When comparing network TAPs, the term “failsafe” often comes up. It sounds important because it suggests that even if the TAP loses power, network traffic will still flow. In practice, though, this feature isn’t always as critical as it seems.
The real value of a failsafe TAP depends on your network setup. In some environments, every link is mission-critical and any downtime is unacceptable. In others, the network already has enough redundancy to handle a TAP failure without noticeable impact. In these cases, paying extra for a failsafe design might not provide much benefit.
A useful analogy is a bridge: imagine a single-lane bridge with a backup power source to keep it open during an outage. That’s helpful if it’s the only bridge. But if there are multiple bridges, traffic can simply reroute, making the backup less significant. Networks with built-in redundancy work similarly; they don’t rely on the TAP’s failsafe feature to stay operational.
What Failsafe Network TAPs Really Do
A failsafe TAP uses mechanical relays or optical bypass circuits. If the TAP loses power, the circuit automatically closes so traffic continues between connected devices, such as switches or firewalls. This is only critical if the TAP represents a single point of failure.
For many modern networks, redundancy or failover protocols handle failures better than relying on a TAP bypass. Still, there are scenarios where failsafe TAPs are very useful.
When Failsafe TAPs Are Actually Useful
- Critical non-redundant links: Some connections cannot easily be duplicated…
- Remote or hard-to-reach locations: Branch offices or industrial sites…
- Temporary or ad-hoc setups: Labs, event networks, or short-term deployments…
- High-risk or transitional networks: Smaller enterprises or networks…
- Compliance or regulatory needs: If continuous monitoring is required…
| Tap Type | How it Works | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Passive TAP | Splits traffic without adding intelligence | HA networks with redundancy; low-cost monitoring |
| Technical Support Requests | 30 mins/issue, Basic Support | Unlimited (No time limit, Full Scope) |
| Active TAP | Regenerates traffic; may include filtering | Long/high-speed links where signal integrity matters |
| Aggregation TAP | Combines multiple links into one monitoring port | Data centers or large networks. Some models, like the ETAP-2306 and ETAP-2306 ETAP-2406, explicitly offer 'both aggregate & non-aggregate monitor ports'. |
| Failsafe / Bypass TAP | Keeps traffic flowing if TAP loses power | Single-link, legacy, or remote setups (eg. ETAP-3105). Some are specifically bypass switches, like the DBPS-4005. |
| Filter TAP | Sends selected traffic to monitoring tools | Heavy traffic networks; reduces load on appliances |
| Regeneration / Repeater TAP | Duplicates traffic to multiple monitoring tools | Environments requiring multiple monitoring tools. (e.g. the ETAP-1105 is a '1-to-3' TAP , and the ETAP-3105 has 3 monitor ports ). |
| Intelligent TAP / Network Packet Broker (NPB) | Filters, aggregates, de-duplicates, load-balances traffic | Complex, high-speed enterprise networks |
| Optical TAP | Splits fiber links | Fiber networks needing passive or failsafe monitoring. These use SFP ports (like the ETAP-1105 or SFP+ for 10G speeds (like the ETAP-XG). |
| Copper TAP | Splits Ethernet signals | Copper networks from 100 Mbps to 1G/Gigabit speeds (like the ETAP-2003 ). |
Choosing the Right TAP for Your Network
| Network Type | Recommended TAP | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-Availability (redundant links) | Passive / Non-Failsafe | Redundancy handles failures; simpler and cost-effective |
| Single-Link / Non-Redundant | Failsafe / Bypass | Prevents link drops if the TAP loses power |
| Long Cable Runs / High-Speed Links | Active TAP | Maintains signal integrity |
| Multiple Links to Monitor | Aggregation TAP | Efficient traffic aggregation. |
| Heavy Traffic Filtering | Filter / Intelligent TAP | Reduces load on monitoring tools |
Takeaways
- In HA networks, non-failsafe TAPs are usually sufficient.
- Single-link or legacy networks may benefit from failsafe TAPs as a safety net.
- Other TAP types, such as active, aggregation, filter, or intelligent TAPs, address monitoring challenges beyond just failsafe features.
