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Switched Protocol Analyser Environments

Is a Protocol Analyser useful in a switched environment?

Yes.

If your switch supports port mirroring. You can turn on mirroring of one or more of the switched ports to the span port which the Protocol Analyser is plugged in to. Using a Protocol Analyser in a switched environment is common, and can provide both global port balancing information (using station statistics) and specific conversation troubleshooting information (using packet capture and decode).

In most switched environments using a Protocol Analyser is as simple as placing the tool on a server to collect access and conversational data to and from that server. Placing the Protocol Analyser on a "downstream" hub can show if the hub's users are correctly placed to maximise the aggregate throughput of the switch. Most switches allow for port tapping to direct any port's traffic to the port where the Protocol Analyser is installed.