Network switch monitoring interface translates information from the switch to the format used by the monitoring system

摘要

Probe-based network monitoring systems, provide many benefits to network operators monitoring their network, but have a cost implication associated with them. The use of such systems may become problematic if network operators encrypt signalling data. Probeless monitoring systems exist, but require a compatible switch to be provided from the same manufacturer as the probeless monitoring system. The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing an interface (200) for use with a monitoring system otherwise incapable of supporting direct connection with a network element (100). The interface (200) provides compatible identity information to the monitoring system (106) mapped from identity information received from the network element (100) in its proprietry format.