Re: Opinions regarding Packeteer Packetshaper & alternatives

["Beechey, Jim" <beechey () NORTHWOOD EDU>]

Paul

We have three 4500 units and continue to receive software updates as Cal
has described.  

If you look at the end of life statement on the packeteer site it says
that software support ends April 30, 2005, however their language is as
follows.  "The last date that Packeteer may release any final software
maintenance releases or bug fixes. After this date, Packeteer may no
longer develop, repair, maintain or test the product software."  While I
have not confirmed this with Packeteer, it sounds to me like they have
chosen to continue, but could end software support at any point.  

http://www.packeteer.com/support/disc_4500.cfm

Jim Beechey
Information Security Manager
Northwood University
beechey () northwood edu
989-837-4169 

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Younker [mailto:Paul.Younker () GREENVILLE EDU] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 10:18 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Opinions regarding Packeteer Packetshaper &
alternatives

We were told both by the VAR from which we purchased the Packetshaper,
and by Packeteer technical support, that we would no longer be able to
receive updates after the end-of-life date, so we did not renew our
contract. I spoke to someone at Packeteer on two separate occasions
regarding the issue and received the same answer both times - that
support was being discontinued for the 4500 and that we would not be
able to receive software updates, even with a contract in place. Could
it be that you have access to the software because you have a valid
contract for your 8500 unit? I suppose it also could be the case that
Packeteer received enough complaints and reversed their position. Either
way, we have decided to move on and are happy with that decision.

I would like to know if we received bad information (from multiple
sources), however.

Paul Younker
Associate Director of Information Technology Greenville College
Greenville, IL
 
618.664.7072
618.664.7172 fax
paul.younker () greenville edu
 
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up
where I intended to be. - Douglas Adams


-----Original Message-----
From: Cal Frye [mailto:cjf () CALFRYE COM]
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 2:22 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Opinions regarding Packeteer Packetshaper &
alternatives

I've been able to download and install the latest image files on my
4500. I just this moment had it update itself to 7.2.1g1. It's not
automatic like Clean Access, and that's for the best, IMHO. I don't see
the obstacle you're seeing.

--Cal Frye, Network Administrator, Oberlin College
   www.ouuf.org, www.calfrye.com
   Say Yes Twice for Oberlin Schools!   www.oberlinyesyes.com

  "I am not blaming those who are resolved to rule, only those who show
an even greater readiness to submit." --Thucydides.


Paul Younker wrote:
> When you say manually update, do you mean researching and identifying 
> new types of traffic and manually creating rules? If so, I don't have 
> the staffing level to spend the time it would take to use the unit 
> manually. That was our initial plan after the discontinuation of 
> service, but it was proving to be a severe productivity drain on my 
> staff trying to keep up with new types of traffic.
>
> Allot referred us to a VAR for the NetEnforcer. I can give you their 
> name off-list if you would like.
>
> Paul Younker
> Associate Director of Information Technology Greenville College 
> Greenville, IL
>  
> 618.664.7072
> 618.664.7172 fax
> paul.younker () greenville edu
>  
> I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended 
> up where I intended to be. - Douglas Adams
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cal Frye [mailto:cjf () CALFRYE COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 1:59 PM
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Opinions regarding Packeteer Packetshaper & 
> alternatives
>
> You can manually update the 4500. We have an 8500 and a 4500, and both

> are operating at version 7.01.g1. It's still doing what we need it to 
> do.
>
> Where did you get your pricing for the Netenforcer? Our indications 
> were it was rather more than our Packetshapers.
>
> --Cal Frye, Network Administrator, Oberlin College
>    www.ouuf.org, www.calfrye.com
>    Say Yes Twice for Oberlin Schools!   www.oberlinyesyes.com
>
>   "A witty saying proves nothing." - Voltaire (1694-1778)
>
>
> Paul Younker wrote:
>
> > We had a Packetshaper 4500 series running on our network for a little 
> > more than 12 months. We didn't use it any longer than that because 
> > Packeteer designated the product as end-of-life and discontinued the 
> > software updates for the product. Without the software (and protocol
> > identification) updates, the product's usefulness is severely limited.
> > Our only option with Packeteer was to spend an additional significant 
> > amount of money to upgrade to a 6500 unit a little over a year after 
> > buying the 4500 unit.
> >
> > We are now in the process of evaluating a demo (new) NetEnforcer. 
> > Based upon the information we have received, it appears unlikely that 
> > Allot will arbitrarily discontinue updates for the products they sell.
>
>
> > Our very initial impressions of the NetEnforcer are that it is 
> > superior to the Packetshaper for a substantially smaller investment. I
>
>
> > will be extremely reluctant to purchase any products from Packeteer in
>
>
> > the future.
> >
> > Paul Younker
> > Associate Director of Information Technology Greenville College 
> > Greenville, IL
> >
> > 618.664.7072
> > 618.664.7172 fax
> > paul.younker () greenville edu
> >
> > I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended 
> > up where I intended to be. - Douglas Adams
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gaddis, Jeremy L. [mailto:jlgaddis () IVYTECH EDU]
> > Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 3:44 PM
> > To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> > Subject: [SECURITY] Opinions regarding Packeteer Packetshaper & 
> > alternatives
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am interested in hearing opinions on Packeteer, Inc.'s PacketShaper 
> > product as well as any opinions of competing devices.  I am looking to
>
>
> > perhaps deploy the Packeteer to shape outbound traffic and send some 
> > of it to the bitbucket ("net radio", P2P, etc.).
> >
> > Thanks,
> > -j
> >
> > --
> > Jeremy L. Gaddis     <jlgaddis () ivytech edu>
> > Special Projects Manager
> > Computer & Technology Services
> > Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
> > 812.330.6156 (w)  812.797.6176 (m)