How To Define A Tool Port - Network Instruments Matrix User Manual

Ability to append packet trailers to packets arriving from various network links
Ability to resize ingress packets from multiple network links before forwarding (packet trimming)
Note: To edit the active layout (the layout currently in use), perform edits directly from the Ports page. Edits to
the active layout take effect in real time.
To connect multiple network ports or tool ports to the same rule:
1. Starting in the dashboard, click Ports.
The layout designer appears, where connections between network and tool ports can be created.
2. In the Layout list, select a layout.
3. Click the Actions list.
The Actions list is located near the top-right corner of the layout designer.
4. Click Edit.
5. Use a drag-and-drop operation to connect a network port to a tool port.
Successful connections are represented by lines between the ports and the appearance of an empty rule.
The empty rule is a placeholder for introducing options such as filtering.
6. Use a drag-and-drop operation to connect additional network ports or tool ports to the same rule.
Depending on how many network ports or tool ports you connected to the rule, the results are different:
By connecting multiple network ports to the rule, you are aggregating those network links.
By connecting multiple tool ports to the rule, you are replicating traffic (if load balancing is disabled).

How to define a tool port

Tool ports forward post-processed traffic to the devices connected to them. You must define which physical
ports are to be used as tool ports.
There are no dedicated ingress and egress ports in the Matrix; all physical ports can assume either one of these
roles. You, an administrator, can designate a physical port as either a (ingress) network port or (egress) tool port
by using the web interface (dashboard) or command line interface (CLI).
To define a tool port in a layout:
1. Starting in the dashboard, click Ports.
The layout designer appears, where connections between network and tool ports can be created.
2. Double-click a network port.
Network ports are always located leftmost in a layout.
Options appear for this port.
3. In the Type list, click Tool.
The appliance ports can change modes of operation.
Network Port Ingress port that accepts network traffic
Tool Port Egress port that forwards network traffic to tools and analyzers
4. Click OK.
You successfully defined a tool port. When connections are made between it and network ports, network traffic
egresses from the port.
18 | Matrix™ (pub. 25.Apr.2014)