A data monitoring switch is a networking hardware appliance that provides a pool of monitoring tools with access to traffic from a large number of network links. It provides a combination of functionality that may include aggregating monitoring traffic from multiple links, regenerating traffic to multiple tools, pre-filtering traffic to offload tools, and directing traffic according to one-to-one and many-to-many port mappings. Data monitoring switches enable organizations to use their monitoring toolsmore efficiently, to centralize traffic monitoring functions, and to share tools and traffic access between groups. Some of these devices also provide functionality that helps justify tool purchases and simplify deployment and management of the device itself.
The reason for the popularity of data monitoring systems is not hard to understand. There is hardly any business that does not need them nowadays. Right from oil, steel to power and even nuclear reactors, almost every type of industrial and business process can benefit from these monitoring systems. The effectiveness of the systems can be gauged from the fact that now top head honchos can have almost every detail about their company, virtually at the click of a button, thanks to these systems in place.
So, if you are thinking of implementing SCADA systems in your company, then the first thing that you need to ensure is that your employees are adequately trained in the system. There are scores of SCADA interface training programs that you can choose from these days. The course curriculum in these courses usually covers all the aspects related to PLC systems and their relevance to today’s industries. Make sure that you check the syllabus, for it should cover all the aspects of data monitoring system, before you choose a training program. A Web browser based graphical interface; While most vendors offer drag and drop capabilities, there are a wide range of GUI options offered on these products, some requiring CLI and some not. This interface is preferred by IT generalists, executives, and IT stakeholders who manage monitoring but do not have physical access to the data center floor.