Method and apparatus to establish a tap-point in a switched network using self-configuring switches having distributed configuration capabilities
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring data transmitted between a source node and a destination node in a switched network, the network comprising a plurality of network switches with at least one network switch connected between the source and destination nodes through which the data between the source and destination nodes passes, each network switch including a connection table, the method comprising steps of:
- (a) identifying one network switch connected between the source and destination nodes to be an originating switch;
(b) identifying one network switch to be a probe switch, the probe switch having a probe attached to a probe port;
(c) identifying all intermediate network switches connected in a path between the originating switch and the probe switch; and
(d) configuring the originating switch, the probe switch and all intermediate network switches to pass data transmitted from at least one of the source node and the destination node to the probe port of the probe switch.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring data sent between a source node and destination node in a switched network, wherein the switches configure themselves to establish a connection path to a probe switch to receive the monitored data. The source and destination are identified along with the probe switch. An originating switch on a path between the source and destination is identified and connections between the originating switch and the probe switch are established. The originating switch sends out a first message and when the probe switch receives the first message, it returns a second message to the originating switch. Each switch between the originating switch and the probe switch that receives the first and second messages configures itself to establish the connection path.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of monitoring data transmitted between a source node and a destination node in a switched network, the network comprising a plurality of network switches with at least one network switch connected between the source and destination nodes through which the data between the source and destination nodes passes, each network switch including a connection table, the method comprising steps of:
-
(a) identifying one network switch connected between the source and destination nodes to be an originating switch; (b) identifying one network switch to be a probe switch, the probe switch having a probe attached to a probe port; (c) identifying all intermediate network switches connected in a path between the originating switch and the probe switch; and (d) configuring the originating switch, the probe switch and all intermediate network switches to pass data transmitted from at least one of the source node and the destination node to the probe port of the probe switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. In a switched network including a plurality of switches and having a source node and a destination node sending data to one another through a first switch on a first path therebetween, a method of monitoring the data at a probe switch having a probe port and a data probe connected to the probe port, the method comprising steps of:
-
(a) identifying all switches in a second path from the first switch to the probe switch; and (b) each switch on the second path configuring itself in response to a message received from an adjacent switch on the second path so as to pass data from at least one of the source node and the destination node to the data probe. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of establishing a tap connection between at least one of a source node and a destination node in a switched network, the method comprising steps of:
-
sending a first message to an originating switch in a path between the source and destination nodes; the originating switch forwarding the first message so as to be received by all other switches in a flood-path within the switched network; in each respective switch which receives the first message, determining if the respective switch is a probe switch and when the respective switch is the probe switch, sending a second message out a first port on which the first message was received and establishing a connection between the first port and a probe port to which a probe is connected and when the respective switch is not the probe switch, sending the first message so as to be received by other switches in the flood-path; and in each respective switch which receives the first and second messages, establishing a connection between the first port and a second port on which the second message was received and sending the second message out the first port.
-
-
15. A self-configuring switch for establishing, in a switched network, a tap connection between at least one of:
- a source node and a destination node, and a probe switch, the self-configuring network switch comprising;
means for receiving a tap request message identifying a particular tap request; means for identifying a tap request port on which the tap request message is received; means for comparing an address of the self-configuring network switch to a probe switch address in the tap request message; means for sending the tap request message out a flood path port, other than the tap request port, when the comparing means determines that the self-configuring network switch address is not equal to the probe switch address; means for sending a tap response message out on the tap request port when the comparing means determines that the self-configuring network switch address is equal to the probe switch address; means for establishing a connection between the tap request port and a probe port, to which a probe is attached, when the comparing means determines that the self-configuring network switch address is equal to the probe switch address; means for receiving a tap response message identifying the particular tap request; means for identifying a tap response port on which the tap response message is received; means for establishing a connection between the tap request port and the tap response port when both a tap request message and a tap response message have been received; and means for sending the tap response message out the tap request port when both a tap request message and tap response message have been received.
- a source node and a destination node, and a probe switch, the self-configuring network switch comprising;
-
16. In a switched network including a plurality of switches, one switch of the plurality of switches being a probe switch having a probe port to which a probe is attached, the switched network having a source node and a destination node, a method of monitoring, at the probe switch, data sent between the source and destination nodes, the method comprising steps of:
-
(a) identifying an originating switch in a first path between the source and destination nodes; (b) identifying all switches in a second path from the originating switch to the probe switch; and (c) each switch on the second path configuring itself, in response to a message received from an adjacent switch on the second path, so as to pass data from at least one of the source node and the destination node to the probe switch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A self-configuring switch for monitoring data sent between a first node and a second node in a switched network including said switch, the data being sent through a first switch on a first path between the first and second nodes within the switched network, the data being monitored at a third node, the switch comprising:
-
means for searching for all switches in a second path from the first switch to the third node; and configuring means for configuring the switch in response to a message received from an adjacent switch in the second path so as to pass data from at least one of the first and second nodes to the third node.
-
Specification