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Network TAPs, No Batteries Included!

October 23, 2025

Network TAPs, No Batteries Included cover image

Last week’s photos and video from inside Air China flight CA139 of a lithium battery in flames were shocking. It’s a stark reminder of the dangers of lithium-ion batteries and the risk of exploding is a real thing, not just a warning on a label. 

For those up to date on the news, the logical question the Garland Technology team receives is about battery back-ups in Network TAPs. Garland Technology recommends against batteries inside TAPs because of their risk of rupturing and fire hazard. We do not recognize lithium-ion batteries as an acceptable standard in a data center, service provider network, or cyber fly-away kit. 


Popular and Regulated 

Lithium-ion batteries are so popular because they’re accessible and affordable. They require rigorous quality assurance processes for testing and keeping the cells free from contaminants. Any slight missteps in the production process can lead to future cell failures, fires, and / or the release of dangerous fumes and liquids.

Fortunately, there are standards for lithium-ion batteries to ensure consistency and safety. 

  • North America’s UL standards 
  • International IEC standards 
  • ISO standards for manufacturing batteries 
  • SAE standards for the transportation industry 

Additionally, airlines around the world have policies prohibiting lithium-ion batteries in carry-on bags. Many have recently updated their policies. 


Just Say No 

With so many potential problems, network professionals simply must say no to batteries in their networks, data centers, and mobile kits. Why? 

  • Static electrical events can damage safety devices and charging circuits, leading to eventual catastrophic failure  
  • External damage causes dangerous leaks no matter how well-made the battery is  
  • Operating the battery outside of its specified temperature range can cause dangerous accidents  



A Safe and Reliable Power Redundancy Scenario  

Network professionals that implement lithium-ion batteries as protection against power-outages on Network TAPs need a proven and safer approach to power redundancy. There are more reliable ways to keep monitoring networks in times of power failures. The most reliable solution is dual power planes with separate power sources hooked up to a primary power and a secondary power supply.  The secondary power supply is then connected to the network backup power (a UPS, generator, etc.).  

 

Copper-Tap-Configurator-CTA

 


Failsafe Feature in TAPs 
  
A real Network TAP does not provide a possible point of failure. If it’s a passive TAP, power is not required. If it’s an active TAP, it should have failsafe technology that keeps your network links up and running even in case of power outages to the TAP.  

The Failsafe feature in our copper TAPs recognizes power outages and then automatically utilizes a relay with a default state that connects the networking ports A and B together instantaneously. One key to eliminating single points of failure is ensuring devices are able to maintain uptime in the event of a power failure. This is what failsafe technology does for your network design. TAPs with built-in failsafe technology ensure network uptime because even if the TAP’s power supply fails, the network traffic will continue to flow while you resolve the issue. 

Looking to add network TAP visibility to your deployment, but not sure where to start? Join us for a brief network Design-IT consultation or demo. No obligation - it’s what we love to do. 

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Heartbeats Packets Inside the Bypass TAP

If the inline security tool goes off-line, the TAP will bypass the tool and automatically keep the link flowing. The Bypass TAP does this by sending heartbeat packets to the inline security tool. As long as the inline security tool is on-line, the heartbeat packets will be returned to the TAP, and the link traffic will continue to flow through the inline security tool.

If the heartbeat packets are not returned to the TAP (indicating that the inline security tool has gone off-line), the TAP will automatically 'bypass' the inline security tool and keep the link traffic flowing. The TAP also removes the heartbeat packets before sending the network traffic back onto the critical link.

While the TAP is in bypass mode, it continues to send heartbeat packets out to the inline security tool so that once the tool is back on-line, it will begin returning the heartbeat packets back to the TAP indicating that the tool is ready to go back to work. The TAP will then direct the network traffic back through the inline security tool along with the heartbeat packets placing the tool back inline.

Some of you may have noticed a flaw in the logic behind this solution!  You say, “What if the TAP should fail because it is also in-line? Then the link will also fail!” The TAP would now be considered a point of failure. That is a good catch – but in our blog on Bypass vs. Failsafe, I explained that if a TAP were to fail or lose power, it must provide failsafe protection to the link it is attached to. So our network TAP will go into Failsafe mode keeping the link flowing.

Glossary

  1. Single point of failure: a risk to an IT network if one part of the system brings down a larger part of the entire system.

  2. Heartbeat packet: a soft detection technology that monitors the health of inline appliances. Read the heartbeat packet blog here.

  3. Critical link: the connection between two or more network devices or appliances that if the connection fails then the network is disrupted.

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