Publication details

Flow Monitoring Explained: From Packet Capture to Data Analysis With NetFlow and IPFIX

Authors

HOFSTEDE Rick ČELEDA Pavel TRAMMELL Brian DRAGO Idilio SADRE Ramin SPEROTTO Anna PRAS Aiko

Year of publication 2014
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source IEEE COMMUNICATIONS SURVEYS AND TUTORIALS
MU Faculty or unit

Institute of Computer Science

Citation
Web http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6814316
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2014.2321898
Field Informatics
Keywords Flow export; network monitoring; Internet measurements; NetFlow; IPFIX
Attached files
Description Flow monitoring has become a prevalent method for monitoring traffic in high-speed networks. By focusing on the analysis of flows, rather than individual packets, it is often said to be more scalable than traditional packet-based traffic analysis. Flow monitoring embraces the complete chain of packet observation, flow export using protocols such as NetFlow and IPFIX, data collection, and data analysis. In contrast to what is often assumed, all stages of flow monitoring are closely intertwined. Each of these stages therefore has to be thoroughly understood, before being able to perform sound flow measurements. Otherwise, flow data artifacts and data loss can be the consequence, potentially without being observed. This paper is the first of its kind to provide an integrated tutorial on all stages of a flow monitoring setup. As shown throughout this paper, flow monitoring has evolved from the early 1990s into a powerful tool, and additional functionality will certainly be added in the future. We show, for example, how the previously opposing approaches of deep packet inspection and flow monitoring have been united into novel monitoring approaches.
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