Brocade 6910 Ethernet Access Switch Configuration Guide (Supporting R2.2.0.0) - Manual (Page 796)

740 Brocade 6910 Ethernet Access Switch Configuration Guide
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Sampling Traffic Flows
3. Click Apply.
FIGURE 71 Enabling Power Savings
Sampling Traffic Flows
The flow sampling (sFlow) feature embedded on this switch, together with a remote sFlow Collector,
can provide network administrators with an accurate, detailed and real-time overview of the types
and levels of traffic present on their network. The sFlow Agent samples 1 out of n packets from all
data traversing the switch, re-encapsulates the samples as sFlow datagrams and transmits them
to the sFlow Collector. This sampling occurs at the internal hardware level where all traffic is seen,
whereas traditional probes will only have a partial view of traffic as it is sampled at the monitored
interface. Moreover, the processor and memory load imposed by the sFlow agent is minimal since
local analysis does not take place. The wire-speed transmission characteristic of the switch is thus
preserved even at high traffic levels.
As the Collector receives streams from the various sFlow agents (other switches or routers)
throughout the network, a timely, network-wide picture of utilization and traffic flows is created.
Analysis of the sFlow stream(s) can reveal trends and information that can be leveraged in the
following ways:
• Detecting, diagnosing, and fixing network problems
• Real-time congestion management
• Understanding application mix (P2P, Web, DNS, etc.) and changes
• Identification and tracing of unauthorized network activity
• Usage accounting
• Trending and capacity planning