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59.1 Introduction to sFlow
The sFlow (RFC 3176) is a protocol based on standard network export and used on monitoring the network
traffic information developed by the InMon Company. The monitored switch or router sends date to the client
analyzer through its main operations such as sampling and statistic, then the analyzer will analyze according
to the user requirements so to monitor the network.
A sFlow monitor system includes: sFlow proxy, central data collector and sFlow analyzer. The sFlow proxy
collects data from the switch using sampling technology. The sFlow collector is for formatting the sample data
statistic which is to be forwarded to the sFlow analyzer which will analyze the sample data and perform
corresponding measure according to the result. Our switch here acts as the proxy and central data collector in
the sFlow system. We have achieved data sampling and statistic targeting physical port.
Our data sample includes the IPv4 and IPv6 packets. Extensions of other types are not supported so far. As
for non IPv4 and IPv6 packet, the unify HEADER mode will be adopted following the requirements in
RFC3176, copying the head information of the packet based on analyzing the type of its protocol.
The latest sFlow protocol presented by InMon Company is the version 5. Since it is the version 4 which is
realized in the RFC3176, version conflict might exist in some case such as the structure and the packet format.
This is because the version 5 has not become the official protocol, so, in order to be compatible with current
applications, we will continue to follow the RFC3176.
59.2 sFlow Configuration Task List
1. Configure sFlow Collector address
Command
Global mode and Port Mode
sflow destination <collector-address>
[<collector-port>]
no sflow destination
Chapter 59 sFlow Configuration
59-35
Explanation
Configure the IP address and port number of
the host in which the sFlow analysis software
is installed. As for the ports, if IP address is
configured on the port, the port configuration
will be applied, or else will be applied the
global configuration. The "no sflow
destination" command restores to the default
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