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TAPs Test Access Points

A complete corporate network health monitoring system requires lossless delivery of network traffic of interest to various probes, analyzers and security devices(IPS, IDS, DLP, etc.). One of the basic components of such a system are TAPs. These devices solve the problem of inadequate SPAN ports (SPAN-port contention) and their "loss" of packets (SPAN port oversubscription).

What is a TAP (network TAP)?

A TAP is a passive electronic or optical device whose function is to create a copy of network traffic, sharing a given link (link). TAPs can be single or multi-line. TAPs are ideal for delivering traffic to Network Packet Broker switches or diagnostic probes.

TAP is installed between any two network devices such as switches, routers or firewalls. The device does not introduce latency or affect intercepted network traffic. It has no MAC address, so it is immune to cyber attacks. The design of TAPs ensures uninterrupted network traffic even if one of the nodes between them fails.

What are the types of TAPs?

There are many types of network TAPs. The first division is, of course, the medium it supports. A TAP can be copper or optical (taking into account the ratio of fiber signal split, such as 50/50, 70/30, 80/20). Another parameter of the device for copying network traffic is the number of links (links) that can be copied. In addition, we can divide TAPs into the following groups:

  • Breakout TAP
    is a basic type of TAP. Its task is to deliver a complete copy of the network traffic, without any changes to the monitoring device.
  • Filtering TAP
    (Filtering/Filtration Test Access Point) - its task is to provide a 100% copy of the network traffic to the diagnostic device. However, there are situations when the monitoring device needs only part of the information. A good example is Wireshark or VOIP monitoring solutions, which need only selected elements of network traffic.
  • Aggregating/regenerating TAP (aggregating/regenerating TAP)
    allows the connection of multiple diagnostic devices examining a given network connection.
  • Traffic replication TAP
    allows replication of network trafficfrom a single SPAN port to several monitoring devices, eliminating the problem of a limited number of SPAN ports.
  • TAP with media converter
    these devices are necessary when the diagnostic device has a different type of input port than the network. This type of TAPs allows to change the copper link to optical.
  • Bypass TAP
    used to connect in-line diagnostic devices. Allows uninterrupted operation of the network, even in case of failure or periodic maintenance of the connected device (e.g. IPS).

We offer TAPs that support both 100M/1Gb copper and 1G/10G/40G/100G optical links - including all types of carriers with BiDi. For service purposes, all devices are also available in a portable version.

Stovaris offers products from two suppliers: Cubro and Profitap. As a result, we are able to offer customized configurations. Among other things, our suppliers offer modular solutions that allow us to pack a large number of TAPs into a 1U chassis.

Cubro's TAP with colored inserts, 1/2 RU high

This group of products is based on the companies' solutions:

Cubro | Profitap

Contact persons:

Jaroslaw Kupiec

Business Development Director
tel. +48 222 484 000
j.kupiec@stovaris.pl

Szymon Domański

Product & Marketing Manager
tel. +48 885 804 064
s.domanski@stovaris.pl