Abstract: A network appliance may include a signal splitter that splits an incoming signal into multiple portions. The signal splitter can direct one portion of the incoming signal to a switching fabric and another portion of the incoming signal to an optical switch. By monitoring the power intensity of the portion of the incoming signal received by the switching fabric, the network appliance can seamlessly switch between a bypass traffic path and a pass-through traffic path without losing network traffic caused by gaps in network connectivity. Such a configuration also enables the network appliance to maintain an accurate record of the logical connectivity state even when the network appliance is in the bypass state (i.e., when network traffic bypasses the switching fabric of the network appliance).

Abstract: A network appliance may include a signal splitter that splits an incoming signal into multiple portions. The signal splitter can direct one portion of the incoming signal to a switching fabric and another portion of the incoming signal to an optical switch. By monitoring the power intensity of the portion of the incoming signal received by the switching fabric, the network appliance can seamlessly switch between a bypass traffic path and a pass-through traffic path without losing network traffic caused by gaps in network connectivity. Such a configuration also enables the network appliance to maintain an accurate record of the logical connectivity state even when the network appliance is in the bypass state (i.e., when network traffic bypasses the switching fabric of the network appliance).

Abstract: Introduced herein is a technology for a network switch device to route network packets through a inline tool, without introducing additional information to the network packets. The technology records an association between an input network port and a signature (e.g., source MAC address) of the network packet, before forwarding the packet to the inline tool. When receiving the packet back from the inline tool, the network device recognizes that the packet signature is associated with the input network port, and that the input network port is paired with a particular output network port. Thus, the network device identifies the output network port for sending the packet, without modifying contents of the packet.

Abstract: A network appliance may include a signal splitter that splits an incoming signal into multiple portions. The signal splitter can direct one portion of the incoming signal to a switching fabric and another portion of the incoming signal to an optical switch. By monitoring the power intensity of the portion of the incoming signal received by the switching fabric, the network appliance can seamlessly switch between a bypass traffic path and a pass-through traffic path without losing network traffic caused by gaps in network connectivity. Such a configuration also enables the network appliance to maintain an accurate record of the logical connectivity state even when the network appliance is in the bypass state (i.e., when network traffic bypasses the switching fabric of the network appliance).

Abstract: Introduced herein is a technology for a network switch device to route network packets through a inline tool, without introducing additional information to the network packets. The technology records an association between an input network port and a signature (e.g., source MAC address) of the network packet, before forwarding the packet to the inline tool. When receiving the packet back from the inline tool, the network device recognizes that the packet signature is associated with the input network port, and that the input network port is paired with a particular output network port. Thus, the network device identifies the output network port for sending the packet, without modifying contents of the packet.