NetFlow and sFlow

NetFlow and sFlow are network monitoring technologies that provide insights into network traffic and performance. The main differences between the two are:

Approach

sFlow samples packets at the interface level, while NetFlow statefully tracks flows.

Accuracy

sFlow uses randomization, while NetFlow can record and track all incoming sessions.

Compatibility

sFlow is vendor-neutral and compatible with many networking equipment, while NetFlow was developed by Cisco and is designed for use on Cisco's Internet Operating System (IOS).

Flexibility

NetFlow allows administrators to enable or disable sampling based on network needs, while sFlow inherently relies on sampling.

Here are some other differences between sFlow and NetFlow:

Data captured

sFlow captures deeper levels of information than NetFlow, including full packet headers and partial packet payloads.

Scalability

sFlow can be a more scalable option in very high-speed networks because the network device has no flow cache.

Exporting

sFlow exports records incompatible with NetFlow, but many network monitoring and analysis tools support both formats.