Chapter 19: Setting sFlow

Overview

Ingress Packet Samples

Packet Counters

The sFlow agent allows the switch to gather data about the traffic on the ports and to send the data to sFlow collectors on your network for analysis. You can use the information to monitor the performance of your network or identify traffic bottlenecks.

The sFlow agent can gather two types of information about the traffic on the ports of the switch:

Ingress packet samples

Packet counters

The sFlow agent can capture ingress packets on ports and send copies of the packets to sFlow collectors on your network for analysis. Depending on the capabilities of the collectors, packets can be scrutinized for source and destination MAC or IP addresses, protocol type, length, and so forth.

Packet sampling is activated by specifying sampling rates on the ports. This value defines the number of ingress packets from which the agent samples one packet. For example, a sampling rate of 1000 on a port prompts the agent to send one packet from every 1000 ingress packets to the designated sFlow collector. Different ports can have different rates.

The agent can also gather and send data to a collector about overall information regarding the status and performance of the ports, such as speeds and status, and the statistics from the packet counters. The counters contain the number and types of ingress and egress packets handled by the ports since the switch or the counters were last reset. The agent can gather and send the following port status and counter information to a collector on your network:

Port number

Port type

Speed

Direction

Status

Number of ingress and egress octets

Number of ingress and egress unicast packets

Number of ingress and egress multicast packets

Number of ingress and egress broadcast packets

Number of ingress and egress discarded packets

Number of ingress and egress packets with errors

Number of ingress packets with unknown protocols

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Allied Telesis AT-9000/52, AT-9000/28SP manual Packet Counters, Ingress Packet Samples

AT-9000/52, AT-9000/28SP, AT-9000/28 specifications

The Allied Telesis AT-9000/28 is a versatile and robust network switch designed for organizations seeking to enhance their networking capability. This Layer 2 managed switch delivers a high degree of performance and reliability, making it an ideal choice for businesses that require a seamless network experience.

One of the main features of the AT-9000/28 is its 28 ports, which include 24 Fast Ethernet ports and 4 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports. This allows for flexible network configuration and scalability, accommodating both wired and wireless devices efficiently. The switch also supports auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDI-X, which simplifies installation and connectivity by automatically detecting and configuring the appropriate settings.

The AT-9000/28 employs advanced switching technologies, such as IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging, which enables the segregation of traffic for improved security and performance. This feature is crucial for businesses that require data isolation between different departments or user groups. In addition, the switch supports quality of service (QoS) protocols, allowing for traffic prioritization. This is particularly beneficial for organizations that handle multimedia applications or VoIP services that demand reliable bandwidth.

Another significant characteristic of the AT-9000/28 is its support for port mirroring. This capability is essential for network monitoring and troubleshooting, as it allows administrators to track and analyze network traffic efficiently. Furthermore, the switch supports multiple user authentication methods, including RADIUS and TACACS+, thus enhancing network security.

The AT-9000/28 is built with energy efficiency in mind, featuring Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) technology. This reduces power consumption during periods of low traffic without compromising performance, which aids in lowering overall operational costs.

In terms of management, the AT-9000/28 offers versatile management options, including a web-based GUI, Command Line Interface (CLI), and SNMP support. This flexibility enables network administrators to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the switch easily.

Overall, the Allied Telesis AT-9000/28 is a reliable switch well-suited for a variety of network environments. Its combination of performance, security features, and energy efficiency makes it an excellent choice for organizations looking to optimize their network infrastructure. With robust capabilities and advanced technologies, the AT-9000/28 stands out as a valuable addition to any networking setup.