The cost and complexity of monitoring solutions are increasing at an explosive rate. More kinds of tools need to be deployed across a steadily increasing number of network links because

• Converged voice-video-data networks demand specialized tools to optimize different types of traffic 
• High-speed 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps links generate more traffic than ever needed to be monitored before
• Security threats are expanding on a daily basis
  

Net Optics introduces Director, the industry’s highest port-density monitoring access solution, with TapFlow™ filtering technology to enable your pool of monitoring tools to handle more traffic, more links, and more protocols than ever before. With Director as the hub of your monitoring access platform (MAP), dozens or hundreds of critical high-volume data links can be dynamically connected to a sub-station of monitoring tools. TapFlow filtering ensures that each tool sees only the traffic-of-interest for its particular purpose.

Director models are available with up to four 10-Gbps XFP ports which can be used as network or monitor connections, as well as one or two Director Network Modules (DNMs). Each provides 6 in-line links or 12 Span ports, supporting Gigabit SX Fiber or 10/100/1000 Copper media. All Director models include 10 1-Gbps SFP monitoring ports for Fiber or Copper tools. A dedicated 10/100/1000 Management port, a local RS-232 CLI port, and dual redundant power supply modules make Director easy to install, highly reliable, and quick to deliver value.

Aggregation, Regeneration, and Switching
Director provides one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many mappings of network links and Span ports to monitor ports. In other words, traffic from any network links and Span ports can be aggregated into a single stream and copied to any one monitoring port. In addition, the same aggregated traffic stream can be copied to more than one monitoring port at the same time, enabling different groups to monitor the same data without conflicts. Multiple different aggregations and regenerations can operate simultaneously, without interfering with each other functionally or causing slow-downs. Director aggregates, regenerates, switches, and filters traffic completely at line speed, even for fully-utilized 10-Gbps ports.

TapFlow™ Filtering
High-speed, multi-protocol aggregated traffic streams can be challenging for monitoring tools to handle. Often tools use front-end pre-filters simply to strip off traffic-of-interest, such as VoIP traffic for a VoIP performance analysis tool, while discarding the rest of the packets. This seemingly simple operation can consume a significant amount of a tool’s processing power because it must handle every single packet on the wire. Director restores these precious processing cycles for monitoring tools by utilizing TapFlow. This does the pre-filtering job for them, selecting traffic by protocol type, IP addresses, port numbers, and even packet payload information, and sending each tool only the necessary traffic of interest. For example, Director sends only VoIP packets to the VoIP tool, so the tool spends all of its resources on the job it was designed to do; analyzing VoIP traffic. As a result, tools can handle more traffic than before, increasing their ability to monitoring a half-dozen aggregated links when, without Director, it was challenged to keep up with a single link.

Media Conversion
Director makes extensive use of modular interface technology to eliminate the headache of matching interfaces between monitoring tools and links. All Director monitor ports use SFP or XFP modular transceivers so virtually any monitoring tool can be accommodated. In addition, DNMs are available for copper and SX fiber in both in-line and Span versions, increasing the flexibility of media type support. In another major innovation, Director enables you to mix 1-Gbps and 10-Gbps links and tools. Traffic from a 10-Gbps link can be truncated or filtered to multiple 1-Gbps monitoring tools. Conversely, multiple 1-Gbps links can be aggregated to a 10-Gbps monitoring tool, making use of, and therefore getting value out of the tool bandwidth that might otherwise go to waste.

Load Balancing
Load Balancing allows the traffic to be split into multiple streams so the data can be processed by two or more tools working in parallel. Director Load Balancing takes the traffic from any Network Port or aggregated set of Network Ports and distributes it between to two to ten Monitor Ports. The load can be balanced by IP address, port, protocol, VLAN, and MAC address, or any other packet header field.

Daisy-Chain Expansion
Do your monitoring needs call for more than 38 ports? With Director, this is not a problem, because up to 10 Director chassis can be daisy-chained together to act as a single logical unit with up to 380 ports. Moreover, SR, LR, and ER 10-Gbps daisy-chain links support a reach as far as 40 km or 25 miles, enabling an entire campus or metro area to be monitored by a single logical Director installation.

Dual Hot-Swappable Power Supplies
Director’s two modular power supplies provide fault tolerance: If one power supply loses power, Director continues operating on the remaining supply. For maximum reliability, each supply has its own integrated cooling fan. If a power supply module needs replacement, there is no need to take Director offline because the power supplies are hot-swappable. Both universal AC and -48VDC (telco) models are available.

Easy Configuration
Packed with functionality, Director is also an appliance-style device that plugs and plays as easily as the rest of the Net Optics Tap products. Indigo™ management software provides three different interfaces to make configuration and operation of Director a breeze. The command-line interface (CLI) enables any Director parameters or filters to be checked or changed with a few keystrokes. System Manager is a Windows-based console with a rich GUI interface for managing any number of Director and other iTap-enabled devices anywhere on your network. The third Indigo interface, Web Manager, is an HTML page embedded in the Director chassis and accessible from any Web browser anywhere in the world. This enables quick check-ups on Director and your network. All three interfaces are password-protected and accessed through a secure, dedicated management port. The CLI is also available through a local RS-232 serial port.

Security and Reliability
Director is a secure and reliable appliance delivering unsurpassed monitoring access flexibility. It handles network traffic entirely in hardware, so there is no software to be loaded, maintained, or compromised. Configuration variables and TapFlow filters can be changed only through the device’s management port, so your monitoring access is immune to viruses, worms, and other attacks that pass through the Director network ports. Director maintains its configuration and TapFlow filters even when power is absent, making it a truly unstoppable appliance. In addition, when Director is powered off, traffic flows are not impeded between the device’s in-line network ports, maximizing network uptime even when Director is offline.

