Passive network tap for tapping network data

A passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap coupled to the communication path of a copper-based communication network including a first and second network device, the first and second network devices communicating by use of a full-duplex bidirectional data stream including first and a second signal data, the passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap comprising:

• a signal separator configured to separate the first and second signal data from the data stream;
• first and second network ports configured to be operably connected to the signal separator and configured to receive the full-duplex bidirectional data stream and provide the data stream to the signal separator;
• a first receive only physical interface device (Phy) configured to receive at least the first signal data from signal separator and provide the first signal data to a first monitoring device;
• a second receive only Phy configured to receive at least the second signal data from signal separator and provide the second signal data to a second monitoring device;
• and
• first and second transmit and receive Phys operably coupled to the first and second receive only Phys respectively and operably coupled to a first and second tap port respectively, wherein the first and second transmit and receive Phys are further configured to receive the first and second signal data from the first and second receive only Phys and provide the first and second signal data to the first and second tap ports;
• wherein the first and second tap ports are configured to be operably connected the monitoring devices.

In a passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap coupled to the communication path of a first and second Ethernet device, the first and second Ethernet devices communicating by use of a full-duplex bidirectional first data stream including a first and a second data component, a method for the passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap to separate the first and second components from the first data stream, the method comprising:

• receiving the first data stream;
• separating a second data stream from the first data stream comprising a portion of the first data component and a portion of the second data component that is less than the first data component;
• determining a reverse coupling characteristic of passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap;
• and
• applying the reverse coupling characteristic in an operation to remove at least a portion of the second data component from the second data stream while leaving the first data component.