Network tap with battery-assisted and programmable failover

A network tap comprising:

• a processing element;
• at least one optical-electrical transceiver for receiving an optical signal from a network and for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal;
• at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module coupled to the at least one optical-electrical transceiver for operating in a first mode when the network tap is externally powered, wherein, when operating in the first mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module provides the electrical signal to the processing element, which performs a network monitoring task for the electrical signal, wherein the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module is configured to operate in a second mode comprising a fail open mode when the network tap is not externally powered wherein, when operating in the second mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module ceases providing the electrical signal to the processing element and implements a loopback operation for the electrical signal, wherein the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module comprises a first multiplexer/demultiplexer module located on a first chip and a second multiplexer/demultiplexer module located on a second chip separate from the first chip, and wherein implementing the loopback operation includes looping the electrical signal from the first multiplexer/demultiplexer module to the second multiplexer/demultiplexer module.

A network tap comprising:

• a processing element;
• at least one optical-electrical transceiver for receiving an optical signal from a network and for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal;
• at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module coupled to the at least one optical-electrical transceiver for operating in a first mode when the network tap is externally powered, wherein, when operating in the first mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module provides the electrical signal to the processing element, which performs a network monitoring task for the electrical signal;
• and
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer controller coupled to the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer controller is programmable to control the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module to operate in a second mode comprising a fail open mode or a third mode comprising a fail closed mode when the network tap is not externally powered wherein, when operating in the second mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module ceases providing the electrical signal to the processing element and implements a loopback operation for the electrical signal and wherein, when operating in the third mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module blocks traffic to or from the network from flowing through the network tap, wherein the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module comprises a multiplexer/demultiplexer module located on a single chip and wherein implementing the loopback operation comprises looping the electrical signal from an input port of the multiplexer/demultiplexer module to an output port of the multiplexer/demultiplexer module.

A network tap comprising:

• a processing element;
• at least one optical-electrical transceiver for receiving an optical signal from a network and for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal;
• at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module coupled to the at least one optical-electrical transceiver for operating in a first mode when the network tap is externally powered, wherein, when operating in the first mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module provides the electrical signal to the processing element, which performs a network monitoring task for the electrical signal;
• and
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer controller coupled to the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer controller is programmable to control the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module to operate in a second mode comprising a fail open mode or a third mode comprising a fail closed mode when the network tap is not externally powered wherein, when operating in the second mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module ceases providing the electrical signal to the processing element and implements a loopback operation for the electrical signal and wherein, when operating in the third mode, the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module blocks traffic to or from the network from flowing through the network tap, wherein the at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module comprises a first multiplexer/demultiplexer module located on a first chip and a second multiplexer/demultiplexer module located on a second chip separate from the first chip and wherein implementing the loopback operation comprises looping the electrical signal from the first multiplexer/demultiplexer module to the second multiplexer/demultiplexer module.