Abstract: A system and method for identifying and analyzing active channels in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. The system and method monitor an ATM network signal channel to identify setup, connect, and release messages which permit identification of active switched virtual circuits and the service type used for that active virtual circuit's traffic. The system and method also possess the simultaneous ability to open a plurality of ATM network channels during a time period; to automatically monitor each of the plurality of open channels to identify any active channels from among the open channels; and to automatically identify the type of traffic transmitted on the open channels. By systematically identifying the active channels in the ATM network, the ATM network analysis device can further analyze the traffic on the active channels.