Aggregating SPAN taps allow monitoring and analysis devices to see network traffic from multiple segments at the same time. SPAN traffic is combined and forwarded in a single data stream to one or more monitoring solutions. This allows a single device to see events occurring across numerous switches.

Networks supported by asymmetric and redundant network routes deliver an added level of service assurance. However, this network architecture complicates analysis by routing packets across multiple paths from point A to B. The aggregating SPAN tap simplifies analysis and eliminates the need for multiple monitoring solutions normally required to support this configuration.