Available models overview

ProfiShark is a portable network traffic capture platform that provides quick packet-level insight anywhere it is deployed. ProfiShark is designed for high performance and accuracy, delivering high-fidelity traffic capture regardless of packet rate, high-precision hardware timestamping, and aggregation to a USB output, while leaving the original network traffic unaltered.

ProfiShark 100M features a fully-passive in-line design, with the network link galvanically separated from the traffic capture system, making it inherently fail-safe and having the same effect on the network link as a patch cable.

ProfiShark 1G provides in-line and out-of-band capture of 10M/100M/1G traffic. It manages full-duplex gigabit traffic capture at wirespeed, which it aggregates and outputs to a USB 3.0 port. It surpasses all standard NICs in capture mode, as it catches any tags and encapsulation without altering the frames. When the TAP becomes unpowered, it activates its bypass circuits, connecting the two attached devices directly. ProfiShark 1G integrates a high-performance fast failover circuit and a proprietary algorithm, reducing the unavailability of the network path down to approximately 1-2 seconds. A dedicated power adapter can be used to prevent failover when disconnecting the USB 3.0 port. ProfiShark 1G also features Link Failure Propagation: if one of the network devices is disconnected, the TAP disconnects the line to the other attached device, allowing a redundant path to be activated in the network route node.

ProfiShark 10G features two SFP+ cages, for visibility into 1G and 10G, copper and fiber connections, capturing network traffic in-line or out-of-band. It integrates hardware filters, deep packet inspection and packet slicing for optimizing captured traffic throughput, so as not to oversubscribe the USB 3.0 output (3.2 Gbps).

ProfiShark 1G+ and ProfiShark 10G+ provide the same features as their respective base models, with the addition of advanced timestamping capabilities, combining hardware (GPS/GLONASS, PPS) and software features for greater control over timestamp synchronization (see Advanced timestamping).

ProfiShark 1G+ and 10G+ offer multiple advanced timestamping features. The GPS chip can retrieve the UTC time, and synchronize it with the internal PPS, with a typical precision of ±32 ns. ProfiShark 1G+ and 10G+ can also retrieve the time via SNTP (using ProfiShark Manager or CLI tool), or use the internal RTC (real-time clock), and synchronize it via an external PPS signal. A PPS output is possible, for synchronization with another ProfiShark device, or with any other device accepting a PPS input.

These features can be combined in different ways, providing multiple possible options for accurate and precise timestamping of packets.

The settings and information related to advanced timestamping are located in the ProfiShark Manager's Timing Tab. This tab is only available when a ProfiShark 1G+ or 10G+ is connected.

Note: For the best results, the GPS antenna should be set up outside, or near a window. Other factors can affect results, such as weather, cloudiness, and geographical location in regards to satellite availability. The GPS can take a minute to synchronize the UTC time with the internal PPS. The stability of the synchronization increases over time and may take up to 15 minutes to reach its peak.