by Michael Agha, Director of Marketing
In today’s complex high performance digital environments, ensuring complete packet observability across your network is crucial for performance, security, and compliance. But not all network traffic management tools are created equal. Two common components in modern network architectures—Traffic Aggregators (Tap Aggregators) and Network Packet Brokers (NPBs)—play distinct roles in achieving that observability.
This guide breaks down what a packet broker is, how it differs from basic traffic aggregation, and when advanced packet brokers become necessary.
Tap Aggregators (Traffic Aggregation Points): The Starting Point for Packet Observability
Tap Aggregators, sometimes called traffic aggregation points, collect raw packet data from multiple network TAPs and SPAN ports and consolidate that traffic into fewer output streams for monitoring tools.
Common Use Cases for Tap Aggregators:
• Basic Packet Collection: Combining traffic from multiple links to feed into a single monitoring tool.
• Entry-Level Observability: Providing simple access to packet-level data without modifying or analyzing the packets.
• Low Complexity Environments: Suitable for smaller networks where data rates are manageable, and minimal filtering or processing is required.
While Tap Aggregators serve as a critical starting point for packet observability, they’re limited to basic aggregation. As network complexity grows, their lack of filtering, processing, and intelligent traffic management becomes a bottleneck.
What is a Packet Broker?
A Network Packet Broker (NPB) is a more sophisticated, purpose-built appliance designed to manage high-volume network traffic flows. Beyond basic aggregation, packet brokers inspect, filter, and distribute packet data to the right monitoring, security, or analytics tools.
Think of a packet broker as the traffic controller of your observability infrastructure—ensuring every tool receives only the data it needs, reducing noise and optimizing tool performance.
Advanced Packet Broker Capabilities Include:
• Traffic Filtering: Selectively forwarding only relevant packets (by application, IP range, protocol, etc.).
• Packet Slicing: Removing payloads or unnecessary headers to preserve bandwidth and protect sensitive data.
• De-duplication: Eliminating duplicate packets that could skew analysis or waste processing power.
• Load Balancing: Evenly distributing traffic across multiple monitoring or security tools.
• Time-Stamping: Add a unique time stamp to each packet so tools can determine exactly what happened and when.
• Header Stripping: Enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of downstream analysis by removing additional headers so tools get the original packet.
When Do You Need a Packet Broker Instead of just Tap Aggregation?
1. Large-Scale, High-Speed Networks
In high-throughput environments—like data centers, service providers, and large enterprises—simple aggregation isn’t enough. Packet brokers ensure critical tools don’t get overwhelmed and can focus on the traffic that matters.
2. Security and Compliance
Advanced filtering and de-duplication reduce false positives and help meet regulatory compliance by ensuring sensitive data is handled properly.
3. Complex Monitoring and Analytics
If your network observability stack includes multiple tools with different data needs, packet brokers intelligently direct the right packets to the right tools—maximizing efficiency.
4. Cloud and Hybrid Environments
As cloud adoption grows, so does the complexity of maintaining packet observability. Packet brokers help bridge physical, virtual, and cloud environments.
Key Takeaway: Packet Brokers Unlock Scalable Packet Observability
In summary, Tap Aggregators offer a basic entry point for collecting packet data. But as your network grows in complexity and scale, a Network Packet Broker becomes essential for scalable packet observability, security, and performance optimization.
Investing in a packet broker allows your monitoring and security tools to operate more effectively, reduces unnecessary data processing, and gives you the control needed to future-proof your network observability strategy.
