Datacom Systems Inc
VERSAstream
™
1000 • USERguide
12
Analyzing/Monitoring Gigabit EtherChannel
CONCERN: The popularity of web-based services has increased bandwidth consumption. An
increase in bandwidth consumption has also brought increased network problems. The increase
in traffic and accompanying problems are often seen on the backbone of networks where mis-
sion critical applications and services must travel. In an effort to maximize network perform-
ance, meet the current and future needs of users, and ensure uptime, bandwidth and fault-toler-
ance have become a primary focus of networking professionals.
To solve many bandwidth and fault-tolerance problems, network professionals have imple-
mented Gigabit EtherChannel in their network. Because IT Managers are often working with
flat budgets and must utilize existing equipment and cabling, Gigabit EtherChannel is a com-
mon solution used to increase bandwidth, improve load-balancing, and create fault-tolerance.
Common Gigabit EtherChannel configurations combine up to eight Gigabit Ethernet segments
into a single, logical channel between switches, routers, and servers. For example, a four-link
Gigabit EtherChannel takes four Gigabit full duplex links (a total bandwidth 2000 MB) and
combines them into one virtual link (a total bandwidth of 8000 MB), effectively quadrupling
bandwidth. These links are managed and load balanced by Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP).
If anyone of the four links fails, PAgP will automatically redirect and load balance the remain-
ing three links.
Because traffic in a Gigabit EtherChannel implementation is load balanced, packets are dis-
tributed across several different physical links. Often, traffic transmits on one segment and
receives on another. This makes network analysis and monitoring especially challenging. If an
analyzer or monitoring device is put on only one physical link, it will not see the entire con-
versation. Most analyzers and monitoring devices also cannot view EtherChannel traffic.
SOLUTION: Because Gigabit EtherChannel is comprised of multiple physical links, most ana-
lyzers and monitoring devices cannot provide complete monitoring, troubleshooting, and diag-
nosis of the most critical parts of the network. Up until now, the few solutions that exist have
been very expensive, not compatible with existing tools, or have been time-consuming to
administer.
Unlike other solutions, the VERSAstream
™
Multi-Link Aggregator when deployed with
SINGLEstream
™
Gigabit Aggregation Taps or other Datacom Systems Gigabit Ethernet taps
provides complete visibility into Gigabit EtherChannel, while allowing network professionals
to use their existing analysis and monitoring devices. The VERSAstream
™
Multi-Link
Aggregator is a simple "plug and play" solution that can combine data from multiple Gigabit
Ethernet network segments into one stream of data. A single Gigabit device, such as an intru-
sion detection system, protocol analyzer, or network probe can receive the aggregated data with
just one network interface card (NIC). It requires no software, no configuration, and no admin-
istration.
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