Network Instruments Hardware Probe Features

Monitor and troubleshoot vital network links in real time from any location

Network Instruments® offers a complete line of probe appliances for monitoring network activity across multiple topologies.

Choose from a diverse range of probe options to meet your specific network needs. Network Instruments probes support LAN, WAN, gigabit, 10 gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and 802.11. Additional options include RMON and HCRMON support. Use probes for troubleshooting, collecting NetFlow data, proactive monitoring, long-term data collection, or for network forensics. Probes report to Observer consoles located anywhere on the network for complete, distributed visibility.

Proven network management, analysis and troubleshooting solutions for remote and local networks.

From Seattle to Sydney, monitor remote networks as if they were local. With remote monitoring solutions from Network Instruments, administrators can gain full visibility and insight into every part of their network. Remote monitoring speeds troubleshooting, saves time and eliminates the need for travel, offering an immediate return on investment.

The Network Instruments Probe Family of Products was designed to meet the needs of any size organization. Choose software-based Probes to monitor remote LANs and wireless networks or a turn-key, hardware-based solution for full-duplex, gigabit networks. As with all Network Instruments products, our remote probes are designed with our own unique Distributed Network Analysis (NI-DNA) architecture to provide the capabilities needed to manage complex, growing environments.

Distributed Analysis

Distributed analysis is an essential component for today's enterprise network managers. Traveling to different sites to analyze activity or troubleshoot problems wastes valuable time and money, and slows down the troubleshooting process.

Deploying Network Instruments® Ethernet probes at the network edge provides administrators with continuous visibility-offering real-time analysis and faster problem resolution. And since the entire Observer family is based on the Network Instruments Distributed Network Analysis (NI-DNAT) architecture-it is simple to monitor all segments of the network simultaneously, from any location, through a single user interface.

With Network Instruments Probes, an administrator can:

• Gain multiple points of visibility
• Manage remote networks as if they were local (24x7x365)
• Eliminate the time and expense of travel
• Select technologies to fit almost any topology or infrastructure

To capture network data, direct a switch's SPAN session to a Network Instruments Ethernet Probe. Ethernet probes report that data to Observer® consoles located anywhere on the network for comprehensive, real-time analysis.

Unparalleled Network Intelligence

• Track over 70 VoIP-specific metrics
• Speed troubleshooting with over 570 Experts
• Verify VLAN setups
• Collect NetFlow and sFlow® data
• Create long-term trending reports
• Reconstruct web pages, e-mails, IM, and VoIP calls
• Isolate transaction and conversation delay
• Track application session flows and failed transactions

Remote Probe Brochure | Advanced Probe Brochure | Full Duplex Probe Brochure

Probe Advantages

• Gain insight and visibility into every part of the network
• Manage remote networks as easily as local networks
• Eliminate the time and expense of traveling to remote sites
• Speed troubleshooting by sharing probe-collected data with others

Probe Appliance for 10/100/1000 Networks

The Probe Appliance for 10/100/1000 networks has the option to monitor one or two links. This probe permits multiple sessions by users, includes user-based access permissions, and perfoms real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth.

Multi-Port Probe Appliance for 10/100 Networks

The Multi-Port Probe Appliance for 10/100 networks monitors four Fast Ethernet links simultaneously, speeds problem solving with its multi-session support and Expert analysis, performs packet decodes at the individual probe level to conserve bandwidth, and includes user-based access permissions.

10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance

Designed to monitor traffic at the edge of the network, the 10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance eliminates dependence on a SPAN or mirror port, reduces switch load, and ensures data integrity. Comes pre-loaded with Advanced Expert Probe software allowing for multiple sessions by users, real-time Expert processing at the probe, and individual levels of probe access.

Gigabit Probes

Gigabit Probe Appliance

The Gigabit Probe Appliance is a rack-mountable 4U unit that monitors up to four full-duplex gigabit links at wire speed. The Gigabit probe offers visibility into individual or trunked links, real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth, multiple sessions by users, user-based access permissions, and support for the industry’s largest memory buffer (up to 124 GB).

GigaStor™ for Gigabit and 10 GbE Networks

For historical and forensics analysis, the GigaStor technology is the ideal choice. Capture hours, days, or even weeks worth of gigabit or 10 GbE traffic directly to disk for historical analysis. Speed problem resolution by completely eliminating the time-consuming task of having to recreate issues.

• Store up to 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB of network data or select the write-to-SAN configuration for almost limitless storage capacity
• A unique timeline interface makes it easy to isolate and troubleshoot past events
• Stored data can be reconstructed (web pages, e-mail, IM, VoIP) to support forensic analysis
• Capture to disk at 430 MBps (3440 Mbps)

WAN Probes

WAN Probe Appliance

The WAN Probe Appliance monitors all header and payload data on serial and digital WAN links. Monitor up to 16 links individually or in aggregate, obtain metrics in real time, and solve issues immediately with a comprehensive Expert system. The probe also displays DCE/DTE traffic individually or in aggregate, shows CIR to compare with SLA, and tracks conversation through up to 10 segments or hops.

Specialty Probes

10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance

The 10/100 Full-Duplex Probe Appliance monitors full-duplex Fast Ethernet networks, allowing multiple sessions by users, real-time Expert processing at the probe to speed troubleshooting and conserve bandwidth, and user-based access permissions.

Probe Management

Network Instruments Management Server (NIMS™)

The NIMS retains a list of usernames, passwords, and permission levels for multiple probes on the network to globally authenticate users. NIMS can link up to a local Windows system, Active Directory server, or RADIUS system to consolidate user account lists. For the network manager, the NIMS provides centralized licensing, security, and an update system as well as failover redundancy for more efficient probe management. For network administrators, the NIMS provides shared access to analysis tools, including Observer's filter library.

NIMS simplifies probe administration, management, security, and maintenance for IT professionals tasked with maintaining multiple software probes and probe appliances across the enterprise.

Use NIMS to:

• Authenticate users for probe access from central location
• Manage user passwords and permissions globally
• Define probe rights by user, user group, or probe group
• Log probe access activity
• Share filters with Observer users across the network
• License new probes automatically as they connect to the network
• Efficiently administer upgrades via Centralized Update System

Choose Your Probe Below:

Gigabit Probes |  GigaStor Probe |  WAN Probes