The Flow Sensor Configuration window lets you enable or disable NetFlow on your network devices that support it. NetFlow is a flow-based data collection protocol that provides information about the packet flows being sent over a network. K-Series, S-Series, and N-Series devices support NetFlow flow collection.
You can access the window by selecting Tools > NetFlow Sensor Configuration from the Console menu bar. The window lists all the devices that support NetFlow. Click Retrieve to display all the devices in your network that support NetFlow, or click a device or folder in the tree to display information specific to those devices.
Select a device and use Enable NetFlow to add the NetSight server as a flow collector for that device. Up to four NetFlow collectors can be configured on a K-Series, S-Series, and N-Series device (firmware version 7.xx). However, only one collector can be configured on an N-Series device with firmware version 6.xx.
You must be a member of an authorization group that has been assigned the NetSight OneView > NetFlow Read/Write access capability in order to access this window.
Click areas of the graphic for more information.
- Collector IPs
- The IP addresses of the flow collectors configured for this device. The device (flow sensor) will forward flow data to these addresses.
- Enabled Ports
- The ports on the device that have NetFlow enabled. Flow records for traffic travelling across these ports are forwarded to the collector IP addresses.
- Active Timeout
- For ongoing flows, a flow record is sent out at every interval of the active timeout. When NetFlow is configured by NetSight, this value is set to 1 minute. This means for a flow that lasts 2 minutes and 10 seconds, a flow record will be sent to the collectors three times for this flow: at the 1 minute mark, at the 2 minute mark, and when the inactive flow times out (40 seconds after it ends) at the 2 minute, 50 second mark. This is merged by the NetSight Flow Collector into a single 2 minute 10 second flow.
- Cache Status
- When configured by NetSight, the NetFlow cache is automatically enabled for the device. NetFlow records are stored in the NetFlow cache until the active timeout is triggered and the flow is sent to the collectors.
- NF Version
- The version of NetFlow records forwarded by the device to the collectors. Only version 9 is supported by NetSight. Flow records of any other version will be ignored.
- Template Timeout (v9)
- NetFlow Version 9 templates are resent after this timeout period (in minutes). The templates are used by the collectors to extract the v9 flow data. By default, this is set to 1 minute. The value can be changed in the Console NetFlow options.
- Template Refresh (v9)
- NetFlow Version 9 templates are resent after this many flow packets. The templates are used by the collectors to extract the v9 Flow data. By default, this is set to 30 packets. The value can be changed in the Console NetFlow options.
- Enable NetFlow
- Select a device and use Enable NetFlow to add the NetSight server as a flow collector for that device. To enable NetFlow on a port, it is recommended that you use PortView in Management Center. You can access PortView from the Console Port Properties tab or Interface Summary FlexView, by right-clicking one or more interfaces and selecting Port Tools > PortView.
- Disable NetFlow
- Select a device and use Disable NetFlow to disable NetFlow on that device. To disable NetFlow on a port, it is recommended that you use PortView in Management Center. You can access PortView from the Console Port Properties tab or Interface Summary FlexView, by right-clicking one or more interfaces and selecting Port Tools > PortView.