Network Performance Monitoring/Route Optimization products

[Drew Weaver <drew.weaver () thenap com>]

Hi there,

I am trying to get some opinions on what people are using these days for network performance monitoring 
software/(appliances?) which can give a sense of what performance is like for the folks actually using the network. 

Does anyone have any advice on this matter and have you found that these tools are really useful in pinpointing trouble 
spots before they become major issues?

Also, does anyone know of any companies who have new and exciting products which compete with the Internap 
FCP/Routescience(Avaya) box in the Routing Optimization space? I haven't really been able to find anything except for 
those two, and Avaya is clearly moving in a more enterprise direction (rather than ISP/service provider) with the CNA.

Off-list is fine if you like.

Thanks,
-Drew