Documentation forEngineer's Toolset

NetFlow Generator

Use the NetFlow Generator to simulate traffic records, test a flow collection system, or test an architecture that forwards or load balances the flow from other network devices. Before setting up your NetFlow Generator interactive simulation, you should know where you want to send simulated NetFlow records, where those records should originate, and the endpoints that should be included in the NetFlow data.

  1. Open NetFlow Generator from the SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset > Config. Management program menu.
  2. Specify the host name or IP address of the NetFlow device you want to configure.
  3. Enable or disable Node simulation.
    • Check Node Simulation (enabled by default) to simulate traffic from one or more NetFlow sources.
    • Uncheck Node Simulation to send data from local IP addresses where ETS is running.
  4. Choose the number of interfaces from which you want to simulate traffic. Note: This value applies uniformly to all configured NetFlow source devices.
  5. Set the Traffic Level you want to simulate in average flow records per second.
  6. Set the Flow settings:
    1. Select the Flow type to generate: NetFlow V9, NetFlow V5, SFlow V5, or IPFIX.
    2. Set the sampling rate.
    3. Optional: click to enable NBAR 2.
  7. Configure endpoints to be represented in the generated flow records. Repeat this step as necessary for all endpoints you want to add.
    1. Click + Add endpoints.
    2. Select the IP address type option: Single or CIDR, or Range. Enter the IP address(es).
    3. Select the Port option: Random, Single, or Range. Enter the port number(s).
    4. Select the IP address destination option: Single or CIDR, or Range. Enter the IP address(es).
    5. Select the destination Port option: Single, or Range. Enter the port number(s).
    6. Select the Protocol type: UDP, TCP, or UDP TCP.
    7. Click Save
  8. Click Run generator.