Intelligence Distribution System Balancer - IDSB

The Top Layer IDSB can aggregate network traffic from multiple segments or VLANS, replicate and filter it and send copies to one or more groups of network monitoring devices. Customers have reported significant cost savings, in some cases 80%, by streamlining the deployment of their various network monitoring tools with Top Layer's IDSB appliances.

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Problems Solved:

- Shortage of SPAN Ports
- Sensors unable to keep up with the traffic
- N + 1 redundancy
- Difficulties working in asymmetric networks

Top Layer was the first-to-market with an ASIC-based intelligent
monitoring sensor load balancing appliance.

Before the Top Layer IDSB, network engineers were required to install monitoring sensors at each segment of the network to get 100% coverage. Over time, the requirement to add additional sensors caused bottlenecks in terms of span port availability on switches requiring expensive network upgrades or less than 100% coverage.

With the Top Layer IDSB, there is a more cost effective solution that works with almost any class of network sensor, including:
- Network Analyzers
- VoIP Recorders
- Data Leakage Prevention Devices
- Forensic Systems
- Content Inspection Systems
- Intrusion Detection Systems
- Rmon Probes

Key Features of the Top Layer IDSB Solution

Traffic Aggregation - reduces the number of network sensors required.

Traffic Replication And Filtering - Different monitoring sensors may have different traffic requirements. The Top Layer IDSB can create copies of the network traffic and filter it by IP address and/or type of application before sending each unique set of traffic to the various sensors.

Intelligent Load Balancing - High traffic volumes can overwhelm network sensors causing some of the traffic to be discarded. The Top Layer IDSB evenly distributes traffic based on the flows (conversations between hosts) rather than simple packets with its Flow Mirror™ technology to match entire flows before passing the traffic to the sensor. Using the analogy of a conversation between two people, packet balancing would represent words or phrases whereas stateful flow balancing would represent the entire conversation. Mirroring can be set based on source IP address or application.

High Availability - If a network sensor fails unexpectedly, the Top Layer IDSB will automatically distribute the load across the remaining sensors without causing any loss of uptime adding N+1 redundancy for your monitoring sensors.

Functions Equally Well In Asymmetric Networks - The challenge of deploying monitoring sensors in asymmetric networks is eliminated since the Top Layer IDSB uses Flow Mirror™ technology to match entire flows before passing the traffic to the sensor. This is an imperative feature when monitoring 100% of the network traffic is mandated by law or governance.

Reliable - With seamless fail-over, hot swappable power supplies and fans as well as no rotating media or chip fans, the Top Layer IDSB has the industries longest MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of over 11 years.

Ease of Use And Deployment - Simplify the management of your monitoring sensors. Most customers are up and running in minutes using the IDSB's intuitive wizard-based configuration screen.