Abstract: A network tap with battery assisted and programmable failover is disclosed. The network tap includes a processing element, at least one optical-electrical transceiver, and at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module. A backup battery provides power to the optical-electrical transceiver(s) and the multiplexer/demultiplexer module(s) but not the processing element when operating in a failover mode. The network tap is programmable to operate in a fail open mode in which traffic received from the network passes through the network tap during failover or a fail closed mode in which traffic receive from the network is blocked during failover.

Abstract: A secure optical network tap includes first and second network ports for bidirectional exchange of optical signals. The tap further includes at least one monitor port for monitoring optical signals received on the first and second network ports. The tap further includes first and second optical couplers coupled to the first and second network ports for bidirectional exchange of the monitored optical signals between the network ports and between the network ports and the monitor port. The tap further includes at least one one-way optical blocking device for preventing the flow of optical signals from the monitor port to the first and second network ports and for allowing the monitored optical signals to flow from the optical couplers to the at least one monitor port.

Abstract: A network tap with battery assisted and programmable failover is disclosed. The network tap includes a processing element, at least one optical-electrical transceiver, and at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module. A backup battery provides power to the optical-electrical transceiver(s) and the multiplexer/demultiplexer module(s) but not the processing element when operating in a failover mode. The network tap is programmable to operate in a fail open mode in which traffic received from the network passes through the network tap during failover or a fail closed mode in which traffic receive from the network is blocked during failover.

Abstract: A system for monitoring data traversing a bidirectional optical fiber includes a network tap. The network tap includes first and second network ports for bidirectional data transmission over a first optical fiber. The device includes first and second tap ports respectively associated with the first and second network ports. The first network port receives data transmitted in a first direction over the first optical fiber and at a first wavelength and provides the data to the second network port and to the first tap port. The second network port receives data transmitted in a second direction opposite the first direction over the first optical fiber and at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength and provides the data to the first network port and to the second tap port. The first and second tap the first and second tap ports provide the data to one or more network monitoring devices.

Abstract: A switching system includes memory and a switching circuit. The memory stores a port priority table and a trigger source and condition table. The switching circuit for switches network traffic between a number of ports based on the port priority table, the trigger source and condition table, and port health status data. Switching network traffic includes: determining a priority path for a first port using the port health status data and the trigger source and condition table; determining a second port specified as a destination for network traffic arriving at the first port by the port priority table for the priority path; and routing incoming network traffic from the first port to the second port.

Abstract: A system for monitoring data traversing a bidirectional optical fiber includes a network tap. The network tap includes first and second network ports for bidirectional data transmission over a first optical fiber. The device includes first and second tap ports respectively associated with the first and second network ports. The first network port receives data transmitted in a first direction over the first optical fiber and at a first wavelength and provides the data to the second network port and to the first tap port. The second network port receives data transmitted in a second direction opposite the first direction over the first optical fiber and at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength and provides the data to the first network port and to the second tap port. The first and second tap the first and second tap ports provide the data to one or more network monitoring devices.

Abstract: A switching system includes memory and a switching circuit. The memory stores a port priority table and a trigger source and condition table. The switching circuit for switches network traffic between a number of ports based on the port priority table, the trigger source and condition table, and port health status data. Switching network traffic includes: determining a priority path for a first port using the port health status data and the trigger source and condition table; determining a second port specified as a destination for network traffic arriving at the first port by the port priority table for the priority path; and routing incoming network traffic from the first port to the second port.

Abstract: A gigabits zero-delay arrangement for enabling continuous monitoring of data traversing through a network in a high-speed Ethernet environment is provided. The arrangement includes a high-speed network device configured for monitoring the data flowing through the network. The arrangement also includes a primary power source for providing a first power to circuitry of the gigabits zero-delay arrangement. The arrangement further includes a sensor controller configured for monitoring power flowing into the high-speed network device and for establishing an alternative communication link.

