What kind of Tap do I need for my network?

 
Traffic access ports or Taps are important components in any network deployment. They eliminate points of failure, increase the ROI on your monitoring tool investment, and ensure that your monitoring devices can see all of the network traffic.

Taps come in several varieties with different purposes and features. If you are confused about what type of Tap device you need in your network, here is a quick overview of the capabilities each type of Tap provides:

• A standard network Tap provides access into a single network segment and enables you to attach one monitoring device that employs two NICs, one for each of the traffic directions on your full-duplex link.


• Converter Taps provide conversion between different types of media, such as copper and fiber.


• The iTap operates just like a standard Tap, with the extra capabilities of remote management and basic monitoring built directly into the Tap.


• The Regeneration Tap provides the ability to plug in more than one monitoring device. You can access a single network segment and "regenerate" the traffic to multiple monitoring tools.


• A Port Aggregator does essentially the same thing as a Tap; it allows you to access a single network segment. The difference is that you can plug in one or two monitoring devices (depending on the model) and view full duplex traffic with only a single NIC per device, rather than two NICs.


• A Link Aggregator does essentially the reverse of a Regeneration Tap. This device accepts multiple network segments and "aggregates" all the traffic to one to four monitoring devices (depending on the model).


• Our Bypass Switch is specifically designed for deployments of Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and other in-line devices. It is installed in-line on a single network segment and the IPS is attached to the Bypass Switch. If the IPS fails or is removed, the Bypass Switch maintains the network connection while the IPS is offline.


• The Director data monitoring switch is our new, state-of-the-art filtering appliance. It combines many of the functions above, such as tapping, regeneration, and link aggregation while providing Layer 2 to Layer 4 filtering. Several models are available to provide multiple levels of throughput.

If you are using a hub or a Span port to get monitoring access to your network, you need a Tap!

Once you've identified the product you need, visit our website at www.netoptics.com for more comprehensive information.