Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a declarative network monitoring environment. A method for providing a declarative network monitoring environment includes providing an available tool registry for storing tool information associated with networking monitoring tools that are available for use; providing a potential tool registry for storing tool information associated with networking monitoring tools that are potentially available for use; receiving declarative network monitoring input indicating a desire by a user to perform a monitoring related task; determining, using the declarative network monitoring input and the available tool registry and/or the potential tool registry, at least one set of tool configurations for configuring network monitoring tools to perform the monitoring related task; and providing the at least one set of tool configurations.

Abstract: A method for dynamic firewall configuration for accessing service hosted in virtual networks includes monitoring, in a virtual network, changes in an Internet protocol (IP) address of a service hosted in a virtual network. The method further includes detecting a change the IP address of the service hosted in the virtual network. The method further includes communicating notification of the change in IP address to a firewall policy management interface. The method further includes, automatically configuring a firewall to allow access to the service hosted in the virtual network.

Abstract: A method for network flow metadata processing at a network packet broker includes, receiving, as input at the network packet broker, network flow metadata, the network flow metadata including a network flow statistic generated by a network device regarding packets in the network flow. The method further includes accessing, by the network packet broker, a network flow metadata processing rules database and identifying a network flow metadata processing rule to apply to the network flow metadata. The method further includes processing, by the network packet broker, the network flow metadata using the network flow metadata processing rule. The method further includes forwarding, by the network packet broker and based on results of the processing, egress network flow metadata to a network tool.

Abstract: A method for network flow metadata processing at a network packet broker includes, receiving, as input at the network packet broker, network flow metadata, the network flow metadata including a network flow statistic generated by a network device regarding packets in the network flow. The method further includes accessing, by the network packet broker, a network flow metadata processing rules database and identifying a network flow metadata processing rule to apply to the network flow metadata. The method further includes processing, by the network packet broker, the network flow metadata using the network flow metadata processing rule. The method further includes forwarding, by the network packet broker and based on results of the processing, egress network flow metadata to a network tool.

Abstract: A method for managing cloud deployment and maintenance of network tools includes providing a network tool user interface for displaying network tools available for deployment from different network tool providers and for receiving user selection of one or more of the network tools for deployment. A network tool provider interface allows network tool providers to submit network tools for availability via the network tool user interface. A user can select, via the network tool user interface, one or more of the network tools for cloud deployment and, a location for deploying the selected network tool. The method further includes interfacing with a service orchestration system of the location for deploying the selected network tool in the location. User interface elements are provided for monitoring performance of and maintaining deployed network tools.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a declarative network monitoring environment. A method for providing a declarative network monitoring environment includes providing an available tool registry for storing tool information associated with networking monitoring tools that are available for use; providing a potential tool registry for storing tool information associated with networking monitoring tools that are potentially available for use; receiving declarative network monitoring input indicating a desire by a user to perform a monitoring related task; determining, using the declarative network monitoring input and the available tool registry and/or the potential tool registry, at least one set of tool configurations for configuring network monitoring tools to perform the monitoring related task; and providing the at least one set of tool configurations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing intent-driven microapps for execution on communications network testing devices. A method includes receiving a configuration definition specifying a user-declared intent for testing a communications network. The method includes accessing a catalog of intents and determining, based on one or more entries in the catalog of intents matching the configuration definition specifying the user-declared intent, one or more applications from a repository of network testing or visibility applications and at least one configuration file. The method includes installing the one or more applications on a network testing device and configuring the one or more applications using the configuration file, causing the network testing device to test the communications network and to fulfill the user-declared intent specified in the configuration definition.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for triggering dynamic, on-demand activation of cloud-based network visibility tools. One method includes steps that occur in a network visibility platform including at least one processor. The method further includes classifying, using a classifier implemented by the at least one processor, packets or network metadata into groups of related packets or network metadata. The method further includes generating, using an event notification generator implemented by the at least one processor, event notifications based on the groups of related packets or network metadata classified by the classifier. The method further includes communicating, by the event notification generator, the event notifications to a cloud network for triggering dynamic on-demand activation of at least one cloud-based network visibility tool to process the groups of related packets or network metadata classified by the classifier.

Abstract: A method for optimizing placement of virtual network visibility components includes providing a virtual network monitoring tap instance for copying packets in a network. The method further includes providing a virtual network packet broker instance for receiving and distributing the copied packets to at least one network monitoring tool instance. The method further includes analyzing a network performance or utilization parameter associated with transmission of the copied packets among the virtual network tap instance, the virtual network packet broker instance and the network monitoring tool instance. The method further includes modifying, based on results of the analyzing, placement of at least one of the virtual network packet broker instance and the virtual network monitoring tool instance.

