Abstract: A storage area network (SAN) monitor device and a networked configuration for monitoring the SAN. Application in Fibre Channel is described as an example. In the networked configuration, a plurality of Fibre Channel probe devices are inserted into the fabric at desired links, and the probe devices are connected to each other and to a master via a communications network such as an Ethernet. The probe devices operate in a snoop mode to gather information from the Fibre Channel, and transmit gather information via the communications network to the master for further processing or display. The tasks performed by the probe devices include monitoring performance, health and traffic of the fabric; analyzing specific transfers by capturing all the data; generating traffic to test specific links, etc. The probe devices may be programmable devices so that tasks may be dynamically programmed by the master via the communications network.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a storage area network (SAN) that incorporates a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The monitoring device (SAN monitor) generally includes a Fibre Channel interface for connecting to a Fibre Channel, a PCI interface for connecting to a PCI bus, a controller connected to the Fibre Channel interface and the PCI interface for controlling the functions of the SAN monitor, and a GPS receiver for receiving GPS satellite signals and providing a synchronized timing signal to the controller via a timer. When a plurality of SAN monitors deployed on the network at large distances from each other, the timing signals provided by the GPS receiver enables the monitors to sample data from the network in a synchronized manner.