Unified systems of network tool optimizers and related methods

摘要

Systems and methods are disclosed for unified systems of network tool optimizers (NTOs). A NTO supervisor device controls switch fabric circuitry to interconnect a plurality of NTO member devices so that packets received at a source port for one NTO member device can be output to a destination port for a different NTO member device. The NTO supervisor device is further configured to analyze filters for the NTO member devices and to generate filter rules for forwarding packets among the various NTO member devices using the switch fabric circuitry. Further, additional secondary NTO supervisor devices can also be included within the unified NTO system to further expand the system. As such, a plurality of NTO member devices are managed and controlled by one or more NTO supervisor devices to form a highly scalable and efficient unified NTO system.

主权项

1. A system for unified operation of multiple network tool optimizer (NTO) devices, comprising:
a first network tool optimizer (NTO) member device comprising at least one source port and at least one interconnect port; a second NTO member device comprising at least one destination port and at least one interconnect port; switch fabric circuitry coupled to the interconnect ports for the first and second NTO member devices; an NTO supervisor device configured to control the switch fabric circuitry to receive packets from the first NTO member device and to forward the received packets to the second NTO member device, the packets being associated with the at least one source port on the first NTO member device and being output to the at least one destination port on the second NTO member device; wherein the NTO supervisor device is further configured to manage the NTO member devices and the switch fabric circuitry to form a unified NTO system; and at least one secondary NTO supervisor device coupled to the NTO supervisor device and managed by the NTO supervisor device to extend the unified NTO system, the secondary NTO supervisor device being configured to control additional switch fabric circuitry to receive packets from the NTO supervisor device and to forward the received packets to one or more additional NTO member devices coupled to the secondary NTO supervisor device.