Netoptics iTap 10 GigaBit Fiber Port Aggregator with XFP P/N: IPA-50SR-XFP, IPA-SR5-XFP, IPA-LR5-XFP Reviews | Network Tap Reviews Fiber Copper Gigabit Ethernet

By: Netoptics iTap 10 GigaBit Fiber Port Aggregator with XFP P/N: IPA-50SR-XFP, IPA-SR5-XFP, IPA-LR5-XFP

The iTap 10 GigaBit Port Aggregator is Net Optics’ most flexible network monitoring Tap for 10 GigaBit networks. As more traffic converges onto higher speed network links, the need to maintain application, performance, and security standards has never been greater. Fortunately, capturing the data needed to keep a network running has never been easier, with this device’s combination of network interfaces supported, XFP choices for monitor ports, easy-to-use management functionality, and new filtering options.

Aggregation Flexibility

The iTap 10GigaBit Port Aggregator combines and regenerates both directions of a full-duplex stream, sending aggregated traffic out one or two separate monitoring ports. Typically, full-duplex monitoring would require two NICs (or a dual-channel NIC) in the monitoring tool—one interface for each side of the full-duplex link. Aggregation allows one or two tools to simultaneously monitor a link using only one NIC per tool.

Redundant tools and appliances are now easily attached to the link to monitor data, voice, and video traffic when needed. If a monitoring resource is required elsewhere in the network, at least one tool or appliance is always available to monitor vital traffic. Or, two different types of tools can monitor the same link simultaneously, enabling different groups to obtain the data they need without contention.

Information Intelligence

The iTap functionality provides displays in GUI form and on the front panel to view link utilization levels in real time. See the size and time of the last peak, when thresholds are exceeded, and more. A 10/100 management port interface enables remote management and monitoring from anywhere in the network, giving you the information you need to quickly respond to network events.

Indigo Management Software

Net Optics Web Manager and System Manager let you remotely set parameters, view status information, and monitor traffic statistical data. These interfaces provide security and performance information such as the number of oversized packets and CRC errors.  Remotely set alarm thresholds, clear traffic data counters, and turn on or off a Monitor Port.

Web Manager

– a browser-based interface that lets you change settings, view status, and retrieve data remotely with simple-to-use controls. View all configuration, status, and traffic data from a single page. Changes to the configuration can be made with a few clicks of the mouse.

System Manager

 – an SNMP management platform that offers centralized control of all Net Optics iTap devices in the network, to manage your entire monitoring access platform. As with Web Manager, you can view all status, configuration, and traffic information and make changes quickly to any iTap in the system. Each iTap can also be assigned to groups that identify workgroup, location, or organizational naming criteria. View SNMP trap information for system, thresholds, link, and power status. And, take advantage of easy-to-use reporting tools to baseline network behavior and share with upper management and colleagues. Existing industry standard SNMP management platforms can also be fully integrated using Net Optics Management Information Base (MIB).

Security – Optional functionality lets users configure the Port Aggregator so it will not display data on the LCD, and to disable the Management Port, thus preventing it from being accessed from the network. The Monitor Ports can also be turned off to prevent unauthorized access to the network link.

Enhanced Traffic Monitoring

An optional timestamping function appends a 32-bit timestamp to each packet sent to the monitor ports. This feature provides valuable information for tools that can process timestamp data to analyze detailed network timing. The timestamp includes a bit that indicates which network port the packet originated from.

An optional packet slicing function copies only the first N bytes of each packet to the monitor ports, for monitoring applications that only need to see header or front-of-packet information. Use of this feature can substantially reduce bandwidth on the monitor ports so even high rates of full-duplex traffic won’t exceed the monitor port or tool capacity. Packet slicing is also useful for applications such as lawful intercept where the monitor tool may be legally prohibited from seeing packet payload data.

Additional options for conditioning the data copied to the monitor ports includes the ability to drop packets with CRC errors, to regenerate good CRC check bytes, and to restrict the maximum packet size to an amount set by the user.

Reliability

Because of the amount of traffic and business dependency on today’s networks it is important that 100 percent of the data that crosses a link, even layer 1 and 2 errors, is captured. When Span ports, hubs, or installing a tool or appliance in-line are not options, an in-line Tap provides the right alternative for compliance, forensics, and network and applications trouble-shooting.

In the event the monitoring tool or Tap exhibits a power outage, the Net Optics hardware-based Fast Path function ensures that traffic across the link is not interrupted. Traffic to the monitor ports is stopped, but quickly re-established once power returns.

Redundant power connections in the Tap provide unsurpassed uptime protection.