Nettverksflytdata

Nettverksflytdata, often referred to as network flow data or NetFlow, is a networking protocol developed by Cisco Systems for collecting IP traffic information as it enters or exits an interface. This data provides a profile of network traffic, detailing the communication patterns between different hosts. It includes information such as source and destination IP addresses, source and destination ports, the protocol used, the type of service (ToS) field, and the ingress interface.

The primary purpose of nettverksflytdata is to provide network administrators with visibility into network usage. By analyzing this data, administrators can understand who is communicating with whom, how much data is being transferred, and at what times. This information is crucial for various network management tasks, including network security monitoring, capacity planning, and troubleshooting performance issues. For example, unusual traffic patterns can indicate a security breach or a misconfiguration.

Several versions of the NetFlow protocol exist, with NetFlow v5 being one of the most common. Newer versions, like NetFlow v9 and IP Flow Information Export (IPFIX), offer more flexibility and extensibility, allowing for the export of a wider range of information. While NetFlow is a proprietary Cisco technology, its widespread adoption has led to the development of similar open-standard protocols like IPFIX, which is now an IETF standard. Collecting and analyzing nettverksflytdata typically requires specialized software, often called flow collectors, that can aggregate, store, and present the data in a human-readable format.