Hardware sampler for statistical monitoring of network traffic

摘要

An apparatus for collecting data packets on a network, the apparatus containing at least one central processing unit (CPU) having a data table, and a media access controller (MAC) receiving all the packets from the network. Generally, a packet filter filters the packets to obtain packets that match an input criteria. A counter increments a counter value when a skip count value does not match the counter value. A sampler cleanup samples the packets when the counter value matches the skip count value. The CPU processes the sampled packet into the CPU data table, and the above steps are repeated.