10/100 Port Aggregator Tap
Introduction
Net Optics 10/100 Dual Port Aggregator Taps with Active Response provide ultra-efficient access to critical links with the option to inject an active re- sponse into the network. .This pioneering technology enables any two devices to simultaneously monitor a full-duplex link - using only one NIC per device..
Typically, full-duplex monitoring with a network tap requires two NICs (or a dual channel NIC) – one interface for each side of the tapped full-duplex connection. .The Dual Port Aggregator Tap combines and regenerates these streams, sending all aggregated data out two separate passive monitoring ports. .The best part of this innovation is the onboard memory to make sure traffic isn’t dropped during bursts.
Response Ready
When active responses to network events are required, the first monitoring port can be changed to an Active Response Port using a hardware switch. .The Active Response Port buffers and transmits into the network link any type of Ethernet packet, from a simple TCP reset to ICMP messages. .The Active Response Port can be easily switched back to passive monitoring via the hardware switch. .
The combination of active response capability and passive monitoring in the Tap reduces the number of devices and network ports required for active response functionality..
Buffering Prevents Lost Data
The Dual Port Aggregator Tap with Active Response is designed to handle the combined traffic of a single full-duplex link. Normally, the traffic should be below the receiving capacity of the NIC, that is, less than 10 or 100 Mbps..
When the traffic queue exceeds the capacity of the NIC, the Tap buffers the overflow of up to one megabyte per side of the full-duplex connection. For your convenience, the buffers clear automatically when the traffic volume falls below the receiving capacity of the NIC. For example, if there is a traffic burst and a tap connected to a 100 Mbps network port on a monitoring device is now receiving 140 Mbps of traffic, the Tap buffers data until the burst is over. The Tap then sends the buffered data to the monitoring device until the buffer is cleared..
