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    3299 Product - Datasheet
    Discover the full suite of visibility Solutions
    Overview
    The Niagara 3299 hybrid packet broker is a compact, multifunctional platform that integrates bypass TAP capabilities with intelligent packet broker 
    Key Features

    All-in-one - captures and taps 1G traffic, aggregates it into high‑speed 10G uplinks and provides advanced filtering and load‑balancing. This all‑in‑one design eliminates the need for separate TAPs and packet brokers, reducing visibility costs by over 50 %

    Use Cases

    Empower SOC and NOC operations with optimized data streams, enhanced traffic insight and inline bypass protection for copper and fiber 1G/10G environments

    FAQ
    Read the FAQ to discover common questions and learn more about the solution
    Select Option
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    3299 Solution Bypass TAP

    ACCELERATE THE NETWORK INTELLIGENCE LAYER

    The Niagara 3299 is a compact, multifunctional visibility node that merges hybrid bypass TAP functionality with a fully featured 1G/10G network packet broker. It delivers lossless, intelligent traffic aggregation and filtering, enabling optimized data flow to monitoring and security tools - all while ensuring continuous inline protection and fail-safe operation.
    Intelligent
    • Combines advanced bypass TAP functionality with intelligent packet brokering in a single platform
    • Ensures reliable inline traffic continuity with fail-safe, heartbeat-based bypass protection for copper and fiber links
    • Aggregates, filters, and replicates traffic for precise tool distribution and optimal utilization
    • Simplifies complex network visibility topologies while reducing operational costs

    Scalable
    • Flow-aware policy enforcement: packet slicing, de-duplication, tunnel awareness
    • Optimize tool utilization & reduce data overhead in hybrid, mixed-speed environments
    • Simplify APM/NPM analytics & reporting
    • Enhance security analytics with efficient, advanced threat inspection
    • Boost tool performance & scalability by minimizing redundant data
    Adaptive
    • High-density, pay-as-you-grow architecture with flexible port options
    • Optional Packetron acceleration extends visibility with deep packet inspection, TLS decryption & Layer 7 analytics

    VISIBILITY & BYPASS PROTECTION IN A COMPACT 1RU FORM FACTOR

    All-in-one-Solution 

     

    High‑density hybrid design

    • Up to 24 1Gbps packet broker ports / 6 bypass segments
    • Four 10 Gbps aggregation uplink ports
    • Full any-to-any port connectivity
    • Modular design with copper and fiber interfaces 
    • Compact, fanless 1RU chassis

    Advanced TAP mode

    • Copper modules can be configured as bypass segments to protect inline appliances
    • Copper ports can act as copper TAP segments or separate packet‑broker ports
    • Up to 12 copper TAP segments with optional load‑balanced 10 G output ports

    Multi‑functional Segments

    • 2 copper ports can be configured as a copper TAP segment
    • Network ports support SX, LX and RJ45 optics
    • Supports bypass for inline deployments, active TAP split mode and active TAP aggregate mode

    Packet & Flow Intelligence

    • Map traffic flow relationships between source and destination ports: aggregate to a single port or replicate to multiple ports
    • Sophisticated filtering up to Layer 4 with user‑defined byte (UDB) matching
    • Handles MPLS, VLAN and GRE tunnels
    • Multiple load‑balancing options: Layer 2–4 hashing, utilization‑based, session‑sticky
    • Internal traffic loopback enables multi‑level filters; templates simplify deployment

    Management & Orchestration

    • Web‑based UI with granular access control
    • REST API for third‑party integration and NVC visibility controller support
    • Niagara Visibility Controller (NVC) centrally manages multiple 3299 devices, configuring maps, filters and bypass functionality through a single pane of glass

     

    MADE in the USA

    Niagara Networks is among the few companies designing and manufacturing network visibility solutions in the USA, ensuring quality, reliability & security compliance Learn more

    3299 Use caseLoad balancing n+1 and Failover mode of 11 Protect network traffic in case of security appliance failure Hardware bypass in case of power or other major failure. Provides 100% network Protection

    Use Cases

    Aggregate, filter, and distribute traffic intelligently across multiple monitoring, performance, and security tools.
    Ensure efficient utilization of existing infrastructure by sending only relevant traffic to each tool.

