Method and system for securely capturing workloads at a live network for replaying at a test network

A method, comprising:

• capturing real-time data of a first processing system on a first network, wherein the real-time data includes a command having a payload, and wherein the capturing is performed independently of a storage protocol used to send the command via the first network;
• modifying the payload such that an original content of the payload cannot be identified from the modified payload;
• sending the command and the modified payload to a second network, thereby causing the second network to replay the command and the modified payload;
• and
• evaluating a performance characteristic of the first processing system of the first network.

A processing system configured to capture real-time data at a first network to use at a second network for determining a performance characteristic of the first network, the processing system comprising:

• a processor;
• a capture module configured to collect the real-time data of a first processing system on the first network, wherein the real-time data includes a command having payload data, wherein the capture module determines an initial and final state of the first processing system, and wherein the capture module operates independently of a storage protocol used by the command;
• a data security module configured to generate hashed values of the payload data, the initial state and the final state;
• and
• a replay module configured to simulate the real-time data of the first processing system by sending the command for delivery to a second processing system at the second network, the command having a hashed value of the payload data.