Introduction

Overview

VisualRoute helps determine if a connectivity problem is due to an ISP, the Internet, or the web site you (or your customers) are trying to reach and pinpoints the network where a problem occurs.

VisualRoute is available in several specialized editions, enabling on-demand connectivity analysis from a single computer, a remote customer desktop, a remote server, or multiple points on a global network.

All editions include integrated traceroute, ping tests, reverse DNS and Whois lookups, and display the actual route of connections and IP address locations on a global map.

Installation

First, make sure that you meet the minimum requirements for your platform, including the proper Java VM. Then install VisualRoute:

Windows: Run the 'vr.exe' install program, by opening the file or double-clicking the filename, then follow the instructions.

UNIX: To install VisualRoute for UNIX, follow these steps:

Login as root. You should be root user to install, but not to run VisualRoute (refer to Appendix A for notes on 'running as a user')
Uncompress "uncompress vr.tar" or gunzip "gunzip vr.tar" the download file.
Untar this file "tar -xf vr.tar" to create a directory in your present directory of vr10

Mac: Within 'Finder' double-click on the downloaded StuffIt vr.pkg.sit self-expanding file, this will create the vr.pkg file structure. Next, within 'Finder', double-click on the vr.pkg structure and this will start the 'Installer', then follow the instructions.

Running/Running for the First Time

Running the VisualRoute Program

Windows: Go to Start / Programs / VisualRoute and click on VisualRoute.

If you are running under NT/Win2000/XP, it is possible to configure VisualRoute to run as a service in the Business and Server editions. To do this:

Run VisualRoute Server to configure and verify that it runs properly; Exit VisualRoute.
In a DOS prompt window, change to the VisualRoute install directory. For example, type CD \Program Files\VisualRoute and press the Enter key.
Type "VisualRoute -install" and press the Enter key.

Run the Services Manager (Control Panel) and start the "VisualRoute" service.

UNIX: To run VisualRoute for Unix follow these steps. It is possible to configure VisualRoute to run as a daemon service that is started at system boot. Refer to Appendix A for details.

Change to the install directory "cd vr11"

Make sure that the current directory ('.') is in the PATH environment variable by typing "env | grep PATH". There may be perhaps two or more environment variables that have PATH in them. If it's not already there then set it with (assuming a Kourne shell) "PATH=$PATH:.; export PATH". Note: You could also amend the profile of the account that will be running VisualRoute to include ('.')

If using a Java 1.1 Runtime Environment (JRE), type "jre vr" to run VisualRoute. Otherwise, type "java vr"

Mac: VisualRoute is installed in the /Applications/VisualRoute folder. Click on the VisualRoute application in this directory to start VisualRoute.

Running the VisualRoute Program for the First Time

When you run VisualRoute for the first time, you will get a 'Welcome to VisualRoute' splash screen and a 'Select Trial Edition' dialog box similar to those shown in figures 3.1a and 3.1b.

Fig 3.1a: Welcome to VisualRoute splash screen

The 'Welcome to VisualRoute' splash screen (fig 3.1a) provides quick access to the in-built product help. Simply select any of the links to view the topic. You may also access the in-built help by going to the 'Help' menu and choosing'Product Help...'. To cancel the display of the splash screen each time you launch VisualRoute, uncheck the 'Show this dialog on startup' check box.

Fig 3.1b: Trial Selection dialog

There are numerous options within 'Select Trial Edition' dialog (fig 3.1b). If you intend to run VisualRoute as a trial then you can select which edition of VisualRoute you wish to try. You can try all editions during the 15 day trial if you wish. To do this, just go to the 'Options' menu and choose 'Select Trial Edition...' (Ctrl-Shift-E).

If you have purchased a VisualRoute license then you can click on the 'click here to enter your license key' link in the initial paragraph of trial selection dialog (fig 3.1b). This will launch the license key dialog box (Fig 3.2 below) where you need to copy and paste (Ctrl c - Ctrl v) your license key and click the 'OK' button.

Fig 3.2: License key dialog box

If you want to enter a license key during or after your trial then you can either click on the appropriate link in the analysis window of VisualRoute or you can choose 'License key...' from the 'Help' menu on the main GUI display.

Toolbar and Display

For all editions of VisualRoute, the main VisualRoute GUI upon start up is similar to figure 4.1 below. See your product help (choose 'Product Help...') from the 'Help' menu) for details relative to your licensed product.

Fig 4.1: VisualRoute Main GUI

The image above (Fig 4.1) is labeled 1-7. These options are described below:

1. The green arrow denoted by number 1 is essentially the 'Go' button to initiate a trace. Once you have entered the IP/URL you wish to trace then either hit the Enter key or click the green arrow.

2. The green recycling icon denoted by number 2 opens the Traceroute Auto-Update Preferences dialog. The circle with the X will stop the trace that is currently in progress. The third icon which is a question mark launches the VisualRoute Help File.

3. The number 3 refers to the red x button, which when clicked will simply close the current trace route tab open at the time. For example, in figure 4.1, if you click the red x the trace route tab denoted by the number 4 would close.

4. The number 4 shows the trace route tab. You can run and view numerous traces simultaneously. Each time you start a new trace, a new tab will be opened to display the trace results. To close tabs, refer to point 4 above.

5. The number 5 refers to the small down arrow, which if clicked will display a dialog box that lists recently used IP addresses. See figure 4.3 for an example.

Fig 4.3: Recently Used IP Addresses Dialog Box

Recently used addresses can be sorted either by the order they were last used (Last Access) or alphabetically by name (Name). To run a trace route for any recently used address, simply double click one of the IP addresses or URL entries.

6. The number 6 is showing the toggle buttons seen on different windows throughout VisualRoute. The up and down arrows allow you to arrange the windows to the position you desire. If you prefer the table at the top and the analysis at the bottom of the VisualRoute GUI then you would use arrows to move the table up and the analysis section down. To hide any of the various windows, simply click the 'x' button next to the arrows. This will close that window and the 'x' will turn to a small box which, when clicked, will maximize the view again.

7. The number 7 is showin the 'Graph' button. This is available in all versions except the PC Personal Edition. It allows the user to plot the response times for a trace route onto a graph.