Flexible Netflow Configuration

In this lesson, we will learn how to configure Flexible Netflow on Cisco Routers. We will see Cisco Flexible Netflow Configuration steps one by one with a configuration example. Before, we have also see Traditional NetFlow Configuration on Cisco Routers.

To configure Flexible Netflow Cisco, we will use five main steps. These steps and the commands that we will use in these steps are given below:

• Flow Record Configuration
• Flow Exporter Configuration
• Flow Sampler Configuration
• Flow Monitor Configuration
• Applying Flow Monitor To Interface

Here, according to Flow Exporter and Sampler usage, the configuration can change.

Now, let’s see each of these steps and the related Flexible Netflow Configuration Commands.

Flow Record Configuration

In this first step, we will create Flow Record with “flow record” command. Then we will add matching traffic and then we will mention the collect information. We will use Netflow-record as flow record name.

Router(config) # flow record Netflow-Record

Router(config-flow-record) # match ipv4 tos

Router(config-flow-record) # match ipv4 protocol

Router(config-flow-record) # match ipv4 source address

Router(config-flow-record) # match ipv4 destination address

Router(config-flow-record) # match transport source-port

Router(config-flow-record) # match transport destination-port

Router(config-flow-record) # match interface input

Router(config-flow-record) # collect interface output

Router(config-flow-record) # collect counter bytes

Router(config-flow-record) # collect counter packets

Router(config-flow-record) # exit

 

Flow Exporter Configuration

In the second step, we will configure Flow Exporter. Here, as a destination, we will give the Flow Collector’s IP address and we will set source port.

The configuration commands that we will use will be like below:

Router(config)# flow exporter exporter-name

Router(config-flow-exporter)# destination {hostname | ip-address}

Router(config-flow-exporter) # source source-port

Router(config-flow-exporter)# transport udp udp-port

For our example, Netflow Exporter ip address will be 10.10.10.10. Oour source port will be ge1/1 and we will use the UDP port 9995.  our configuration will be like below:

Router(config) # flow exporter Netflow-Exporter

Router(config-flow-exporter) # destination 10.10.10.10

Router(config-flow-exporter) # source ge1/1

Router(config-flow-exporter) # transport udp 9995

Router(config-flow-exporter) # exit

Flow Sampler Configuration

In this step, firstly, we will create sampler with “sampler sampler-name” command. And then, we will determine the mode and sample number for window size.

Router(config) # sampler SamplerXYZ

Router(config-sampler) # mode {deterministic | random} 1 out-of window-size

router(config-sampler)# end

This is not a requirement but if we need to avoid traffic performance problem for high traffic, we can use Flow Sampler and limit number of monitored packets.

Flow Monitor Configuration

In this step, we will configure Flow Monitor. We will take from one side and record to another side. We will also mention cache time out.

router(config-flow-exporter)# flow monitor flow-monitor-name

router(config-flow-monitor)# exporter exporter-name

Router(config-flow-monitor) # record record-name

Router(config-flow-monitor) # cache timeout active timeout-time

router(config-flow-monitor)# end

For our example, we will use Netflow-Montor as Flow monitor name and we will use Netflow-record as record name. Our cache timeout will be 60.

Router(config) # flow monitor Netflow-Monitor

Router(config-flow-monitor) # exporter Netflow-Exporter

Router(config-flow-monitor) # record Netflow-Record

Router(config-flow-monitor) # cache timeout active 60

Router(config-flow-monitor) # exit

Applying Flow Monitor To Interface

In the last step, we will apply this Flow Monitor to the interface both input and output direction. We will apply Netflow-Monitor as Netflow Monitor to interface fa0/0 through both input and output direction.

Router(config) # interface fa0/0

Router(config-if) # ip flow monitor Netflow-Monitor input

Router(config-if) # ip flow monitor Netflow-Monitor output

Router(config-if) # exit

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