Link Graphs Window

This window appears when you click a port in the Front Panel view and select Reports > Link Graphs on the menu bar. You can also click here to launch it. Use it to:

Select the Type of Data Displayed

To select a type of data, click % Utilization, Total Bytes, Total Packets, or Total Errors in the Data Type list. The results of each selection are described in this table:

Data TypeResults
% UtilizationDisplays the percentage of bandwidth being used on the port corresponding to the link. For example, if the bandwidth of the link is 100 Mbps, and 20 Mb is consumed at a time, the graph plots 20% at that instant.
Total Bytes (transmitted and received)Displays three graphs: Total Bytes (blue), Total Received (red), and Total Transmitted (green).
The Total Bytes graph displays the total number of bytes received on and transmitted to the port corresponding to the link.
The Total Bytes Received graph displays the total number of bytes received on the port corresponding to the link.
The Total Bytes Transmitted graph displays the number of bytes transmitted on the port corresponding to the link.
Total Packets (transmitted and received)Displays three graphs: Total Packets (blue), Total Broadcast/Multicast Packets (red), and Total Unicast Packets (green).
The Total Packets graph displays the total number of packets (including broadcast, multicast, and unicast) received on and transmitted to the port corresponding to the link.
The Total Broadcast/Multicast Packets graph displays the total number of broadcast and multicast packets received on and transmitted to the port corresponding to the link.
The Total Unicast Packets graph displays the total number of unicast packets received on and transmitted to the port corresponding to the link.
Total ErrorsDisplays two graphs: Total Errors (blue) and Total Packets Dropped (red).
The Total Errors graph displays the total number of packets with errors that were received on the port corresponding to the link.
The Total Packets Dropped graph displays the total number of packets that were dropped on the port corresponding to the link because of a lack of buffers or bandwidth or because of user-configured packet filtering on the switch.

Select the Type of Graph Displayed

From the Type list, click Line, Bar, Stack Bar, Area, or Stack Area to select a type of graph. The appearance of each type is described in this table.

Graph TypeAppearance
LineData points are connected by a line.
BarData points are denoted by the height of bars.
Stack Bar Multiple bar graphs, each of a different color, are stacked one upon another.
AreaData points are connected by a line, and the area under the line is filled in.
Stack AreaMultiple area graphs, each of a different color, are stacked one upon another.

Changing the Increments on the Axes

By default, the time increments on the x-axis are 15 minutes apart. To make them closer together or farther apart, select a different value from the Increments list.

If you check the Define Time Span box, you can define the x-axis by holding down the left mouse button and dragging along a segment of the axis. The segment you choose expands to become the entire x-axis. By right-clicking on the graph, you return to the default x-axis.

Note: You cannot use the Increments list if the Define Time Span box is checked.

Check the Log Scaling box if you want the increments on the y-axis to scale upward logarithmically rather than arithmetically.

Viewing a Long Span of Data

The scroll bar at the bottom of the graph lets you scroll left and review past data points that have moved off the graph. You can then scroll right to return to the most recent data.

Note: The graph is updated each time the switch is polled. You can change the polling interval (the frequency for collecting the data) by selecting CMS > Preferences and using the Preferences window.