Chapter 1: Getting Started; Getting Started Using Your Gigastor - Network Instruments GigaStor User Manual

Getting started using your GigaStor

A GigaStor probe is a hardware device with many terabytes of storage space to capture, store, and analyze your
network traffic. All GigaStor probes use the Expert Probe software. Learn more about the Expert Probe in .
To get the most out of your GigaStor, you need:
A good working knowledge of your network. You can use the Observer analyzer to gather information
from your routing protocols and verify your network configurations, which is helpful when updating
your network map.
An understanding of the protocols that run on your network.
Follow these steps to get started with your GigaStor. The installation happens in two main parts. The first part
is at the GigaStor probe in the server room. The second part continues at a desk using the Observer analyzer to
connect to the GigaStor probe.
Before installing your GigaStor probe:
1. Where you should install your GigaStor probe is discussed in
network.
2. The GigaStor uses probe instances, and in particular a unique probe instance called an "active instance."
Learn more about probe instances and why you want to use them in
3. After you have determined where to place your GigaStor probe, install the unit into your rack. It is important
to install the RAID drives into the correct slots. Ensure that monitoring interfaces are connected to the
appropriate data feeds (SPAN or mirror ports, TAPs, aggregation devices). Ensure the configuration of these
third-party devices is done properly so data flows to the GigaStor.
4. By default the GigaStor probe's name is a random mix of letters and numbers. Change the name of the
GigaStor probe to something identifiable (such as the physical location or purpose).
In a typical installation, the GigaStor probe runs the Expert Probe software as a Windows service and a
remote Observer analyzer connects to the GigaStor probe to complete the configuration.
From the Observer analyzer system, complete the following steps. These steps requires that you have an
Observer analyzer installed and licensed separate from the GigaStor probe.
5. Connect to the GigaStor probe from your Observer analyzer.
6 | GigaStor™ (pub. 25.Apr.2014)

Chapter 1: Getting Started

Deciding where to place probes in your
What is a probe instance?.