Monitoring Switch Traffic; Traffic Monitoring Overview; What Is Sflow Technology - Dell PowerConnect 8024 User Configuration Manual

Monitoring Switch Traffic

This chapter describes sFlow features, Remote Monitoring (RMON), and
Port Mirroring features.
The topics covered in this chapter include:
•

Traffic Monitoring Overview

• Default Traffic Monitoring Values
• Monitoring Switch Traffic (Web)
• Monitoring Switch Traffic (CLI)
• Traffic Monitoring Configuration Examples
Traffic Monitoring Overview
The switch maintains statistics about network traffic that it handles. It also
has embedded technology that collects and sends information about traffic to
other devices. PowerConnect 8000/8100-series switches include support for
flow-based monitoring through sFlow and Remote Network Monitoring
(RMON) agents.

What is sFlow Technology?

sFlow is an industry standard technology for monitoring high-speed switched
and routed networks. PowerConnect 8000/8100-series switch software has a
built-in sFlow agent that can monitor network traffic on each port and
generate sFlow data to an sFlow receiver (also known as a collector). sFlow
helps to provide visibility into network activity, which enables effective
management and control of network resources. sFlow is an alternative to the
NetFlow network protocol, which was developed by Cisco Systems. The
switch supports sFlow version 5.
As illustrated in Figure 16-1, the sFlow monitoring system consists of sFlow
Agents (such as PowerConnect 8000/8100-series switches) and a central
sFlow receiver. sFlow Agents use sampling technology to capture traffic
Monitoring Switch Traffic
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