Net Optics Taps into 40Gig Network Space

Network access vendor Net Optics delivered the latest in its line of network taps and other monitoring solutions at last week’s RSA Conference. And for solution providers dealing with high-end enterprise and larger networks, that’s good news.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company has announced the first-ever 40 Gbps tap, enabling customers such as telecommunications providers and government agencies – in other words, those companies with huge bandwidth requirements – to monitor their networks transparently.

Sharon Besser, Net Optics’ vice president of technologies, acknowledged that the market is small for such a robust tap, but as data speeds and feeds increase, so will the demand for such technology.

The company also announced Director Pro, an advanced fabric controller switch that provides pre-filtering of data via deep-packet inspection of network traffic to optimize the performance of security and monitoring tools, such as network intrusion prevention systems, data loss prevention, activity monitoring and Web security gateways. Director Pro also utilizes dynamic load balancing to ensure monitoring tools receive balanced loads.

Both DPI and dynamic load balancing are industry firsts in a fabric controller switch, according to Net Optics.

In addition, the company has announced its Gig Zero Delay Tap, a 10/100/1000BaseT Tap with true zero-delay operation to prevent network disruptions in highly sensitive industries. The idea, Besser said, is to have links to the network even when connecting and disconnecting devices from the network, which would reduce the risk before, during and after network monitoring.

During a power outage, for example, the Gig Zero Delay Tap preserves the state of each network port ensuring network links remain fully functional; only monitor traffic becomes unavailable.

Net Optics has been around for about 14 years and has entrenched itself firmly in the network monitoring space. And while network taps can be viewed as somewhat passé in light of other, newer technologies such as switch port analyzers or mirror ports, Net Optics believes they will always have a place in the network.

“Basically, our products allow resellers to take different solutions and connect into the network to gain visibility,” Besser said. “A VAR can take one of our directory switches and create a solution platform that combines monitoring and security without the need to change the network’s infrastructure.” Other technologies provide some similar but limited functionality, he added.

Net Optics does about 35 percent of its sales through the channel and another 35 percent through OEM agreements. Because its products are manufactured at its Santa Clara facility, Besser noted that turnaround time is very quick. “It’s almost built to order,” he said.

Estimated Street Price for the Director Pro starts at $19,500. The Gig Zero Delay Tap is priced at $1,195. Pricing for the 40G Tap has not yet been set. Expected availability for all three products is March for the Director Pro, April for the Gig Zero Delay Tap and sometime in the second quarter for the 40G Tap.

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