Understanding Network Packet Brokers
Network Packet Brokers, also known as monitoring switches, tool aggregators and data access switches, are hardware devices that are used to gain insight into exactly what traffic is required for those solutions to perform better. They generate this information by facilitating security and monitoring technologies. Network Packet Brokers are able to reduce resource waste, costs and of course, the possibility of hacking. This is because NPBs can apply specific rules and filters before they forward the traffic to your various network tools, such as performance management, network security, and other monitoring tools.
The ‘Broker’ in Network Packet Broker refers to its ability to combine, integrate, separate, manipulate and process inputs from many sources, delivering the data to a wide variety of appliances and tool destinations. Delivering the right data to the right tool will optimize security and performance.
Network Critical’s SmartNA™ Network Packet Broker range is hybrid, so in a 1U device, you get both Network TAP technology as well as Packet Broker technology. This makes our packet brokers highly effective in saving costs, and rack space.