The connections can utilize different technologies, such as Ethernet, 802.11, FDDI, and ATM. In many cases, it is desirable for a third party to monitor the network traffic between two points in the network, point A and point B. If the network between points A and B consists of a physical cable, a network TAP may be the best way to accomplish this monitoring. The network TAP has at least three ports -- an A port, a B port, and a monitor port. To place a TAP between points A and B, the network cable between point A and point B is replaced with a pair of cables, one going to the TAP's A port, one going to the TAP's B port. The TAP passes through all traffic between A and B, so A and B still think they are connected to each other, but the TAP also copies the traffic between A and B to its monitor port, enabling a third party to listen.