Network switch with by-pass tap

A network switch apparatus, comprising:

• a first network port;
• a second network port;
• a first inline port;
• a second inline port, wherein the first and second inline ports are for communication with a pass-through device;
• a packet switch;
• and
• a by-pass device;
• wherein in a first mode of operation, the packet switch and the first and second inline ports are involved in packet transmission between the first and the second network ports;
• wherein in a second mode of operation, the first and second inline ports are not involved in the packet transmission between the first and the second network ports;
• and
• wherein in a third mode of operation, the packet switch and the first and second inline ports are not involved in the packet transmission between the first and the second network ports.

A network switch apparatus, comprising:

• a first network port;
• a second network port;
• a first inline port;
• a second inline port, wherein the first and second inline ports are for communication with a pass-through device;
• an instrument port for connection to a non-pass through device;
• and
• a packet switch for transmitting a packet received at the first network port to the non-pass through device via the instrument port, and to the pass through device via the first inline port.

A network switch apparatus, comprising:

• a first network port for communication with a first node;
• a second network port for communication with a second node;
• a first inline port;
• a second inline port, wherein the first and second inline ports are for communication with a pass-through device;
• and
• a processing module configured for transmitting a first subset of packets received from the first node at the first network port to the pass-through device via the first inline port, and passing a second subset of the packets received from the first node at the first network port to the second node via the second network port, in accordance with a predefined logical scheme.

A network switch apparatus, comprising:

• a first network port for receiving packets from a first node;
• an inline port for communication with a pass-through device;
• one or more additional inline ports for communication with one or more additional pass-through devices, respectively;
• and
• a processing module configured for transmitting a subset of the packets received from the first node at the first network port to the pass-through device via the inline port, and passing a remaining of the packets received from the first node at the first network port to the one or more additional pass-through devices via the respective one or more additional inline ports, in accordance with a predefined logical scheme.