IPFIX
IPFIX (IP Flow Information Export) is a network protocol standardized by the IETF for exporting flow information from network devices like routers and switches to a collector for analysis. It provides a flexible and extensible framework for reporting traffic data, including details such as source/destination IP addresses, ports, packet counts, and timestamps. This enables network monitoring, traffic engineering, security analysis, and billing applications.
Developers should learn IPFIX when working on network monitoring, security, or performance management systems, as it is widely used in enterprise and ISP environments for real-time traffic analysis. It is essential for implementing flow-based network visibility tools, such as NetFlow analyzers, to detect anomalies, optimize bandwidth, and ensure compliance. Use cases include DDoS detection, capacity planning, and forensic investigations in large-scale networks.