Visual Networks Visual UpTime Select and Ethernet ASE are excellent tools that allow administrators to see how much bandwidth is required on WANs and how much is wasted. Features include a centralized data collection server and remote WAN probes. The server runs Windows 2000 and stores data in a Microsoft SQL database. Probes are optimized for gathering data going to smaller, more costly WAN pipes that connect branches and remote locations. Return on investment (ROI) comes from better management of costly bandwidth so that locations are not over- or under-provisioned. A Win 32 Administration graphical user interface (GUI) and a Web-based user GUI are provided. Probes are classified according to domain, network, site, and WAN access line so that site performance and event impact can be evaluated in context. Viewing of performance data is more easily managed via better navigation. Application traffic monitored can be based on actual usage, and application monitoring is viewed in context to the baseline. Unlike most probes, the ASE is meant to be at the costly edge of WAN traffic and to leave as little footprint as possible. The transformer is built into the probe, and user administration supports access control by limiting each user's abilities to preset functions, such as reporting, traffic capture, and event management. Group or role-based access is not supported. The ASE reports only 10 TCP and UDP ports, but gathers usage information on all traffic seen.