What is Network Visibility?

Network visibility is becoming more and more important as organizations face the challenges of deploying increasingly complex network services (such as security, performance management, and monitoring) on an ever-evolving and expanding network and data center architecture. 

In an ideal world, you would cover every link to prevent blind spots in your network visibility layer. However, due to issues like budget constraints or port limitations, this may not be possible. So you should prioritize visibility on the high capacity links and other critical points on your network. A central visibility controller management system can serve as a force multiplier on the links that you have covered.

What is network visibility adaptation layer?
It is the set of network elements and management system that allows network administrators to achieve pervasive visibility into every part of their network.

A diagram showing where network visibility sits within typical network architecture

Achieving Pervasiveness of
your network visibility
The key to ensuring proper network visibility is creating a network visibility layer that comprises strategically placed network Taps, network bypasses, and packet brokers. This kind of comprehensive visibility is called “Pervasive”.
 
A pervasive visibility layer not only increases network security, but also holds key advantages in reducing downtime in maintenance periods, improving network service recovery time, and increasing your overall ROI. If your network visibility layer is not pervasive, you risk blind spots, potentially compromising your security and network efficiency.
 
For pervasive network visibility, it is vital that you approach the visibility layer with a cohesive strategy that takes into account the current status of your network, and areas where your network may grow or the topology may change.

What is a Pervasive Network Visibility Layer?

Most networking hardware and network visibility tools have limitations. Even modern network switches are equipped with only one or two SPAN ports, and you may need to connect more than two devices to them or have different departments tap into the traffic. Upgrade your physical network, and you may find your current monitoring tools lack the processing power or connectivity for higher throughputs and bandwidths.

A pervasive network visibility layer lets you forward to each tool the traffic that it needs. Aggregating low utilization links from across your network to central processing centers. Furthermore, some network visibility layer deployments take advantage of a central visibility controller management system like Niagara’s NVC. In such systems, independent visibility appliances are managed as a single virtual switch fabric across all of your visibility layers. This offers even more flexibility and efficiency in your deployment of network services such as monitoring and performance management.
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