Propagation of signals between devices for triggering capture of network data

In a multi-chassis protocol analyzer system in a computer network, a method for capturing network data of interest in coordination across the multiple chassis, the method comprising:

• configuring a domain to logically group at least a first port from a first blade of a first chassis and at least a first port from a second blade of a second chassis, such that a user can control the ports logically grouped in the domain without affecting the ports not in the domain, wherein at least a second port from the first blade and at least a second port from the second blade are not included in the domain of ports, each port in the domain being in communication with a respective analyzer module and a respective capture buffer;
• at each analyzer module, monitoring data transmitted via the communications network in order to identify network data of interest;
• and
• in response to an analyzer module attached to one of the ports in the domain identifying the network data of interest, triggering each capture buffer in communication with each port in the domain to capture a desired portion of the data transmitted via the communications network.

In a protocol analyzer system in a computer network, a method for capturing network data of interest, the method comprising:

• providing a multi-chassis protocol analyzer system, each chassis comprising first and second cable receptacles for inter-chassis communications and housing at least one blade, each blade comprising at least one port for connecting to a computer network, each port further being in communication with both a capture buffer and an analyzer module;
• logically grouping a plurality of the ports into a domain, which includes different types of ports, located over at least two of the chassis, the domain of ports comprising at least a first port from a first blade of a first chassis and at least a first port from a second blade of a second chassis, wherein at least a second port from the first blade and a second port from the second blade are not included in the domain of ports, the logical grouping of the ports in the domain allowing a user to control the ports in the domain without affecting the ports not included in the domain;
• transmitting, through at least one of the first and second cable receptacles, a serial protocol containing a run signal to place the domain of ports in a run mode whereby:
• communications traffic is received through the domain of ports;
• and
• the communications traffic is monitored by the analyzer modules in communication with the domain of ports to identify data of interest;
• and
• transmitting, through at least one of the first and second cable receptacles, a serial protocol containing a trigger signal for propagation to each of the ports in the domain, the trigger signal operable to trigger the capture buffer in communication with each port in the domain to capture a selected portion of the communications traffic.

A protocol analyzer system for identifying and capturing network data of interest, comprising:

• a sync group including a first chassis and a second chassis, each chassis comprising:
• at least one blade, each blade comprising:
• a capture buffer for capturing network data of interest;
• an analyzer for monitoring network traffic, identifying network data of interest, and triggering the capture of the network data of interest in the capture buffer;
• at least a first port for receiving network traffic and routing it to the capture buffer and/or the analyzer, wherein the at least first port in the first chassis and the at least first port in the second chassis are logically grouped to comprise a domain of ports, which represents a number of simultaneous users that use different ports within the sync group, and wherein at least a second port in the first chassis and at least a second port in the second chassis are not included in the domain of ports such that the ports outside the domain are not affected by user control of the ports in the domain;
• and
• a field programmable gate array capable of analyzing a serial protocol, which comprises one or more control signals, communicated between the first chassis and the second chassis to identify which of one or more control signals in the serial protocol is applicable to the ports located on each chassis.