A tap is great, but still leaves whatever device doing the monitoring a connection/L3 path for reporting. On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM Riley O via NANOG <nanog@lists.nanog.org> wrote:
The optical world does have a well fit solution, in the form of optical line taps... I've never used the independent modules, but it's common to see them integrated into a MUX as a monitor port.
Quick search found this:
https://www.showmecables.com/by-category/patch-panels/fiber-optic-systems/pa...
I'd contend this is better, as they start and end passive, avoiding a state change in a failure scenario. Although, un-networked devices in the middle of a circuit can become problematic if undocumented. The last thing you want is to be hunting down failed splices, when the answer is a loose connection in a datacenter.
Probably good if you can have some type of networked monitoring platform in line with one of these.
From the sounds of it though, OP would need his device to be addressable via one of the connections it is monitoring... and passive taps are unidirectional. As far as optical networking goes, a passive solution would require some type of multiplexing, which implies special equipment at midpsan, A, and Z ends of the circuit.
- Riley
On Monday, June 23rd, 2025 at 9:41 AM, Kevin Shymkiw via NANOG < nanog@lists.nanog.org> wrote:
I have seen several Fail To Wire (FTW) switches in the past. I never found them to be worthwhile, personally for a few reasons
- Only available in Copper. - You can't FTW optical since you need an OEO conversion
- Failure scenarios were limited - Our sites didn't have backup power, so it was pointless as we would lose the rest of the gear as well
Just my $.02
Kevin
On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM Craig Smith via NANOG nanog@lists.nanog.org
wrote:
Hello,
Is anyone out there aware of a fail safe switch/router/1U server where upon power failure or watchdog event 2 ports would fail to pass through data, but could also be assigned an IP address and act as a bridge in "normal" mode? The desire is to have an appliance that could perform monitoring and send telemetry in between a customer device and an Internet connection but not create a single point of failure or require multiple ISP handoffs.
Best,
Craig _______________________________________________ NANOG mailing list
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