Doing Our Part
Net Optics is dedicated to ensuring user safety and developing products that are increasingly environmentally friendly. Director adheres to UL and CE safety certifications; FCC, VCCI, and C-Tick EMC certifications; and RoHS and WEEE environmental certifications.

Operating Specifications:
Operating Temperature: 0şC to 40şC
Storage Temperature: -10şC to 70şC
Relative Humidity: 10% min, 95% max, non-condensing

Mechanical Specifications:
Dimensions: 1.6" high x 25" deep x 17" wide
Input Power: 100-240V, 2A, 47-63Hz (Japan: 100‑125VAC, ~120 VA, 50-60Hz)
Output Power: 12V, 5A
DC Input: -48VDC nominal. -36 to -72VDC, 6.0A
DC Receptacle: Terminal peak, 12-14 gauge wire

Cable Interface:
Copper Cable Type: (12) RJ45 Network Ports 10/100/1000Mbps
(6) In-line or (12) SPAN depending on model
22-24 AWG unshielded twisted pair cable, CAT5e or better recommended

Fiber Optic Interfaces: (12) Gigabit SX Network Ports, LC type
(6) In-line or (12) SPAN depending on model
Fiber Type: Corning Multimode 50 or 62.5/125μm, 850 nm
Transceiver: GigaBit SX 850nm, VCSEL, supports 62.5/125μm
Transceiver: GigaBit LX 1310nm or 1550nm, VCSEL, supports 8.5/125μm
Safety: Class 1, eye-safe, laser emitter type; conforms to the applicable requirements per US 21 CFR (J) and EN 60825-1; also UL 1950 applications

Indigo™ Management Software:
Net Optics Web Manager—compatible with all major Web browsers
Net Optics System Manager—compatible with Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows 98
SNMP v3 support

Connectors:
Network Port Slots: (2) Director Network Module (DNM)
Monitor Ports: (10) SFP
Configurable 10Gigabit Ports: (2) XFP
Daisy-chain (uplink) 10Gigabit Ports: (2) XFP
Management Port: (1) RJ45 10/100 Copper Network
Configuration (CLI) Port: (1) RS-232 DB9
USB Port: (1) Supports thumb drives for software upload
Power: (2) AC universal

Certifications:
Fully RoHS compliant

Part Numbers:
DIR-7400: Director Main Chassis with 10 SFP monitor ports, 2 XFP 10GbE ports, 2 XFP uplink ports
DIR-5400: Director Main Chassis with 10 SFP monitor ports and 2 XFP uplink ports
DIR-3400: Director Main Chassis with 10 SFP monitor ports

Director Network Modules
DNM-100: 10/100/1000 Copper In-Line Module
DNM-110: 10/100/1000 Copper Span Module
DNM-200: GigaBit SX Fiber In-Line Module
DNM-220: GigaBit 50μm SX Fiber In-Line Module
DNM-210: GigaBit SX Fiber Span Module
DNM-230: GigaBit 50μm SX Fiber Span Module
DNM-300: GigaBit 1310nm LX Fiber In-Line Module
DNM-320: GigaBit 1550nm LX Fiber In-Line Module
DNM-310: GigaBit 1310nm LX Fiber Span Module
DNM-330: GigaBit 1550nm LX Fiber Span Module

System Manager

System Manager turns any Windows workstation into an SNMP-compatible management console to monitor and reconfigure all the iTap-enabled devices on your network.

System Manager is a centralized management console that provides access to all of your Net Optics iTap‑enabled devices from anywhere within your organization. With System Manger, you can configure devices or check their status instantly, without the time and expense of traveling to the device’s physical location.

Flexible Deployment
System Manager can operate over a dedicated management VLAN for maximum security. It operates equally well over the network or Internet, providing remote management from anywhere on the corporate network or in the world.

• Provides a central console to manage any number of Director devices
• Group devices by type, department, or other criteria
• User-friendly GUI interface
• View device and link status
• Configure Director hardware and filters
• Role-based privileges
• RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication and authorization
• Secured with password and isolated management port
• SNMP compatible
• Runs on any Windows XP, Windows 98, and Windows 2000 computer or workstation
  

Web Manager

Web Manager is a Web browser-based management console that enables remote management of Net Optics iTap‑enabled devices from anywhere in the world. Web Manger empowers you to configure devices or check their status whether you are in your office, at home, or on the road. Besides convenience, remote management also helps reduce the time and cost spent walking, driving, or flying between buildings and locations to service devices. Simply type the IP address of the device into the address bar of your favorite Web browser to connect to the device as if it was within arm’s reach.

Web Manager runs on all of the popular Web browsers including Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Pages are lightweight and load quickly, even over wireless connections. Simple forms make configuring devices easy, and reveal complete device status at a glance.

Task-oriented
Each iTap‑enabled device holds the Web Manager page specific to its model type. Whether the task at hand is to check device status, disable a port, or change a connection, Web Manager gets the job done in just a few quick mouse clicks.

• Graphical device management interface
• Embedded in Director
• User-friendly GUI interface
• View device and link status
• Configure Director hardware and filters
• Port names and aliases
• Role-based privileges
• RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication and authorization
• Secured with password and isolated management port
• Access from any Web browser including Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer
  

Command Line Interface (CLI)

The command-line interface (CLI) will be familiar to any network administrator. Running over a remote SSH connection or a local RS-232 serial link, the CLI provides visibility and control of every aspect of configuration and operation.

• Text-based device management interface
• Embedded in Director device
• Familiar switch-management CLI syntax
• View device and link status
• Configure Director hardware and filters
• Port names and aliases
• Role-based privileges
• RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication and authorization
• Password-secured
  
• Remote SSH access
• Local serial port terminal emulation software access