Selecting the Type of Gateway

We offer two core types of gateway deployments - through a virtualization platform, or with a physical device.

Virtualization platforms enable the creation and management of multiple virtual instances of a physical computer system. We currently support a VM based deployment, and support VMWare, Hyper-V, and Nutanix.

The hardware gateway is a physical device that gets plugged directly into the network, requiring no additional servers, no additional software. The device gets shipped to the site, and then housed in the appropriate server room / server rack.

Selecting the type of gateway deployment from the options above really only depends on your networking team and what they're most comfortable utilizing. Both options provide the same Mapped features and functionality, so there's no benefit to one over the other when it comes to our side, it all comes down to what deployment method is best for you and your team.

The process essentially breaks down like this:

• Does your network have a Virtual Machine platform available, like VMWare or Hyper-V, and internal IT/networking support to help deploy an image utilizing it? If so, then choosing the VM gateway option is likely the best solution for you.
• If a VM platform isn't available, or your IT team is unfamiliar with the platform, then the hardware gateway option is likely the best solution. The hardware gateway does not require any additional software or platforms, and can be installed by directly plugging it into the network.

Since both options operate the same way to detect devices, extract the data and send it on its way, determining which deployment best suits your existing network is all that's necessary. If you have any questions or need any additional help, please don't hesitate to contact support.