Systems and methods for controlling switches to monitor network traffic

摘要

A packet forwarding network may include switches that perform network forwarding operations to forward network traffic between end hosts that are coupled to the packet forwarding network. An analysis network that is controlled by a controller may be coupled to the packet forwarding network. The analysis network and the packet forwarding network may overlap. Switches such as hybrid switches in the overlapping network portions may be controlled by the controller to copy network packets without interfering with the network forwarding operations of the packet forwarding network. The analysis network may include a central portion to which analysis tools are coupled and one or more isolated portions. The controller may control the client switches of the central portion and the isolated portions to establish tunneling paths through the forwarding network.

主权项

1. A method of using a controller that controls client switches in an analysis network that is coupled to a forwarding network, wherein the forwarding network performs packet forwarding operations to forward network packets between end hosts that are coupled to the forwarding network, the method comprising:
selecting a client switch of the analysis network; and controlling the selected client switch of the analysis network to copy at least a portion of the network packets that are forwarded between the end hosts of the forwarding network without interfering with the packet forwarding operations of the forwarding network.