SMC Networks 7724M/VSW - annexe 1, Manual

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Management Guide CLI
TigerAccess™ EE
SMC7824M/VSW 229
7.16 sFlow Monitoring
sFlow is a kind of monitoring functions using sFlow packet sampling algorithm. It analyzes
the traffic characteristics of network packet flow from end to end. It also monitors the
router and switch by collecting MIB information of interface.
Fig. 7.17 shows sFlow structure.
sFlow Collector
sFlow Agent
Traffic
Data
Analysis
sFlow Datagrams
sFlow Agent
Fig. 7.17 sFlow Structure
sFlow consists of sFlow collector and sFlow agent. sFlow collector analyzes the packet
transmission and sFlow agent collects packets in flow/interface statistics and sends them
to sFlow collector.
The following diagram illustrates how the object instances of Agent, Sampler, Poller and
Receiver are linked together in memory when the agent is running.
sFlow Receiver
sFlow Device
Packet sample
from switch fabric
sFlow Agent
ASIC
RMON
ASIC
sFlow
Sampler
Interface counter
sFlow
Poller
Packet samples
Kernel
sFlow Datagrams
Fig. 7.18 sFlow Agent Diagram
Each interface or module inside the switch/router has an ASIC or Network Processor
which performs the packet sampling function. The packet samples and interface counter
sampling are forwarded to the central CPU where the sFlow agent is running.