Visualize how the Virtual Network Sensor fits into your network environment before planning your deployment.
The following maps provide an overview of deployment scenarios tested and supported
by the
Virtual Network Sensor. Use these maps to help guide your deployment plans to best
meet the
needs of your network. Each scenario contains a link to the post-deployment network
configuration steps for the mapped configuration.
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To monitor network traffic within the host machine the Virtual Network Sensor is deployed on, see Internal network traffic scenarios.
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To monitor network traffic between virtual machines deployed on a different host machine than the Virtual Network Sensor, see External inter-VM traffic scenarios.
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To monitor all network traffic passing through a physical network switch, see External traffic scenarios.
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For monitoring traffic bandwidth above 2 Gbps regardless of source, see External traffic PCI passthrough scenario.
Internal network traffic scenarios
Internal network traffic refers to traffic occurring within the host machine where
the
Virtual Network Sensor is deployed. These scenarios are best for monitoring traffic
between
virtual machines on the same host as the Virtual Network Sensor. Traffic is mirrored
from a
virtual network switch set up on the host machine to the Virtual Network Sensor data
port
virtual NIC.
Virtual Network Sensor supports several methods for VMware vCenter deployments. Review
the
scenarios below to determine which is the best fit for your network.
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VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (promiscuous mode)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring internal network traffic with the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (promiscuous mode).
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VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (SPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring internal network traffic with the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (SPAN).
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VMware vSphere Standard Switch (promiscuous mode)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring internal network traffic with the VMware vSphere Standard Switch (promiscuous mode).
External inter-VM traffic scenarios
External traffic refers to any scenario where monitored traffic is mirrored from a
source
outside of the host machine where the Virtual Network Sensor is deployed. External
inter-VM
deployments are best for monitoring traffic between virtual machines on a different
host
from the Virtual Network Sensor. Traffic is mirrored from a virtual network switch
set up on
the source host machine, through a physical network switch, to the Virtual Network
Sensor
via the physical network connection of the host machine.
Virtual Network Sensor supports several methods for VMware vCenter deployments. Review
the
scenarios below to determine which is the best fit for your network.
-
ERSPANTo configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external inter-VM traffic with ERSPAN.
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VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (RSPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external inter-VM traffic with the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (RSPAN).
External traffic scenarios
External traffic refers to any scenario where monitored traffic is mirrored from a
source
outside of the host machine where the Virtual Network Sensor is deployed. These scenarios
are best for monitoring traffic on your network as it passes through a physical network
switch. Traffic is mirrored from source physical network switch to the Virtual Network
Sensor via the physical network connection of the host machine.
Virtual Network Sensor supports several methods for VMware vCenter deployments. Review
the
scenarios below to determine which is the best fit for your network.
-
VMware vSphere Standard Switch (promiscuous mode/RSPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external network traffic with the VMware vSphere Standard Switch (promiscuous mode/RSPAN).
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VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (RSPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external network traffic with the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (RSPAN).
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VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (SPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external network traffic with the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (SPAN).
External traffic PCI passthrough scenario
External traffic refers to any scenario where monitored traffic is mirrored from a
source
outside of the host machine where the Virtual Network Sensor is deployed. This scenario
is
best for deploying a Virtual Network Sensor with an expected bandwidth throughput
greater
than 2 Gbps. Traffic is mirrored from a source physical network switch to the Virtual
Network Sensor via a physical connection configured for PCI passthrough on the host
machine.
Review the scenario below to determine if it is the best fit for your network.
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PCI passthrough (SPAN/RSPAN)To configure your network using this scenario, see Configuring external network traffic with PCI passthrough (SPAN/RSPAN).
