MetaWatch is a powerful network application designed for the Arista 7130L Series devices.
It simplifies tapping networks, enables traffic capture with high-resolution timestamping, allows for advanced network monitoring and detailed network analytics.
MetaWatch combines several components of a traditional network monitoring solution into one powerful device:
- Tapping with negligible latency impact
- Flow-control of aggregated captured traffic
- Time synchronisation
- Sub-nanosecond-precise timestamping
- Deep buffering
- Multi-port capture
MetaWatch provides all features with virtually no impact on the monitored network performance and enables a seamless stream of timestamped frames to storage and analytics tools.
| Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Built in tapping | Eliminate the need for optical taps. Save rack space and remove unreliable, expensive and complex cabling. |
| Stream aggregation | Aggregate streams from multiple sources into a single stream for efficient hand off to data capture and analytics devices. |
| High-resolution ingress timestamping | Timestamp each incoming frame with a precision of 1 ns by a clock disciplined via NTP or PTP, optionally coupled with PPS. |
| Industry standard timestamp formats | Leverage standard absolute timestamp formats, not requiring keyframes, making development and integration easier. Also supported by major capture and analytics platforms. |
| Deep buffering | Smooth out traffic peaks to prevent frame loss via MetaWatch's large 32GB buffers. |
| Ultra-low latency | Patch devices through the on-board matrix switch with 5 ns of pass-through latency — equivalent to a meter of fibre! |
| Upgradable | Include high-stability OCXO or Rubidium Atomic clock modules for improved oscillator accuracy and extended holdover stability. |
| Detailed per-port Ethernet statistics | Monitor the quality of the source interface directly for light levels and frame statistics. |
| Physical interface abstraction | Configure the relationship between physical ports and internal capture and aggregation ports for complete flexibility. |
| Capture device, port information and other metadata | Track device ID and incoming port ID included in the appended trailer for every captured frame or configure with customizable identifiers. Other metadata such as sequence number can also be configured. |
| Optional frame truncation | Reduce the bandwidth required for aggregated streams when frame payloads are not needed for analysis. |
| Flow control and traffic shaping | Allow capture/analytics platforms to ingest the output from MetaWatch at a rate the application can sustain. |
MetaWatch is a pre-packaged, qualified, calibrated solution, giving customers confidence that they are capturing and timestamping all data on the network.
It Replaces:
- Up to 48 passive taps
- A packet broker/tap aggregation switch
- Network timestamping cards
- Media converters, patch panels, and all other Layer 1 switch use cases
Optimized for:
- Arista 7130L Series with embedded Xilinx Ultrascale+ FPGA.
Compatible Analytics Solutions:
- MetaWatch adds information to each packet to record time and other metadata. Several analytics and capture products can ingest these timestamps off the shelf, including our own DANZ Monitoring Fabric, as well as ...
Product Overview
Product Briefs
- .MetaWatch Product Brief
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- .Developer Product Brief
White Papers
- .An Overview of Arista Ethernet Capture Timestamps
- .5 Ways to Optimise Exchange Connectivity Latency
- .5 Things to Consider When Choosing an FPGA Platform
- .Measuring the Absolute Accuracy of 10GbE Packet Timestamping
- .Four Key Trends in the Networked use of FPGAs
- .STAC-TS™ BENCHMARKS - Accuracy of Network Timestamping and Burst Capacity of Capture
Case Study
- .Case Study: Electronic trading firm gains ultra-low latency exchange connectivity with Arista
- .Case Study: Deutsche Börse Group monitors every trade with Arista
- .Case Study: Enyx chooses Arista to accelerate ultra-low latency solutions for major financial Service Providers