Net Optics announced the introduction of the xStream 4.0 Family for network monitoring.

The xStream 4.0 Family brings together a spectrum of advanced capabilities for ease of use and an improved customer experience. Seamless integration and smooth scalability complement powerful, high-performance monitoring and load balancing—all fortified with agile, intuitive management.

“Our new platform delivers ‘three-click-manageability,’” said Sharon Besser, Net Optics Vice President of Technology. “That’s because xStream 4.0 makes it as easy as one-two-three to achieve quick link aggregation, network packet brokering and advanced load balancing. We challenged ourselves to redefine total visibility and control and create a new model for network monitoring.”

According to a recent Gartner report by Jonah Kowall and Debra Curtis, “The use of network packet brokers (NPBs) allows better visibility into and longevity of tool investments spanning network performance monitoring (NPM), application performance monitoring (APM), security, network forensics and other monitoring technologies that require packet data.”

The xStream 4.0 Family gives customers numerous ways to protect the data that is the lifeblood of their networks. Innovative features and capabilities enhance network monitoring and security, including multiple load balancing methods, packet manipulation options, added filtering capabilities, and advanced third-party integration choices for quick, accurate troubleshooting and resolution. With its ultra-low latency 480G backplane, the platform supports all 1G networks as well as those migrating to 10G. Its ability to double the number of available ports helps customers maximize the value and utility of their equipment.

Included in the xStream 4.0 Platform are:

- xBalancer is designed forhigh-volume, high-speed load-balancing in 10G and 1G networks—monitoring network traffic and cost-effectively preventing tool overburdening. xBalancer distributes the traffic to multiple monitoring tools, an efficient approach to optimizing current resources by sharing the load caused by processing high traffic volumes.

- Director xStream 4.0 Data Monitoring Switch aggregates, regenerates, switches, filters, and load balances monitoring traffic. With the highest density of 10G ports, Director xStream empowers the NOC to share a pool of monitoring tools across a large number of network links.

- iLink Agg xStream 4.0 Monitoring Link Aggregator combines traffic from as many as 20 network links or Span ports and sends it to four monitoring tools. It automatically performs all data-rate and media-type conversions, enabling 10G traffic to be sent to 1G appliances, and 1G traffic to 10G tools—protecting a company’s security appliance investment.