Remote monitoring of switch network

A method for managing a computer network, comprising:

• collecting switch port activity information from a plurality of network switches by a remote monitoring (RMON) probe;
• and
• connecting one network switch at a time to the RMON probe by a multiplexer, the multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to a probe port of a different network switch of the plurality of network switches, and the multiplexer having an output coupled to the RMON probe.

A system to manage a computer network, comprising:

• means for collecting switch port activity information from a plurality of network switches by a remote monitoring (RMON) probe;
• and
• means for connecting one network switch at a time to the RMON probe by a multiplexer, the multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to a probe port of a different network switch of the plurality of network switches, and the multiplexer having an output coupled to the RMON probe.

A network management system, comprising:

• a remote monitoring (RMON) probe, the RMON probe to collect switch port activity information from a plurality of network switches, the plurality of network switches having probe ports connected in a daisy chain arrangement for transmission of the switch port activity information;
• and
• a particular probe port of a particular network switch of the plurality of network switches attached to the RMON probe, said particular probe port configured to receive the switch port activity information from the daisy chain connected plurality of network switches, the particular probe port configured to receive the switch port activity information from one network switch at a time.

A method for managing a computer network, comprising:

• collecting switch port activity information from a plurality of network switches by a remote monitoring (RMON) probe, the plurality of network switches having probe ports connected in a daisy chain arrangement for transmission of the switch port activity information;
• and
• configuring a particular probe port of a particular network switch of the plurality of network switches to be attached to the RMON probe, the particular probe port configured to receive the switch port activity information from the daisy chain connected plurality of network switches, the probe port receiving the switch port activity information from one network switch at a time.

A system to manage a computer network, comprising:

• means for collecting switch port activity information from a plurality of network switches by a remote monitoring (RMON) probe, the plurality of network switches having probe ports connected in a daisy chain arrangement for transmission of the switch port activity information;
• and
• means for configuring a particular probe port of a particular network switch of the plurality of network switches attached to the RMON probe, the probe port configured to receive the switch port activity information from the daisy chain connected plurality of network switches, the probe port configured to receive the switch port activity information from one network switch at a time.