    Read the Solution Use Case (opens in a new tab)
    Niagara’s inline bypass switches deploy a combination of a switching fabric bypass in combination with inline heartbeat injection for service availability and forwarding detection,
    and an optical relay to ensure traffic forwarding in power-loss situations where the bypass switch is disconnected from its power source. As a result, such powerful architecture has no
    single point of failure that can degrade the connected service chain and neither the network.
    Read the Application Note (opens in a new tab)
    Niagara Networks' carrier-grade bypass solution  ensures inline security tool efficiency. It makes sure that data packets are not lost, and all the essential data traffic continues to travel smoothly over the network, even when inline security devices need to be replaced, rebooted, or removed due to failure or for maintenance.
    Learn more (opens in a new tab)
    Discover how true redundancy in the visibility layer transforms security from reactive to uninterrupted. In this short video, Niagara Networks showcases a bypass architecture that keeps traffic flowing even when inline tools go offline -  ensuring zero downtime, no dropped packets, and constant protection for mission-critical networks.
    Watch the Video (opens in a new tab)

    3299 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    The Niagara 3299 is a compact, multifunctional visibility platform that combines hybrid bypass TAP functionality with a fully featured 1G/10G network packet broker. It delivers lossless traffic aggregation, filtering, and load balancingwhile ensuring continuous inline protection through fail-safe and heartbeat-based bypass mechanisms.
    In the industry, such devices are often referred to as hybrid bypass TAPs or hybrid bypass packet brokers - both terms describe the same versatile functionality offered by the 3299.

    The 3299 integrates both bypass TAP and packet broker capabilities into a single system. It can operate in inline, out-of-band, or hybrid modes, enabling flexible deployment for network visibility and security monitoring without additional hardware.

    The 3299 supports both copper and fiber 1G interfaces, as well as 10G aggregation uplinks. It allows network operators to combine multiple 1G copper or fiber segments and aggregate them into high-speed 10G links for optimized monitoring and tool utilization.

    Through Niagara’s Bypass technology, the 3299 offers dual-layer protection - a Fail-Safe relay that maintains traffic flow during power outages, and a configurable heartbeat mechanism that detects appliance failures and automatically switches to bypass mode to keep traffic moving.

    Yes. The 3299 supports multiple active TAP modes - aggregation and split - and can also operate as a copper TAP with up to 12 TAP segments per device, allowing continuous traffic capture without interrupting live network links.

    Typical deployments include:
    1. Inline security protection for firewalls, IDS/IPS, DPI and other cybersecurity tools 
    2. Traffic aggregation from multiple 1G segments to 10G uplinks
    3. Out-of-band monitoring via active TAP or copper TAP modes
    4. Hybrid visibility in mixed copper and fiber environments

    The 3299 can be managed through the Niagara Visibility Controller (NVC), providing centralized configuration, policy automation, and orchestration across multiple devices via an intuitive web GUI, internal EMS or REST API.

    By combining TAP, bypass, and packet broker functions into a single device, the 3299 eliminates the need for multiple visibility elements, reducing hardware costs by over 50% while simplifying management and deployment.

    The 3299 supports L2–L4 filtering, five-tuple matching, UDB filtering, and tunnel handling (VLAN, MPLS etc). It also provides load balancing with session stickiness and hashing options for optimized traffic distribution.

    The 3299 is available in AC and DC power models with 1+1 redundant power supplies. 

    Unlock smarter visibility 

    Discover how Niagara’s Network Intelligence platform empowers NOC and SOC teams with advanced packet processing, deep traffic insight, and scalable performance across any environment.


    Fill out the form and our team will connect with you to explore how our solution can strengthen your network visibility strategy.

     

     

     

    Designed, Engineered & Manufactured in the USA

    From design to production, our solutions are built to the highest standards of quality, security, and performance, trusted by organizations worldwide and deployed in some of the world’s largest mission-critical networks.

    Connect with a Visibility Expert