Abstract: A method for dynamic firewall configuration for accessing service hosted in virtual networks includes monitoring, in a virtual network, changes in an Internet protocol (IP) address of a service hosted in a virtual network. The method further includes detecting a change the IP address of the service hosted in the virtual network. The method further includes communicating notification of the change in IP address to a firewall policy management interface. The method further includes, automatically configuring a firewall to allow access to the service hosted in the virtual network.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for triggering dynamic, on-demand activation of cloud-based network visibility tools. One method includes steps that occur in a network visibility platform including at least one processor. The method further includes classifying, using a classifier implemented by the at least one processor, packets or network metadata into groups of related packets or network metadata. The method further includes generating, using an event notification generator implemented by the at least one processor, event notifications based on the groups of related packets or network metadata classified by the classifier. The method further includes communicating, by the event notification generator, the event notifications to a cloud network for triggering dynamic on-demand activation of at least one cloud-based network visibility tool to process the groups of related packets or network metadata classified by the classifier.

Abstract: A method for managing cloud deployment and maintenance of network tools includes providing a network tool user interface for displaying network tools available for deployment from different network tool providers and for receiving user selection of one or more of the network tools for deployment. A network tool provider interface allows network tool providers to submit network tools for availability via the network tool user interface. A user can select, via the network tool user interface, one or more of the network tools for cloud deployment and, a location for deploying the selected network tool. The method further includes interfacing with a service orchestration system of the location for deploying the selected network tool in the location. User interface elements are provided for monitoring performance of and maintaining deployed network tools.

Abstract: A method for optimizing placement of virtual network visibility components includes providing a virtual network monitoring tap instance for copying packets in a network. The method further includes providing a virtual network packet broker instance for receiving and distributing the copied packets to at least one network monitoring tool instance. The method further includes analyzing a network performance or utilization parameter associated with transmission of the copied packets among the virtual network tap instance, the virtual network packet broker instance and the network monitoring tool instance. The method further includes modifying, based on results of the analyzing, placement of at least one of the virtual network packet broker instance and the virtual network monitoring tool instance.

Abstract: An automated method for analyzing a plurality of network messages received by a network testing device is disclosed. The method may comprise, during a current window of time, receiving from a target network device a network message associated with an original network message determining a latency value for the received network message comparing the determined latency value with the threshold latency value; and incrementing either the first counter or the second counter based on the comparison of the determined latency value with a threshold latency value. The method may further comprise, at the end of the current window of time, storing the first and second counter values resulting from the analysis of the plurality of original network messages.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the execution of tasks by a system having multiple processors, each having multiple types of resources. The method may include receiving from a user a task configuration specifying one or more performance parameters for a proposed task, automatically determining for each type of resource a quantity of that resource corresponding to the performance parameters for the proposed task, automatically determining for each processor a quantity of each type of resource available to that processor, automatically comparing for processor (a) the quantity of each type of resource available to that processor with (b) the quantity of each type of resource corresponding to the performance parameters for the proposed task, automatically determining based on the comparisons whether any processor has capacity to perform the proposed task, and automatically determining whether to perform the proposed task based at least on whether any processor has capacity to perform the task.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for branding a commodity drive may include reading a unique identifier from a drive, partitioning the drive into a first partition and a second partition, combining the unique identifier with a secret to form an encoded value, and writing the encoded value to the first partition.

Abstract: An automated method for analyzing a plurality of network messages received by a network testing device is disclosed. The method may comprise, during a current window of time, receiving from a target network device a network message associated with an original network message determining a latency value for the received network message comparing the determined latency value with the threshold latency value; and incrementing either the first counter or the second counter based on the comparison of the determined latency value with a threshold latency value. The method may further comprise, at the end of the current window of time, storing the first and second counter values resulting from the analysis of the plurality of original network messages.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the execution of tasks by a system having multiple processors, each having multiple types of resources. The method may include receiving from a user a task configuration specifying one or more performance parameters for a proposed task, automatically determining for each type of resource a quantity of that resource corresponding to the performance parameters for the proposed task, automatically determining for each processor a quantity of each type of resource available to that processor, automatically comparing for processor (a) the quantity of each type of resource available to that processor with (b) the quantity of each type of resource corresponding to the performance parameters for the proposed task, automatically determining based on the comparisons whether any processor has capacity to perform the proposed task, and automatically determining whether to perform the proposed task based at least on whether any processor has capacity to perform the task.

Abstract: A device for facilitating the movement of a component into or out of an equipment rack includes a device body, a securing system coupled to the device body and configured for releasably securing the device to a post of the equipment rack, and at least one wheel rotationally coupled to the device body. In a mounted position of the device in which the device is secured to the equipment rack post, the at least one wheel physically supports a component and facilitate movement of the component into or out of the equipment rack.