Preferred Placement of a Network Collector in a Switched Environment

Question

I'm not a network specialist so my apologies if i've used some of the domain terminology incorrectly, etc. For web metrics/analytics, we currently use both client-side (js page tags) and server-side (log files) data. Neither gives us "delivery" information (e.g., connection speeds), hence the interest in Network Collectors. We are in a switched environment so installing the N/C as if it were a web server, i.e., on a switch port, won't allow it, i don't think, to see the web server traffic.

After some research, i've learned how to place the N/C by configuring a monitoring port. What concerns me about this is the m/p appears work by duplicating the traffic within the switch.

Is there are better solution for N/C placement in this type of network environment?

Answer 1

Don't worry Doug, switches nowadays won't falter under this sort of load. The way you have explained is quite OK.

Of course, you could buy a more expensive switch with "NetFlow" sort of support... and have the switch collect the data for you....