Automated characterization of network traffic

A system to automatically generate outgoing network traffic based on observed production network traffic, the system comprising at least one network card, the network card including at least one processor and memory, the system further comprising:

• a data collector to automatically capture production network traffic and to compile network traffic data based on the captured network traffic, the network traffic data including distribution comprising:
• at least one of protocol distribution data, length distribution data, and transaction distribution data;
• header information comprising at least one of a group of most common addresses, a group of most common ports, and most common header data;
• and payload data
• a feedback unit to receive captured production network traffic from the data collector and to communicate with the data collector to automatically adjust the network traffic data compiled based on the captured production network traffic including successively refining the network traffic data compiled
• a sort and statistics engine to receive the network traffic data from the data collector and to automatically prepare statistical indicators based on the network traffic data
• a modeling engine to receive the statistical indicators from the sort and statistics engine and to automatically prepare a traffic model based on the statistical indicators
• a traffic profiler to receive the traffic model from the modeling engine and to automatically generate traffic profile data based on the traffic model and traffic mix profiles stored by the system
• a script generator to receive the traffic profile data from the traffic profiler and to automatically prepare a plurality of scripts based on the traffic profile data, each of the scripts associated with a type of network traffic
• a traffic generator to automatically generate test network traffic based on the scripts, including multiplexing in the test network traffic groupings of data units, each grouping representing the type of network traffic specified in the scripts
• wherein the data collector, the feedback unit, the sort and statistics engine, the modeling engine, the traffic profiler, the script generator and the traffic generator operate automatically without human intervention
• a manager coupled with the data collector, the feedback unit, the sort and statistics engine, the modeling engine, the traffic profiler, the script generator and the traffic generator, the manager to provide a first interface to allow a user to view information about the functioning of the system, including providing at least one of reports, log files, charts, and graphs showing at least one of the network traffic characterization data, the traffic profile data, the traffic model, and the statistical indicators.

A method to automatically generate outgoing network traffic based on observed production network traffic, the method performed by a network testing system, the method comprising:

• the network testing system capturing production network traffic
• the network testing system compiling network traffic data based on the captured production network traffic, the network traffic data including:
• distribution data comprising at least one of protocol distribution data, length distribution data, and transaction distribution data;
• header information comprising at least one of a group of most common addresses, a group of most common ports, and most common header data;
• and payload data
• the network testing system automatically adjusting the network traffic data compiled based on earlier captured production network traffic including successively refining the network traffic data compiled
• the network testing system preparing network traffic characterization data based on the production network traffic and the network traffic data the network traffic characterization data including at least two of statistical indicators, a traffic model and traffic profile data,
• the network testing system generating a plurality of scripts based on the network traffic characterization data, each of the scripts associated with a type of network traffic modeled in the network traffic characterization data
• the network testing system generating test network traffic based on the scripts, including multiplexing in the test network traffic groupings of data units, each grouping representing the type of network traffic specified in the scripts
• wherein the capturing, the compiling, the preparing, the generating scripts, and the generating network traffic are performed by the network testing system automatically without human intervention.

A non-transitory machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed cause a network testing system to perform operations comprising:

• capturing production network traffic
• compiling network traffic data based on the production network traffic, the network traffic data including:
• distribution data comprising at least one of protocol distribution data, length distribution data, and transaction distribution data;
• header information comprising at least one of a group of most common addresses, a group of most common ports, and most common header data;
• and payload data
• automatically adjusting the network traffic data compiled based on earlier captured production network traffic, the network traffic characterization data including at least two of statistical indicators, a traffic model and traffic profile data including successively refining the network traffic data compiled
• preparing network traffic characterization data based on the production network traffic and the network traffic data
• generating a plurality of scripts based on the network traffic characterization data, each of the scripts associated with a type of network traffic modeled in the network traffic characterization data
• generating test network traffic based on the scripts, including multiplexing in the test network traffic groupings of data units, each grouping representing the type of network traffic specified in the scripts
• wherein the capturing, the compiling, the preparing, the generating scripts, and the generating network traffic are performed automatically without human intervention.

A system to automatically generate outgoing network traffic scripts based on production network traffic, the system comprising at least one network card, the network card including at least one processor and memory, the system further comprising:

• a collector to receive network traffic data based on the production network traffic
• a characterization engine to receive the network traffic data from the collector and to prepare a network traffic characterization based on the network traffic data, the network traffic data including:
• distribution data comprising at least one of protocol distribution data, length distribution data, and transaction distribution data;
• header information comprising at least one of a group of most common addresses, a group of most common ports, and most common header data;
• and payload data
• a feedback unit included in the characterization engine, the feedback unit to communicate with the collector to automatically adjust the network traffic data compiled based on earlier captured production network traffic including successively refining the network traffic data compiled
• a script generator to receive the network traffic characterization from the characterization engine and to prepare a plurality of scripts based on the network traffic characterization, the network traffic characterization including at least two of statistical indicators, a traffic model and traffic profile data, each of the scripts associated with a type of network traffic modeled in the network traffic characterization
• wherein the collector, the characterization engine and the script generator operate automatically with human intervention
• a manager coupled with at least the collector and the characterization engine, the manager to obtain statistical data from at least one of the collector and the characterization engine and to provide an interface to allow a user to view information about the system, including providing at least one of reports, log files, charts, and graphs showing at least one of the network traffic characterization data, network traffic data and the statistical data
• a traffic generator to automatically generate without human intervention test network traffic based on the scripts, including multiplexing in the test network traffic groupings of data units, each grouping representing the type of network traffic specified in the scripts.

A method to automatically generate outgoing network traffic scripts based on production network traffic, the method performed by a network testing system, the method comprising:

• the network testing system receiving network traffic data based on production network traffic, the network traffic data including:
• distribution data comprising at least one of protocol distribution data, length distribution data, and transaction distribution data;
• header information comprising at least one of a group of most common addresses, a group of most common ports, and most common header data;
• and payload data
• the network testing system automatically adjusting the network traffic data based on earlier captured production network traffic including successively refining the network traffic data compiled
• the network testing system preparing a network traffic characterization based on the network traffic data, the network traffic characterization including at least two of statistical indicators, a traffic model and traffic profile data,
• the network testing system automatically preparing without human intervention outgoing network traffic scripts based on the network traffic characterization, each of the scripts associated with a type of network traffic modeled in the network traffic characterization
• the network testing system automatically generating without human intervention test network traffic based on the scripts, including multiplexing in the test network traffic groupings of data units, each grouping representing the type of network traffic specified in the scripts.