Network Instruments nTaps Core Features

Provides monitoring and security devices with complete visibility into full-duplex networks.

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Network Instruments’ nTAPs let you monitor and analyze full-duplex links. nTAPs are critical components for network management because they provide complete and accurate access to live traffic streams.

Without an nTAP, a monitoring device may be fed incomplete and misleading information: creating false alarms and missing problems that actually do exist.

Network Instruments’ nTAPs ensure complete visibility into full-duplex network links without compromising network performance, filtering out physical layer errors, or risking costly downtime. Regardless of link type, device type, or analysis tool, there is an nTAP solution that fits your needs and budget.

nTAPs are ideal for organizations using analysis tools such as:

• Network analyzers
• Forensic appliances
• Remote monitoring appliances
• Intrusion detection systems (IDS)
• Security monitoring devices

Aggregator Copper nTaps

Aggregator nTAPs provide a copy of the data from full-duplex copper links integrated into a single stream to an analysis or security device with a standard (single-receive) capture interface.

Aggregator nTAP

• Contains a 256 or 512 MB buffer designed to cache network traffic spikes that exceed an analyzer’s capture capacity
• Auto-negotiates to support 10 Mb, 100 Mb, or 1000 Mb network traffic
• Optionally transfers 10 Mb or 100 Mb input from the network to an analyzer connected to a gigabit link, eliminating the chance of dropped packets from buffer saturation

Aggregator Conversion nTAP

• Contains a 256 or 512 MB buffer designed to cache network traffic spikes that exceed an analyzer’s capture capacity
• Streams full-duplex traffic on a single TAP into two different optical or copper single-receive devices
• SFP-based outputs supports the use of an SX, LX, or ZX device

Redundant Power Supply

A redundant power supply is available for all copper nTAPs. By adding a second power supply, an nTAP will continue to send data to the analysis device if the primary power supply fails. If both power sources fail, network traffic will continue to pass through the nTAP.

Supports Redundant Failover Links

All copper nTAPs have the ability to support redundant failover links. If the link on one side of the nTAP goes down, the nTAP will automatically bring own the other link, allowing the corresponding device to switch over to a redundant link.

Full-duplex copper nTAPs provide a complete copy of data from full-duplex copper links at line rate for monitoring or security devices.

10/100 Full-Duplex Copper nTAP

• Transfers a copy of 10 Mb or 100 Mb traffic from a full-duplex copper link to a copper monitoring device
• Connects to the full-duplex link under test and an analyzer equipped with a dual-receive capture card

10/100/1000 Full-Duplex Copper nTAP

• Transfers a copy of gigabit traffic from a full-duplex copper link to a copper monitoring device
• Auto-negotiates to also support 10 Mb and 100 Mb networks
• Connects to the full-duplex link under test and an analyzer equipped with a dual-receive capture card 10/100/1000 Full-Duplex Copper to Optical Conversion nTAP
• Supports the use of copper or optical monitoring devices
• Connects to the full-duplex link under test, and a copper or optical analyzer equipped with a dual-receive capture card
• SFP-based outputs supports the use of an SX, LX, or ZX device

Redundant Power Supply

A redundant power supply is available for all copper nTAPs. By adding a second power supply, an nTAP will continue to send data to the analysis device if the primary power supply fails. If both power sources fail, network traffic will continue to pass through the nTAP.

Supports Redundant Failover Links

All copper nTAPs have the ability to support redundant failover links. If the link on one side of the nTAP goes down, the nTAP will automatically bring down the other link, allowing the corresponding device to switch over to a redundant link.