Web Management Guide-R01

Chapter 4 | Interface Configuration
Sampling Traffic Flows
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Figure 65: Configuring Remote Port Mirroring (Intermediate)
Figure 66: Configuring Remote Port Mirroring (Destination)
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.
Note: The terms “collector”, “receiver” and “owner”, in the context of this chapter, all
refer to a remote server capable of receiving the sFlow datagrams generated by the
sFlow agent of the switch.
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