> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cyberup24.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# LARK Physical Port Reference: Interface Roles and Media

The LARK appliance exposes a set of physical interfaces across its front and rear panels. Each interface serves a distinct purpose — from out-of-band management and data export to network connectivity and traffic ingress. Use the tables below to identify the correct port for your cabling task before installation or maintenance.

<Note>
  Exact interface counts and designations vary by appliance configuration. Consult the delivery record that accompanied your unit for the authoritative port count and labeling for your specific model. See the [Interface Configurations](/kit-composition/interface-configurations) page for additional model-specific guidance.
</Note>

## Front Panel Interfaces

The front panel provides access to the BMC management port and the NIC data export ports. These interfaces support out-of-band appliance control and structured data offload.

| Port                 | Connector | Role                                                           | Notes                                                                                                                                                      |
| -------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| BMC Management       | RJ45      | Out-of-band baseboard management controller access             | Used for IPMI/iDRAC/iLO access independent of the host OS. Connect to your management network or directly to a laptop for initial configuration.           |
| NIC Data Export (×N) | RJ45      | Structured data offload from the appliance to external systems | Used to transfer captured packets, flow records, alerts, or other analytic outputs to analyst workstations or storage. Port count varies by configuration. |

## Rear Panel Interfaces

The rear panel provides the primary network connectivity interfaces and the traffic ingress port. Ingress is the interface through which the LARK receives a copy of network traffic for analysis.

| Port                      | Connector             | Role                                                                          | Notes                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Connectivity Interface(s) | RJ45 (copper)         | Standard network connectivity for appliance management and application access | Connect to your local switch or network segment. Used for browser-based access to LARK web applications.                                                                                                          |
| Ingress Port              | SFP+ (fiber, typical) | Receives mirrored or tapped traffic for inspection and analysis               | In most configurations this port accepts a fiber SFP+ transceiver. Confirm media type on your delivery record — some configurations may differ. Connect to a dedicated TAP or SPAN port on the monitored network. |

## Port Location Summary

| Panel | Port                      | Connector             |
| ----- | ------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Front | BMC Management            | RJ45                  |
| Front | NIC Data Export (×N)      | RJ45                  |
| Rear  | Connectivity Interface(s) | RJ45                  |
| Rear  | Ingress Port              | SFP+ (fiber, typical) |

<Note>
  If your delivery record lists ports or media types that differ from the defaults shown above, the delivery record takes precedence. Interface labeling on the physical chassis matches the designations in your delivery record.
</Note>