Net Optics PA-CU-AR - Manual (Page 6)

10/100 Port Aggregator Tap
Simple to Deploy
Net Optics’ Dual Port Aggregator Tap with Active Response is a simple plug-
and-play.solution.addressing.the.fact.that.many.monitoring.systems,.including
most.software.based.solutions,.only.offer.a.single.channel.NIC,.limiting.full-
duplex.visibility ..While.adding.a.second.NIC.can.help.maintain.data.integrity.
and visibility, there is a tradeoff in flexibility and ease-of-use. An operating
system.and.NICs.that.enable.binding.are.often.required.to.achieve.the.same.
functionality.as.the.Dual.Port.Aggregator.Tap ..In.contrast,.the.Dual.Port.
Aggregator Tap requires no additional components or configuration on the
monitoring.devices ..
All.network.and.monitoring.cables.required.for.plug-and-play.deployment.are.
included.with.the.10/100BaseT.Dual.Port.Aggregator.Tap.w/Active.Response .
Better than Span Ports
In the past, span ports were occasionally used to aggregate tapped traffic.
However,.in.addition.to.other.shortcomings.of.span.port.monitoring,.span.
ports.support.very.limited.buffering.and.can.simply.drop.data.during.bursts ..
The.generous.buffers.of.the.Dual.Port.Aggregator.Tap.prevent.data.loss.in.
these.conditions .
Security and Visibility
Without.an.IP.address,.monitoring.devices.are.isolated.from.the.network,.
dramatically.reducing.their.exposure.to.attacks ..However,.the.monitoring.
device connected to the Tap still sees all full-duplex traffic as if it were in-line,
including.Layer.1.and.Layer.2.errors .
Reliability
For.extra.uptime.protection,.Net.Optics.Taps.offer.redundant.power.connec-
tions ..Should.the.primary.power.source.fail,.the.Tap.automatically.switches.
to.the.backup.power.source ..Power.LEDs.on.the.front.of.the.Tap.indicate.the.
current.power.source .