Abstract: A time machine arrangement for performing health check on a network environment is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports that that is configured for receiving and outputting network data traffic. The arrangement also includes a monitoring port for receiving at least a portion of the data traffic flowing through the network. The arrangement further includes a set of processors configured at least for managing and analyzing the data traffic. The set of processors includes a scheduler component for directing the data traffic, a filtering component for applying a set of filters on the set data traffic, an encryption component for encrypting the data traffic, and a trigger component for defining a set of conditions for storing the data traffic. The arrangement yet also includes a storage memory component for storing a copy of at least the portion of the data traffic flowing through the network environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a plurality of monitoring functions to be performed on network data is provided. The apparatus includes a power module and a processor module. The apparatus also includes a set of network ports that includes a set of input network ports for receiving the data traffic and a set of output network ports for outputting the data traffic from the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a switchboard arrangement that includes at least two chips that are configured to interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received by the switchboard arrangement. The apparatus yet also includes logic module for analyzing the data traffic and for displaying the statistical data pertaining to the data traffic. The apparatus yet further includes a visual display arrangement that is configured for displaying the statistical data.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a plurality of monitoring functions to be performed on network data is provided. The apparatus includes a power module and a processor module. The apparatus also includes a set of network ports that includes a set of input network ports for receiving the data traffic and a set of output network ports for outputting the data traffic from the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a switchboard arrangement that includes at least two chips that are configured to interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received by the switchboard arrangement. The apparatus yet also includes logic module for analyzing the data traffic and for displaying the statistical data pertaining to the data traffic. The apparatus yet further includes a visual display arrangement that is configured for displaying the statistical data.

Abstract: A director device arrangement for performing a plurality of monitoring functions on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The director device arrangement includes a power module, a processor module, a set of network ports, a set of switch modules, and at least one monitoring ports. The set of switch modules is configured to include at least a first switch module and a second switch module that interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received. The at least one monitoring port is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network, whereas the data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement between the set of network ports irrespective whether power is provided to the circuitry, the processor module, and the set of switch modules of the director device arrangement.

Abstract: A time machine arrangement for performing health check on a network environment is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports that that is configured for receiving and outputting network data traffic. The arrangement also includes a monitoring port for receiving at least a portion of the data traffic flowing through the network. The arrangement further includes a set of processors configured at least for managing and analyzing the data traffic. The set of processors includes a scheduler component for directing the data traffic, a filtering component for applying a set of filters on the set data traffic, an encryption component for encrypting the data traffic, and a trigger component for defining a set of conditions for storing the data traffic. The arrangement yet also includes a storage memory component for storing a copy of at least the portion of the data traffic flowing through the network environment.

Abstract: A gigabits zero-delay arrangement for enabling continuous monitoring of data traversing through a network in a high-speed Ethernet environment is provided. The arrangement includes a high-speed network device configured for monitoring the data flowing through the network. The arrangement also includes a primary power source for providing a first power to circuitry of the gigabits zero-delay arrangement. The arrangement further includes a sensor controller configured for monitoring power flowing into the high-speed network device and for establishing an alternative communication link.

Abstract: A director device arrangement for enabling a plurality of monitoring functions to be performed on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports for receiving data traffic and outputting the data traffic. The arrangement further includes a set of switch chips, which is configured to include at least a first switch chip and a second switch chip, which are configured to interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received by the set of switch chips. The arrangement yet also includes a set of monitoring ports, which is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network. The data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement irrespective whether the power is provided to the circuitry of the director device arrangement.

Abstract: A director device arrangement for performing a plurality of monitoring functions on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The director device arrangement includes a power module, a processor module, a set of network ports, a set of switch modules, and at least one monitoring ports. The set of switch modules is configured to include at least a first switch module and a second switch module that interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received. The at least one monitoring port is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network, whereas the data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement between the set of network ports irrespective whether power is provided to the circuitry, the processor module, and the set of switch modules of the director device arrangement.

Abstract: A director device arrangement for enabling a plurality of monitoring functions to be performed on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports for receiving data traffic and outputting the data traffic. The arrangement further includes a set of switch chips, which is configured to include at least a first switch chip and a second switch chip, which are configured to interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received by the set of switch chips. The arrangement yet also includes a set of monitoring ports, which is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network. The data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement irrespective whether the power is provided to the circuitry of the director device arrangement.