3808E Product - Datasheet
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Overview
The Niagara 3808E hybrid packet broker is a compact, multifunctional platform that integrates bypass TAP capabilities with intelligent packet brokering.
Key Features

All-in-one - inline bypass switch, intelligent packet broker + active TAP platform that enables fail-safe & fail-open inline sub 50ms switching. This all‑in‑one design eliminates the need for separate TAPs, and packet brokers, reducing visibility costs by over 50 %

Use Cases

Ensure telco-grade high availability, policy-based protection for inline security stacks to empower SOC and NOC operations.

FAQ
Read the FAQ to discover common questions and learn more about the product or solution.
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3808E Solution abstract

PROTECT THE NETWORK INTELLIGENCE LAYER

The Niagara Networks 3808E is a carrier-grade hybrid bypass and packet broker platform, designed for high-availability inline deployments where uptime, resilience, and flexibility are paramount.
Part of Niagara’s Bypass series, the 3808E combines optical fail-safe protection and intelligent traffic management in a single, modular 1RU system. The modular chassis supports up to two double-bay field-replaceable modules, delivering up to eight 1/10/25/40/100 Gb bypass segments and integrated monitoring ports - enabling organizations to deploy inline and out-of-band security tools with complete agility. 
All-in-One Hybrid Visibility
  • Combines fail-safe inline bypass, intelligent packet brokering, and active TAP functionality in a single compact 1RU system.
  • Supports multi-rate interfaces (1/10/25/40/100 Gb) for flexible deployment across diverse network environments.
  • Provides carrier-grade optical protection with < 50 ms failover to maintain uninterrupted traffic flow.
  • Eliminates the need for separate TAPs and packet brokers - simplifying design, deployment & management.

Intelligent Traffic Aggregation
  • Precision Filtering and Load Balancing for Optimal Tool Utilization
  • Aggregates traffic from multiple links into high-speed protected segments.
  • Offers FabricFlow™ filtering and session-aware load balancing for efficient tool distribution.
  • Captures, replicates, and forwards traffic with L2–L4 visibility and user-defined byte filtering.
  • Enhances performance monitoring and threat detection through granular, flow-aware policies.
Cost-Efficient, Carrier-Grade Reliability
  • High-density, pay-as-you-grow architecture with flexible port options
  • Reduce Visibility Infrastructure Costs by 50 % Without Compromise
  • Replaces multiple visibility components - TAPs, bypass switches, and packet brokers - with one unified platform.
  • Reduces hardware footprint, power consumption, and operational overhead across tool farms.
  • Fail-open/fail-close optical relay and configurable heartbeat protection ensure network uptime in all conditions.
  • Achieves enterprise-grade resiliency and visibility at over 50 % lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

Carrier-Grade Visibility & Protection in a Compact 1RU Form Factor

All-in-one Solution

 

High-Density, Modular Design

  • Supports up to 8 bypass or active TAP segments
  • Up to 2 pluggable modules - each supporting 2 or 4 bypass segments and up to 16 appliance ports
  • Multi-rate interface support: 1/10/25/40/100 Gb
  • Compact 1RU rackmount chassis with redundant, field-replaceable power supplies

Carrier-Grade Reliability

  • BypassP2 optical protection (< 50 ms switching)
  • Configurable heartbeat mechanism per segment for continuous monitoring
  • Supports fail-open or fail-close optical relay configurations
  • Inline traffic continuity during appliance or power failures

Flexible Deployment Modes

  • Inline Bypass Mode: Ensures uninterrupted traffic flow
    to and from inline tools (e.g., firewalls, IDS/IPS)
  • Active TAP (Split Mode): Mirrors one network direction per tool port
  • Active TAP (Aggregate Mode): Combines both directions for single-tool analysis
  • Packet Broker Mode: Full Layer 2–4 visibility, filtering & aggregation

FabricFlow Packet Broker Intelligence

  • Aggregate, replicate, and filter traffic across segments
  • Session-aware load balancing
  • L2–L4 and user-defined byte filtering
  • High-availability policies between primary and secondary bypass segments

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 3808E 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

3808E use cases

Use Cases

Inline Security Deployment
Maintain uninterrupted traffic during maintenance or tool failure with carrier-grade optical and heartbeat bypass mechanisms.
Read the Solution Use Case
Data Center and Service Provider Edge
Deploy resilient multi-rate visibility across 1G – 100G links with redundant power and sub-50 ms failover.
Read The Case Study
Carrier-Grade Bypass solution for COTS appliances

Enabling uncompromised high-availability with COTS-based appliances. The solution increases dramatically operational efficiency and the high availability of complex inline cybersecurity tools.

Read The Application Note
Tool Optimization and Load Balancing

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

3808E – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What makes the 3808E “hybrid”?

What makes the 3808E a “carrier-grade” solution?

How does the 3808E enhance security stack deployments?

Can the 3808E protect multiple inline services at once?

What’s the advantage of the double-protection bypass design?

How does the 3808E support agile maintenance & scaling of inline security stack?

What deployment scenarios are supported?

How does it integrate with existing visibility and automation systems?

What kind of traffic intelligence is available?

What’s the value for service providers and large enterprises?

Can the 3808E be used for both inline and out-of-band inspection simultaneously?

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.

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