A feature that sends a copy of a network from one or more switch ports to a special monitoring port is called?

The feature that sends a copy of network traffic from one or more switch ports to a designated monitoring port is known as port mirroring. This technique is essential for network monitoring and analysis because it allows network administrators to capture packets for traffic analysis without impacting the flow of normal network operations. By duplicating the traffic to the monitoring port, it enables the use of diagnostic tools or security devices that can analyze the data in real-time or capture it for later review. This methodology is crucial in troubleshooting network issues, monitoring performance, and identifying potential security threats.

In contrast, packet capture generally refers to the act of capturing data packets as they traverse a network, but it does not specifically imply mirroring traffic from switch ports to a designated port. Network taps allow for traffic monitoring but are typically more sophisticated and involve dedicated hardware that creates an access point to the network for analysis. Traffic analysis is a broader term that encompasses the evaluation of network data to identify patterns and detect anomalies, but it does not describe the specific mechanism of duplicating traffic for monitoring purposes. Thus, port mirroring is the most accurate term for the described feature.