IP mirroring involves duplicating IP traffic from one source to another destination. This process allows monitoring or analyzing network traffic without disrupting normal operations. It’s commonly used for debugging, security analysis, or network performance monitoring.
Port mirroring, also known as SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) or port monitoring, involves forwarding a copy of network packets from one port on a network switch to another port where the packet analysis tools are connected. The purpose is to monitor network traffic passing through a specific switch port for troubleshooting, monitoring, or security analysis purposes.
Mirroring in computer networks refers to the process of duplicating network traffic from one point in the network to another. This can be done at different levels, such as port mirroring within switches or IP mirroring at higher network layers. The mirrored traffic is typically sent to monitoring tools or appliances for analysis, allowing administrators to observe network behavior, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot issues effectively.