Configuring Port Mirroring; Introduction To Port Mirroring; Terminologies Of Port Mirroring - HP 5500 EI Series Configuration Manual

Configuring port mirroring

Introduction to port mirroring

Port mirroring is the process of copying the packets passing through a port to the monitor port connecting
to a monitoring device for packet analysis.

Terminologies of port mirroring

Mirroring source
The mirroring source can be one or more monitored ports. Packets (called "mirrored packets") passing
through them are copied to a port connecting to a monitoring device for packet analysis. Such a port is
called a "source port " and the device where the port resides is called a "source device".
Mirroring destination
The mirroring destination is the destination port (also known as the monitor port) of mirrored packets and
connects to the data monitoring device. The device where the monitor port resides is called the
"destination device." The monitor port forwards mirrored packets to its connected monitoring device.
A monitor port may receive multiple duplicates of a packet in some cases because it can monitor multiple
mirroring sources. For example, assume that Port 1 is monitoring bidirectional traffic on Port 2 and Port
3 on the same device. If a packet travels from Port 2 to Port 3, two duplicates of the packet will be
received on Port 1.
Mirroring direction
The mirroring direction indicates that the inbound, outbound, or bidirectional traffic can be copied on a
mirroring source.
• Inbound: Copies packets received on a mirroring source.
Outbound: Copies packets sent out of a mirroring source.
•
Bidirectional: Copies packets both received and sent on a mirroring source.
•
Mirroring group
Port mirroring is implemented through mirroring groups, which fall into local, remote source, and remote
destination mirroring groups. For more information about the mirroring groups, see
classification and
Reflector port, egress port, and remote probe VLAN
The reflector port, remote probe VLAN, and egress port are used for Layer 2 remote port mirroring. The
remote probe VLAN specially transmits mirrored packets to the destination device. Both the reflector port
implementation."
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"Port mirroring