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GigaTrunk™ Probe Advanced Expert Probe for Gigabit Trunking

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Complete Insight and Visibility at the Core of Your Enterprise
Help guarantee the availability of business-critical applications and infrastructure with the Network Instruments GigaTrunk Probe (GT Probe).

Benefits:

Insight
Obtain powerful visibility and performance optimization at the enterprise core from any location

Knowledge
Watch vital network statistics on crucial trunked gigabit links

Problem Resolution
View link traffic in aggregate for complete analysis or by conversation for detailed packet investigation

Stability
Monitor and analyze load-balanced traffic for greater efficiency

Scalability
Purchase only the interfaces needed today—add components as desired tomorrow

Advantages of the GigaTrunk Probe
   • Monitor up to four full-duplex gigabit links simultaneously
   • Real-time Expert processing at the probe and a comprehensive Expert system
   • Includes custom-designed Gen2™ Gigabit Capture Card with SFP technology to monitor two, three, or four optical or copper links
   • Transparent design—insert and remove the GT Probe without disruption of the gigabit network with the installation of an nTAP
   • Capture and analyze load-balanced trunk traffic by conversation and by packet
   • Obtain full-duplex, wire-speed gigabit capture and statistics
   • Utilize the largest memory buffer (4 GB) in the industry for capturing large amounts of data without packet loss
   • Acquire link bandwidth utilization rates independently or in aggregate
   • Watch packet flow with directional and trunk indicators
   • Review statistics and perform packet captures and decodes that adhere to RMON1, RMON2, and HCRMON standards
   • Internal Advanced Expert Probe allows for multi-session collaboration with other Expert Observer or Observer Suite users

The GT Probe collects data from the trunked gigabit links that function as the main arteries of the network. Through the installation of an optical or copper Test Access Point (TAP), the GT Probe gathers data and does not interfere with or disrupt network traffic. By collecting data both in real-time and at the individual link level, conversations can be viewed in aggregate for a complete analysis or by conversation for detailed packet investigations.

GigaTrunk Probes Include an nTAP to Ensure Accurate Captures
The gigabit analyzer’s functionality includes full-duplex, wire-speed gigabit analysis for copper and optical fiber networks. To achieve full-duplex capture, all configurations of the GigaTrunk Probe include multiple internal nTAPs, which provides a copy of the gigabit signal to Observer. In the case of gigabit over fiber (i.e. optical) networks, the nTAP uses optical prisms to provide a copy of the data stream. In the case of gigabit over copper, the nTAP electronically duplicates the gigabit signal—one for the network, and one for the analyzer. With an nTAP, the gigabit network flow always remains unaltered and uninterrupted.

The GigaTrunk Probe can also connect to nTAPs that are already permanently deployed on the network for targeted analysis. Once an nTAP is inserted into the gigabit connection, the GigaTrunk Probe can be attached or removed without interruption of the gigabit signal.

Network Instruments Gigabit Technology–Gen2
The GigaTrunk Probe includes the Gen2 Gigabit Capture Card exclusively designed by Network Instruments. Gen2 technology maximizes Observer performance for full-duplex, wire-speed gigabit analysis. The Gen2 Capture Card delivers higher port densities with SFP modules for monitoring two, three, or four copper or optical full-duplex links. Since the card is based on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), updates to the card can be made with a downloadable firmware patch, eliminating the need to swap cards or systems.

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