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Net Optics 10/100BaseT Port Aggregator Tap

Posted by Mike Fratto, Editor on March 12, 2004

Tags: 10/100 Ethernet ports,  10/100 monitor port,  10/100BaseT,  Net Optics,  Port Aggregator Tap,  analysis,  bursts,  data frames,  error frames,  in-line tap,  network monitors,  network tap,  network traffic,  pass-through traffic,  span port,  tap integration,  Data Networking & Management,  Electronics,  Ethernet,  Fault Tolerance,  Gigabit Ethernet,  Network Management and Monitoring,  Networking,  Networking and Telecom,  Other,  Software and Web Development,  Traffic Management,  WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration,  traffic monitoring

Channel: Networking & Mgmt, Other, WAN & App Acceleration

No Drag on Performance

I tested the Port Aggregator in our Syracuse University Real-World Labs, using Spirent Communications' SMB (SmartBits) 600 with a LAN3101A minimodule, SmartWindow 7.7 and SmartApplications 2.5 (see "Tap Testing,").

To determine if the Port Aggregator would have an adverse effect on network performance, I ran the SmartApplications test suite for throughput and latency. This test is designed to conform with the Benchmarking Methodology for Network Interconnect Devices (RFC 2544).

Tap Examples click to enlarge

The Port Aggregator passed all frames at 100 percent utilization and with less than 2 microseconds of latency--hardly enough to matter. Rerunning the throughput test, I pulled the power cord while the frames were flying.

The frames continued to flow through the Port Aggregator without a single one dropping. I'm confident from my lab tests that the Port Aggregator won't impede network performance.