SEQUENTIAL HEARTBEAT PACKET ARRANGEMENT AND METHODS THEREOF

摘要

An arrangement in a network tap for monitoring state of a monitoring system is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports that includes a set of input network ports for receiving data traffic and a set of output network ports for outputting the data traffic from the network tap. The arrangement also includes a monitoring port that is configured to receive the data traffic from the set of network ports and to forward the data traffic onward to the monitoring system. The arrangement further includes a logic component configured for executing a sequential heartbeat diagnostic test. The sequential heartbeat diagnostic test is configured for providing a first set of sequential heartbeat packets for testing and determining the state of the monitoring system. The arrangement yet also includes a logic component for activating one or more events when a failure condition exists for the state of the monitoring system.