Network Instruments GigaStor User Manual page 19

bound to without affecting any active probe instance. By default a passive probe instance uses 12 MB of RAM.
You can reserve more memory for passive probe instances if you wish.
With a GigaStor you have the option of which NIC to bind the passive probe instance. Do not bind any passive
probe instances to the Gen2 adapter if at all possible. A copy of all packets is sent from the adapter to every
passive probe instance attached to it. If you have several passive probe instances attached to the Gen2
adapter, the Gen2's performance is significantly affected. Instead attach the passive probe instances to either a
10/100/1000 adapter or to a non-existent one.
If you have a passive probe instance connected to a GigaStor, you can mine data that has already been
written to the RAID disk by using an activeprobe instance. There should be one passive probe instance for
each simultaneous Observer user on a GigaStor. By using a passive probe instance, instead of an active probe
instance, only one copy of data is being captured and written to disk, which reduces the processor load and the
required storage space. For troubleshooting and most uses in Observer passive probe instances are appropriate.
An active probe instance on a GigaStor captures network traffic and writes it to theRAID array. An active probe
instance should have as large of a RAM buffer as possible to cushion between the network throughput rate and
the array write rate. Like a passive probe instance, it can also be used to mine data from the hard disk, however
a passive instance is better suited for the task. An active probe instance cannot start a packet capture while the
GigaStor Control Panel is open.
By default there is one active probe instance for GigaStor. It binds to the network adapter and its ports. If you
have a specific need to separate the adapter's ports and monitor them separately, you can do so through passive
probe instances or you can create separate virtual adapters.
Only one active probe instance per GigaStor.
Set scheduling to Always for the active probe instance so that it is constantly capturing and writing data. Use a
passive probe instance to mine the data.
Do not pre-filter, unless you know exactly what you want to capture. Of course, if something occurs outside the
bounds of the filter, you will not have the data in the GigaStor.
Do not allow remote users access to the active probe instance.
Only one active probe instance per GigaStor.
Set scheduling to Always for the active probe instance so that it is constantly capturing and writing data.
Use a passive probe instance to mine the data.
Do not pre-filter, unless you know exactly what you want to capture. Of course, if something occurs
outside the bounds of the filter, you will not have the data in the GigaStor.
Do not allow remote users access to the active probe instance.
What is a probe instance? | 19