Net Optics 96547iTP Chapter Introduction, Overview, Intelligent TapTM, Performance Aggregation

iTap GigaBit Dual Port Aggregator

Chapter 1

Introduction

Overview

Thank you for purchasing the latest innovation in Tap technology – the iTap GigaBit Dual Port Aggregator. Net Optics' GigaBit Dual Port Aggregator Taps provide ultra-efficient access to critical GigaBit links using only one NIC on the monitoring device. Net Optics’ iTap is a port aggregator Tap that gives you a quick visual reference of link performance. The iTap GigaBit Port Aggregator monitors and displays link bandwidth utilization on its front panel so you can see exactly what is happening on both sides of the network link.

Intelligent TapTM

The iTap Port Aggregator displays the link utilization level, last peak with time right on the front panel so you can see real-time utilization on both directions of the network link. The iTap Port Aggregator is accessible from remote interfaces that provide information and control from anywhere in the network. The iTap gives you the information and the passive access point you need to respond quickly to network events.

Performance Aggregation

The iTap Port Aggregator combines and regenerates both directions of a full- duplex stream, sending all aggregated traffic out one or two separate passive moni- toring ports. Typically, full-duplex monitoring with a network tap requires two NICs (or a dual channel NIC)–one interface for each side of the full-duplex link. Net Optics’ iTap Port Aggregator enables one or two devices to simultaneously monitor a full-duplex link using only one NIC per device.

After the traffic has been aggregated to a single flow, it is no longer possible to distinguish the utilization levels of each side of the bi-directional link. The iTap Port Aggregator tracks the utilization levels before aggregation, keeping this vital information easily accessible from its remote and command line interfaces.

Buffers Absorb Bursts

When the traffic levels exceed the capacity of the receiving NIC, the iTap Port Aggregator stores the overflow traffic in buffer memory. For high-load links, the iTap Port Aggregator has 256MB of buffer memory. The buffers clear automati-

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