Which roles are associated with port mirroring in networking?

In port mirroring, two key roles are established to facilitate the monitoring of network traffic: the mirrored port and the local observing port.

The mirrored port is the port on which traffic is being monitored or copied. This port can belong to a device that is generating network traffic that needs to be analyzed, such as a server or a computer. The purpose of mirroring this port is to capture all outgoing and incoming traffic for inspection.

The local observing port, on the other hand, is the port where the mirrored traffic is sent. This port typically connects to a monitoring device, such as a network analyzer or intrusion detection system, which can review the captured traffic in real time. By allowing the local observing port to access the mirrored traffic, network administrators can effectively monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot network issues.

Understanding these roles is critical for implementing effective network monitoring strategies, ensuring that the necessary data can be gathered without affecting the performance of the production network.