C H A P T E R
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Installing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System Appliances and Modules 5.0
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Introducing the Sensor
This chapter introduces the sensor and provides information you should know before you install the
sensor. In this guide, the term “sensor” refers to all models unless specifically noted otherwise. For a
complete list of supported sensors and their model numbers, see
Supported Sensors, page 1-6
.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•
How the Sensor Functions, page 1-1
•
Supported Sensors, page 1-6
•
Appliances, page 1-8
•
Modules, page 1-10
•
Time Sources and the Sensor, page 1-14
•
Installation Preparation, page 1-16
•
Site and Safety Guidelines, page 1-17
•
Cable Pinouts, page 1-20
How the Sensor Functions
This section describes how the sensor functions, and contains the following topics:
•
Capturing Network Traffic, page 1-1
•
Sensor Interfaces, page 1-3
•
Promiscuous Mode, page 1-3
•
Inline Mode, page 1-4
•
TCP Reset, page 1-4
•
Supported Interfaces, page 1-5
•
Your Network Topology, page 1-6
Capturing Network Traffic
The sensor can operate in either promiscuous or inline mode.
Figure 1-1 on page 1-2
shows how you can
deploy a combination of sensors operating in both inline (IPS) and promiscuous (IDS) modes to protect
your network.