Net Optics PA-CU-AR Switch User Manual


 
10/100 Port Aggregator Tap
1
Introduction
Net Optics 10/100 Dual Port Aggregator Taps with Active Response provide
ultra-efcient 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
trafc isn’t dropped during bursts.
Response Ready
When active responses to network events are required, the rst 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 trafc of a single full-duplex link. Normally, the trafc should be
below the receiving capacity of the NIC, that is, less than 10 or 100 Mbps.
When the trafc queue exceeds the capacity of the NIC, the Tap buffers the
overow of up to one megabyte per side of the full-duplex connection. For
your convenience, the buffers clear automatically when the trafc volume falls
below the receiving capacity of the NIC. For example, if there is a trafc burst
and a tap connected to a 100 Mbps network port on a monitoring device is
now receiving 140 Mbps of trafc, 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.