Help us improve your experience.

Let us know what you think.

Do you have time for a two-minute survey?

 
 

Flow Collection Overview

You can process and export multiple cflowd records with a flow collector interface. You create a flow collector interface on a Monitoring Services II or Multiservices 400 PIC. The flow collector interface combines multiple cflowd records into a compressed ASCII data file and exports the file to an FTP server. To convert a services PIC into a flow collector interface, include the flow-collector statement at the [edit chassis fpc fpc-slot pic pic-slot monitoring-services application] hierarchy level.

You can use the services PIC for either flow collection or monitoring, but not for both types of service simultaneously. When converting the PIC between service types, you must configure the flow-collector statement, take the PIC offline, and then bring the PIC back online. Restarting the router does not enable the new service type.

A flow collector interface, designated by the cp-fpc/pic/port interface name, requires three logical interfaces for correct operation. Units 0 and 1 are used to send the compressed ASCII data files to an FTP server, while Unit 2 is used to receive cflowd records from a monitoring services interface.

Note:

Unlike conventional interfaces, the address statement at the [edit interfaces cp-fpc/pic/port unit unit-number family inet] hierarchy level corresponds to the IP address of the Routing Engine. Likewise, the destination statement at the [edit interfaces cp-fpc/pic/port unit unit-number family inet address ip-address] hierarchy level corresponds to the IP address of the flow collector interface. As a result, you must configure the destination statement for Unit 0 and 1 with local addresses that can reach the FTP server. Similarly, configure the destination statement for Unit 2 with a local IP address so it can reach the monitoring services interface that sends cflowd records.

To activate flow collector services after the services PIC is converted into a flow collector, include the flow-collector statement at the [edit services] hierarchy level.

After you activate the flow collector, you need to configure the following components:

  • Destination of the FTP server

  • File specifications

  • Input interface-to-flow collector interface mappings

  • Transfer log settings

Related Documentation