Promiscuous network monitoring utilizing multicasting within a switch

Abstract

Multicasting within a switch is utilized to promiscuously monitor switched communication networks. The switch routes data packets from input ports to data output ports and routes copies of the data packets to a monitor output port. A monitor processor is connected to the switch to receive copies of all data packets received at the switch, and thereby monitor the communication network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of promiscuous monitoring in a switched communications network, using multicasting within a switch, comprising: 
 receiving a data packet at a first input port of the switch, the first input port being one of one or more input ports;    multicasting the received data packet via one or more virtual circuits, the virtual circuits being located within the switch between the first input port and at least a first output port and at least a first monitoring port, the first output port being one of one or more output ports, the first monitoring port being one of one or more monitoring ports; and    promiscuously monitoring the first input port using the first monitoring port.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a dynamic basis.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a permanent basis.  
     
     
         4 . A method of promiscuous monitoring in a switched communications network, using multicasting within a switch, comprising: 
 receiving a data packet at a first input port of the switch, the first input port being one of one or more input ports;    multicasting the received data packet via one or more virtual circuits, the virtual circuits being located within the switch between the first input port and at least a first output port and at least a first monitoring port, the first output port being one of one or more output ports, the first monitoring port being one of one or more monitoring ports; and    promiscuously monitoring the first output port using the first monitoring port.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a dynamic basis.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a permanent basis.  
     
     
         7 . A method of promiscuous monitoring in a switched communications network, using multicasting within a switch, comprising: 
 receiving a data packet at a first input port of the switch, the first input port being one of one or more input ports;    multicasting the received data packet via one or more virtual circuits, the virtual circuits being located within the switch between the first input port and at least a first output port and at least a first monitoring port, the first output port being one of one or more output ports, the first monitoring port being one of one or more monitoring ports, the received data packet identifying the first output port as a destination output port, a monitoring processor identifying the first input port as a port selected for promiscuous monitoring; and    promiscuously monitoring the first input port using the first monitoring port.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a dynamic basis.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a permanent basis.  
     
     
         10 . A method of promiscuous monitoring in a switched communications network, using multicasting within a switch, comprising: 
 receiving a data packet at a first input port of the switch, the first input port being one of one or more input ports;    multicasting the received data packet via one or more virtual circuits, the virtual circuits being located within the switch between the first input port and at least a first output port and at least a first monitoring port, the first output port being one of one or more output ports, the first monitoring port being one of one or more monitoring ports, the received data packet identifying the first output port as a destination output port, a monitoring processor identifying the first output port as a port selected for promiscuous monitoring; and    promiscuously monitoring the first output port using the first monitoring port.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a dynamic basis.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a permanent basis.  
     
     
         13 . A promiscuous monitoring system, in a switched communication network, comprising: 
 a monitoring processor; and    a switch including: 
 one or more input ports,  
 one or more output ports, and  
 one or more monitoring ports, the monitoring processor coupled to the switch through the first monitoring port,  
 one or more virtual circuits, the virtual circuits multicasting a data packet received at one or more input ports to at least one output port and at least one monitoring port, the output port designated by the received data packet as a destination port, the monitoring port designated by the monitoring processor as the port to which a multicast copy of the received data packet is to be transmitted for promiscuous monitoring.  
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a dynamic basis.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the virtual circuits are established on a permanent basis.