virtaustiet

Virtaustiet, often translated as flow data or netflow, refers to a collection of protocols used for monitoring network traffic. Developed by Cisco, NetFlow is the most well-known example, but other vendors have implemented similar technologies. The core concept is to collect IP traffic information as it flows through a network interface. Instead of capturing every single packet, virtaustiet focuses on aggregated records that describe communication sessions.

These records, known as flow records, contain key information such as source and destination IP addresses, source and destination ports, the protocol used, the type of service (ToS) byte, and the interface on which the traffic entered or exited the router. They also include metrics like the number of packets and bytes transferred, and the start and end times of the flow. This aggregated data provides a comprehensive overview of network activity without the overhead of full packet capture.

Virtaustiet serves several important purposes in network management. It is extensively used for network monitoring and analysis, enabling administrators to understand traffic patterns, identify bandwidth hogs, and detect anomalies. Security applications leverage virtaustiet to identify potential security threats, such as denial-of-service attacks or unauthorized access, by analyzing traffic flows. Furthermore, it aids in capacity planning by providing insights into network usage trends, helping organizations to anticipate future bandwidth needs. Billing and accounting based on network usage can also be facilitated by virtaustiet data.