NetFlow and sFlow Configuration Guide on Cisco 8000 Series Routers, Cisco IOS XR Releases

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NetFlow and sFlow Configuration Guide on Cisco 8000 Series Routers, Cisco IOS XR Releases

sFlow sampling methods

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Explains the two primary sFlow sampling methods used for network traffic analysis.


A sFlow sampling method is a network traffic analysis technique that

  • enables efficient monitoring of network performance and health,

  • offers two distinct approaches for collecting data, and

  • supports flexible selection based on monitoring objectives.

sFlow sampling methods for network traffic analysis

Describes the two primary sFlow sampling methods used for network traffic analysis and their key attributes.

The two primary sFlow sampling methods are:

  • Counter sampling: Counter sampling collects specific counters or statistics, such as interface utilization, packet drops, CPU usage, and memory usage. This method provides a high-level view of network health and performance without capturing or analyzing individual packets or flows.

  • Flow sampling: Flow sampling captures and analyzes sampled network flows, which are sequences of packets sharing common attributes like source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and protocol information. This method allows for more granular analysis of network traffic, enabling detection of traffic patterns, anomalies, and performance issues.

Network administrators can choose the appropriate sampling method based on specific monitoring needs and objectives.