What term denotes a hardware device inserted into a cable path to copy frames for analysis?

What term denotes a hardware device inserted into a cable path to copy frames for analysis?

• A. Inline
• B. Sensor
• C. SPAN
• D. Test access point (TAP)

Answer: (D)

A Test Access Point is the hardware device placed on a network link to copy traffic for analysis. It sits in the cable path and creates a mirror of the frames passing through, sending that copy to a monitor or analyzer without altering or interrupting the original data flow. This passive setup is specifically designed to observe all traffic on the link without becoming part of the data path, which is ideal for forensic capture and analysis. Inline devices are actually inserted in series with the link and can become a point of failure or latency, affecting the traffic. A SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) copies traffic via a switch’s port-mirroring feature, but it’s a function of the switch rather than a dedicated hardware tap inserted into the cable path. A sensor is a broad term for monitoring devices and isn’t by itself the standard term for a hardware tap that sits on the link to copy frames.

A Test Access Point is the hardware device placed on a network link to copy traffic for analysis. It sits in the cable path and creates a mirror of the frames passing through, sending that copy to a monitor or analyzer without altering or interrupting the original data flow. This passive setup is specifically designed to observe all traffic on the link without becoming part of the data path, which is ideal for forensic capture and analysis.

Inline devices are actually inserted in series with the link and can become a point of failure or latency, affecting the traffic. A SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) copies traffic via a switch’s port-mirroring feature, but it’s a function of the switch rather than a dedicated hardware tap inserted into the cable path. A sensor is a broad term for monitoring devices and isn’t by itself the standard term for a hardware tap that sits on the link to copy frames.