Hardware sampler for statistical monitoring of network traffic
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsCraig Alan VanZante, Douglas Edwin O'Neil, Trinh Van Pham
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Abstract
An apparatus for collecting data packets on a network, the apparatus containing at least one central processing unit (CPU) having a data table, and a media access controller (MAC) receiving all the packets from the network. Generally, a packet filter filters the packets to obtain packets that match an input criteria. A counter increments a counter value when a skip count value does not match the counter value. A sampler cleanup samples the packets when the counter value matches the skip count value. The CPU processes the sampled packet into the CPU data table, and the above steps are repeated.
Claims19
A hardware sampler for statistically monitoring an activity on a network carrying message packets of a predetermined type, the sampler comprising:
- a receive means for detecting substantially all message packets carried on the network;
- a first sampling means operatively interfaced with said receive means for selecting only message packets that match a first filter criteria, selection being dynamically changeable to allow for an assortment of packet characteristics;
- a second sampling means interfaced with said first sampling means for selecting message packets based on a second filter criteria to derive statistically accurate information relating to network traffic;
- and
- a processing means interfaced with said first sampling means and said second sampling means for collecting a receive data descriptor and performing initializations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.