Lancope and Montego Networks Does VM2VM Visibility with Netflow

I've blogged on this topic of Netflow enabling visibility within virtual environments in the past but thought I'd discuss this topic once again as I feel visibility within virtual networks is VERY important.

One of the big problems that comes along with virtualization is the inability to see "hidden" traffic flows within virtual networks created by VMWare, Citrix and others.  There are a number of companies off building "agents" or visibility products that can drop inside VMWare to bring back that visibility that was once had in the physical network and I think this is great!  But! These solutions although needed are yet another tool that needs to be purchased, managed and maintained.  These new solutions also only work within the virtual environment.

Wouldn't it be great if you could leverage either existing tools that give you physical network visibility or being able to use a tool that could give you both physical and virtual visibility?  It would be one less thing to manage right?  It could also probably correlate information for your entire network vs. just a subset of it.

Well, look no further.  With the enablement of a feature called Netflow within virtual switches from Montego Networks and an experimental version that exists in VMWare ESX 3.5 you can now export Netflow records to physical network monitoring solutions from the likes of Lancope, Plixer International, Mazu Networks, Arbor Networks and others.

What triggered my blog on this topic today was a webinar I listened in on this morning from CTO Adam Powers of Lancope.  He did an excellent job explaining the how VM 2 VM communications are hidden and how you can bring back that visibility by leveraging Netflow and Lancope. 

I would suggest everyone interested in this topic CLICK HERE to register for the next Webinar by Lancope on this topic.  It starts at 2:00 PM EST today May 21st 2008. 

Bellow are a couple of screenshots from the webinar that was hosted earlier today.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Also the picture bellow shows a nice graphic of how the Montego Networks HyperSwitch interacts with Netflow devices.

Again, I would suggest everyone interested in this topic CLICK HERE to register for the next Webinar by Lancope on this topic.  It starts at 2:00 PM EST today May 21st 2008.

John Peterson