Net Optics Solves Invisibility Challenges to Reduce Security Threats in Converged Environments with xFilter™ Network Packet Brok

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xFilter provides visibility into complex network architectures and enables companies to optimize their networking and virtualization resources and support compliance.

Santa Clara, Calif. —March 4, 2013 – Net Optics, Inc., the leading provider of Total Application and Network Visibility solutions, today announces Version 2.5 of its xFilter Network Packet Broker (NPB). Version 2.5 enables high-density, high-throughput network monitoring in areas using advanced tunneling protocols for optimized visibility, performance, efficiency and security.  

The xFilter is a compact solution to a persistent concern of customers whose networks are virtualizing or whose architecture employs complex tunneling technologies. Adding xFilter into the monitoring architecture makes existing monitoring tools fully usable; previously, these tools could not handle newly introduced protocols such as Extensible LAN (VXLAN) and Cisco FabricPath. xFilter also allows such tools to monitor in the presence of revived protocols such as PPPoE and MPLS, which present processing and visibility challenges. Adding xFilter makes possible both tunneling and de-capsulation for monitoring purposes—so customers get the best of both worlds.

“We’re extremely excited that xFilter now gives customers a working solution for adopting important new protocols while maintaining seamless monitoring and access operations across the network,” said Senior Director of Virtualization and Cloud Solutions, Ran Nahmias. “The xFilter is an ideal fit for customers in converged computing environments. This hardware and software solution is designed and enhanced to solve critical user needs for visibility, monitoring, and instrumentation-optimization.”

In the high-pressure world of switching and routing in physical and virtualized networks, the inability to monitor data that is encapsulated in new protocols raises a serious risk of invisibility. Such lack of visibility makes a network particularly vulnerable to threats and intrusion. Now, xFilter easily handles advanced routing protocols and encapsulation technologies in these environments. xFilter’s streamlined versatility and comprehensive range of protocols addressed finally solves those visibility concerns.  

New protocols are key to optimizing routing in virtual environments and are deployed to maintain network performance and agility. Such protocols traverse physical networks; however the encapsulated traffic obstructs visibility of tools and instruments to this data. Additionally, monitoring and access must remain intact as virtual machines move between physical servers in the virtual world. This is particularly challenging when converging cellular data streams, where proprietary protocols such as GTP are used to carry data, along with billing and routing information, obstructing visibility.  

No company prior to Net Optics has been able to offer such a comprehensive range of functions. xFilter supports:  

• MPLS and PPPoE stripping

• Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) decapsulation

• Cisco FabricPath and ER-SPAN decapsulation

• LTE / GTP de-capsulation

• Layer 2 and Layer 3 Filtering and policy-based forwarding

• GRE encapsulation of traffic of interest point to point

“We designed xFilter to ease the path of IT teams as they move forward in rapidly virtualizing environments, without sacrificing visibility,” said Sharon Besser, Net Optics VP Technology. “Sustaining visibility is really key to progress and to gaining virtualization’s many efficiency and cost-saving benefits.”

The complementary xFilter augments Net Optics’ data center solutions, providing ultimate flexibility and performance either as a standalone solution or in combination with Net Optics’ hardware monitoring and access products, including the Director™ and xBalancer™ families. Addition of xFilter helps companies optimize their networking and virtualization resources, maintain best practices, and support compliance as they deploy cutting-edge technologies.

About Net Optics, Inc.

Net Optics is the leading provider of Total Application and Network Visibility solutions that deliver real-time network intelligence for peak performance in network monitoring and security. As a result, businesses achieve the scalable end-to-end visibility they need to optimize network performance of physical, virtual and private cloud environments, and remote branch offices. More than 7,500 enterprises, service providers and government organizations—including 85 percent of the Fortune 100—trust Net Optics’ comprehensive plug and play family of application-aware NPM, Network Packet Broker, Virtual/Cloud and Visibility Management System (VMS) solutions to deliver immediate results and quick time to value through an easy-to-use interface. Net Optics maintains a global presence through leading OEM partner and reseller networks.

News Source : Net Optics Solves Invisibility Challenges to Reduce Security Threats in Converged Environments with xFilter™ Network Packet Broker Version 2.5