Monitoring Switch Traffic 407
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Monitoring Switch Traffic
This chapter describes sFlow features, Remote Monitoring (RMON), and
Port Mirroring features.
The topics covered in this chapter include:
• Traffic Monitoring Overview
• Default Traffic Monitoring Values
• Monitoring Switch Traffic (Web)
• Monitoring Switch Traffic (CLI)
• Traffic Monitoring Configuration Examples

Traffic Monitoring Overview

The switch maintains statistics about network traffic that it handles. It also
has embedded technology that collects and sends information about traffic to
other devices. Dell Networking series switches include support for flow-based
monitoring through sFlow and Remote Network Monitoring (RMON)
agents.

What is sFlow Technology?

sFlow is an industry standard te chnology for monitoring hi gh-speed switched
and routed networks. Dell Networking N2000, N3000, and N4000 series
switches software has a built-in sFlow agent that can monitor network traffic
on each port and generate sFlow data to an sFlow receiver (also known as a
collector). sFlow helps to provide visibility into network activity, which
enables effective management and control of network resources. sFlow is an
alternative to the NetFlow network protocol, which was developed by Cisco
Systems. The switch supports sFlow version 5.
As illustrated in Figure16-1, the sFlow monitoring system consists of sFlow
Agents (such as Dell Networking series switches) and a central sFlow receiver.
sFlow Agents use sampling technology to capture traffic statistics from