Network device for sampling a packet

A method of sampling a packet comprising:

• a) receiving a plurality of packets at an input network circuit, said input network circuit comprising at least one input port;
• b) sampling at least one input packet at said input port;
• c) transmitting at least one sampled input packet to a processor;
• d) transmitting at least on packet from said input network circuit to an output network circuit over a switching fabric, said output network circuit comprising at least one output port;
• e) sampling at least one output packet at said output port;
• and
• f) transmitting at least one sampled output packet to said processor.

A system for sampling a packet comprising:

• processing means;
• means for receiving a plurality of packets over a network, said means for receiving a plurality of packets comprising an input means for sampling at least one packet and transmitting a sampled incoming packet to said processing means, said means for receiving a plurality of packets coupled to said processing means;
• means for transmitting a plurality of packets over said network, said means for transmitting a plurality of packets comprising an output means for sampling at least one packet and transmitting a sampled outgoing packet to said processing means, said means for transmitting a plurality of packets coupled to said processing means;
• and
• switching means coupled to said means for receiving a plurality of packets and said means for transmitting a plurality of packets, said switching means for transmitting a packet between said means for receiving a plurality of packets and said means for transmitting a plurality of packets.

A network device comprising:

• a switching fabric;
• an input interface coupled to said switching fabric, said input interface comprising at least one input port;
• an output interface coupled to said switching fabric, said output interface comprising at least one output port;
• a computer-readable memory coupled to said input interface and said output interface;
• and
• a microcontroller coupled to said input interface and said output interface, said microcontroller for executing a method of sampling a packet, said method comprising:
• a) sampling at least one incoming packet at received at said input port;
• b) transmitting said sampled incoming packet to said microcontroller;
• c) transmitting at least one packet from said input interface to said output interface over said switching fabric;
• d) sampling at least one outgoing packet at said output port;
• and
• e) transmitting said sampled outgoing packet to said microcontroller.