Cisco NetFlow Generation Appliance

Today's high-performance data centers need a highly scalable, cost-effective architecture for cross-device flow generation. The Cisco NGA 3340 generates, unifies, and exports flow data. Network operations, engineering, and security teams are thus empowered to boost network operations excellence. Enhance services delivery. Implement accurate billing. And harden network security.

Built on best-in-class Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS) C220 M4 Rack Server hardware, the Cisco NetFlow Generation Appliance (NGA) enables flow visibility in high-throughput Gigabit Ethernet networks typical of most data centers and campus core deployments. Simplifying operational manageability, the appliances can be deployed at key observation points such as the server access layer, fabric path domains, and Internet exchange points. Visibility is dramatically amplified when NGA is connected to multiple network devices, allowing Layer 2 and Layer 3 flows to be analyzed hop by hop, essential for security, capacity planning, and troubleshooting.

Designed for high performance and maximum deployment flexibility, the appliance gathers network data from platforms such as the Cisco Nexus 9000, Nexus 7000, Nexus 6000, Nexus 5000, and Nexus 3000 Switches, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches using Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN), and network taps. It implements a large active flow cache (80 million) and can be configured to export NetFlow records to multiple collectors concurrently to provide a single source of flow visibility for business-critical management applications such as security, billing, capacity planning, and more. Cisco NGA can export NetFlow records in weighted round-robin fashion to achieve load balancing or flow replication across collectors. It also offers up to 10 filters per destination, permitting customization of the exports to address specific management needs.