Network analyzer/sniffer with multiple protocol capabilities

• US 6,894,979 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CF DB EZ LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Crossroads Systems (Texas) Incorporated (Crossroads Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyun, Soon D.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/402, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370241-245, 370/246, 370/250, 709/230, 714/824
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Systems and methods for automated testing of multiple-protocol network environments wherein data which is formatted according to a plurality of protocols in sequence is automatically identified and compared to determine whether the data has been correctly transformed from each protocol to the next. An indication of whether the data has been correctly transformed may be presented to a user, along with information about the data itself, such as commands which may be included therein. The information presented to the user is in a user-readable form rather than raw data in order to facilitate analysis of the information by the user.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing the transfer of data across communication channels utilizing different protocols comprising:

a data processor; and

a plurality of communication channel interfaces coupled to the data processor;

wherein the data processor is configured

to receive data formatted according to a first protocol via a first one of the interfaces,

to identify the data formatted according to the first protocol,

to receive data formatted according to a second protocol via a second one of the interfaces,

to identify the data formatted according to the second protocol

to verify that the data formatted according to the second protocol corresponds to the data formatted according to the first protocol, and

to verify that the data formatted according to the second protocol corresponds to the data formatted according to the first protocol by comparing a data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol and a data payload of the data formatted according to the first protocol to determine whether the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol is identical to the data payload of the data formatted according to the first protocol.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is further configured to present to a user an indication of whether the data formatted according to the second protocol corresponds to the data formatted according to the first protocol.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor comprises a personal computer (PC).

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the PC comprises a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, and wherein the plurality of interfaces comprise a plurality of interface cards which are coupled to the PCI bus.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is further configured to receive data formatted according to a third protocol via one of the interfaces, to identify the data formatted according to the third protocol, and to verify that the data formatted according to the third protocol corresponds to the data formatted according to the first or second protocols.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is configured to emulate a response to the data formatted according to the second protocol.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the response comprises an indication of an error.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is configured to decode at least a portion of the data formatted according to the first or second protocols, to interpret the portion of the data, and to display the interpretation to a user.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is configured to verify that the data formatted according to the second protocol corresponds to the data formatted according to the first protocol automatically.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data storage unit, wherein the system is configured to store one or more of the analyzed data packets.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the data processor is configured to perform one or more analyses on the stored data packets.

2. A method comprising:

accepting data formatted according to a first protocol,

identifying a data payload of data formatted according to the first protocol,

forwarding the data formatted according to the first protocol to a first device which is configured to convert the data payload of the data formatted according to the first protocol from the first protocol to the second protocol,

converting the data payload of the data formatted according to the first protocol to a second protocol,

identifying the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol,

verifying the integrity of the data formatted according to the second protocol,

accepting data formatted according to the second protocol from the first device,

identifying the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol, and

verifying that the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol is identical to the data payload of the data formatted according to the first protocol.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising forwarding the data formatted according to the second protocol to a second device which is configured to convert the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol from a second protocol to a third protocol.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising accepting data formatted according to the third protocol from the second device, identifying the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol, and verifying that the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol is identical to the data payload of the data formatted according to the second protocol.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising forwarding the data formatted according to the third protocol to a third device.

16. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

converting the data payload to a third protocol;

identifying a data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol; and

verifying the integrity of the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises translating the data payload from the first protocol to the second protocol.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises encapsulating the data payload formatted according to the first protocol in a format according to the second protocol.

19. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

converting the data payload to a third protocol;

identifying a data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol; and

verifying the integrity of the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol.

20. The method of claim 3 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises translating the data payload from the first protocol to the second protocol.

21. The method of claim 3 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises encapsulating the data payload formatted according to the first protocol in a format according to the second protocol.

22. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

converting the data payload to a third protocol;

identifying a data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol; and

verifying the integrity of the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol.

23. The method of claim 4 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises translating the data payload from the first protocol to the second protocol.

24. The method of claim 4 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises encapsulating the data payload formatted according to the first protocol in a format according to the second protocol.

25. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

converting the data payload to a third protocol;

identifying a data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol; and

verifying the integrity of the data payload of the data formatted according to the third protocol.

26. The method of claim 5 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises translating the data payload from the first protocol to the second protocol.

27. The method of claim 5 wherein converting the data payload to the second protocol comprises encapsulating the data payload formatted according to the first protocol in a format according to the second protocol.