> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.elastiflow.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.elastiflow.com/additional-resources-reference-articles/faq/bidirectional_flows.md).

# Bidirectional Flow Support

How does ElastiFlow handle bidirectional flows ([RFC 5103](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc5103/))?

### QUESTION

How does ElastiFlow handle a flow exporter that supports bidirectional flow records ([RFC 5103](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc5103/)), where two directions of traffic are expressed in a single record?

### ANSWER

The collector will produce two unidirectional records, one for each direction. This allows these records to be processed and analyzed in the same manner as unidirectional flows.


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