edition is a standalone management platform which integrates
functionality of the Client and Server mode. Net Inspector Client/Server
edition allows distributed management. The Server module can run only on
Win32 platforms, while Client modules can be Win32 or Java applications.
In the Net Inspector Enterprise edition multiple servers can be deployed
in clusters


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2. Net Inspector LITE
---------------------

Net Inspector LITE edition is a standalone management platform which
integrates functionality of the Client and Server modules and provides
framework for graphical presentation of managed devices, event/alarm
collecting, logging and dispatching and an interface (API) for 
Proxy Front-end Server (PFS) plug-in modules.

Net Inspector platform can be used for managing devices running either
SNMP agents or devices that support a proprietary management protocol.

By developing the appropriate PFS plug-in module that supports a given
proprietary protocol, you can manage that type of device from the Net
Inspector desktop. That means that it is possible to manage different
types of devices on different types of networks, simultaneously from
the same desktop.

Graphical Presentation
----------------------
Net Inspector offers an easy way for setting up a graphical presentation
of network nodes on the network. This presentation is based on a principle
of maps and sub maps. Devices and sub maps are presented as icons on a map.

Sub maps can be opened by clicking on the sub map icons. The map can also
contain bitmaps, text and other graphical objects.

Event Collecting, Logging and Alarming
--------------------------------------
Net Inspector's Event Manager is a central system for collecting events
from  managed devices and notifying the user about the changed status
of the managed device. This system enables collecting, saving (logging)
and dispatching events to map objects and to appropriate messengers.
Messenger units (E-Mail, WWW, ...) send event reports using their own
protocols to desired recipients. Event reports can be daily, weekly,
monthly or urgent (alarm).

PFS Plug-in Modules
-------------------
Functionality of Net Inspector depends on the number and type of
installed PFS (proxy front-end server) plug-in modules that conform
to the Net Inspector's PFS API.

The Net Inspector PFS API defines an interface between remote agents
(devices that we want to manage) and Net Inspector. Communication
between a PFS and agent can run on any media (LAN, WAN, ISDN, PSTN,
serial, wireless,... ). The PFS plug-in module thus provide a gateway
between a given media/protocol and Net Inspector.

Such architecture enables adding new types of managed devices at
run-time, without a need to modify the Net Inspector software.

By installing and utilizing various PFS modules it is possible to
manage different types of devices on different types of networks,
simultaneously from the same desktop.

Currently Provided PFS Plug-in Modules for Net Inspector
--------------------------------------------------------
In the current version of Net Inspector we provide the following
plug-in modules:

* Standard SNMP PFS module (MG-SOFT WinSNMP-based)
* ICMP Ping PFS module (ICMP/ECHO protocol)
* UDP Echo PFS module (UDP/ECHO protocol)

Besides, an SDK for developing PFS plug-in modules is available.

Net Inspector on the Web
------------------------
The latest information about Net Inspector can be found at
http://www.mg-soft.si/netinsp.html.

You are welcome to download the latest version of Net Inspector
from http://www.mg-soft.si/download.html.

If you would like to be promptly notified about new software
releases, subscribe to our mailing list by filling in the
subscription form at http://www.mg-soft.si/maillist.html.


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3. How to unlock the evaluation version
---------------------------------------

The evaluation version of Net Inspector LITE without a license key 
is capable of monitoring and managing at most 16 devices.

If you wish to evaluate the full featured version of Net Inspector 
LITE on real networks with thousands of devices to monitor and manage, 
do not hesitate to contact us and apply for a FREE 30-day license key 
that will remove all locks from the software.

Please check the details in the enclosed fulleval.txt file or contact 
<sales@mg-soft.si>.


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4. Net Inspector ordering information
-------------------------------------

Please contact <sales@mg-soft.si> for the latest ordering and licensing
information.


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5. Related products by MG-SOFT Corporation
------------------------------------------

MG-SOFT offers the following products for networking software developers
and network managers/troubleshooters:

* MIB Browser Professional    (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgMibBrowserPE.html)
* Net Inspector               (http://www.mg-soft.si/netinsp.html)
* MG-SOFT WinSNMP SDK         (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgWinSNMP.html)
* MG-SOFT WinMIB SDK          (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgmibc.html)
* MG-SOFT MIB Compiler        (http://www.mg-soft.si/mgWinMIB.html)
* MG-SOFT Master Agent        (http://www.mg-soft.si/agent.html)
* SNMP EasyAgent toolkit      (http://www.mg-soft.si/easyagent.html)
* MONET LAN analyzer          (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetla.html)
* MONET SNMP analyzer         (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetsn.html)
* MONET LAN analyzer LITE/LLC (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetllc.html)
* MONET LAN analyzer LITE     (http://www.mg-soft.si/monetlt.html)
* WPDECO32 protocol decoder   (http://www.mg-soft.si/dll-deco.html)

Announcing new releases
-----------------------
Visit http://www.mg-soft.si/announce.html for the latest information
about the scheduled software releases and updates.


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6. Licensing agreement
----------------------

Please check the LICENSE.TXT file for details.


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7. Contacting MG-SOFT Corporation
---------------------------------

For more information about Net Inspector LITE and related products
check the WEB site at URL http://www.mg-soft.si/

You can subscribe to our mailing lists on-line by filling in the
form at URL http://www.mg-soft.si/maillist.html
If you don't have access to the Internet, please let us know by
email that you wish to subscribe and we will add you to the list
of recipients.

Send all questions, suggestions, requests for technical support
and bug reports to:

MG-SOFT Corporation          Phone:  +386 62 2295050
Strossmayerjeva 32A          Fax:    +386 62 2295051
2000 Maribor                 E-mail:  info@mg-soft.si
Slovenia                     Web URL: http://www.mg-soft.si/


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