Cross-Port Network Analysis via Timestamp Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protocol analyzers lack the capability for intelligent analysis of network data, particularly in multi-channel environments, and fail to provide aggregate analysis of traffic behavior patterns, making it difficult to diagnose and optimize network performance, especially with emerging technologies like Fibre Channel (FC).
Innovation Solution
A cross-port analysis method that involves synchronizing analyzers to capture and analyze data traces with precise timestamp information, determining network topology, and conducting expert analysis to identify transmission latency, out-of-order frames, and other metrics, enabling aggregate network analysis across multiple ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple protocol analyzers are deployed to monitor network traffic, then network diagnostic capability is improved, but the complexity of analyzing and correlating data from multiple sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple protocol analyzers into a single centralized analysis system. The centralized system collects traces from multiple analyzers, synchronizes them using timestamps, and performs aggregate analysis, thereby reducing the complexity that would otherwise exist at each individual analyzer and providing comprehensive network diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized analysis system as an intermediary between multiple protocol analyzers and the network administrator. This intermediary collects, synchronizes, and correlates data from multiple analyzers, transforming complex multi-source data into unified diagnostic information that is easier to analyze and interpret.
2Measurement precision
If protocol analyzers capture detailed network traffic data, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the time required to analyze the captured data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary actions by having protocol analyzers continuously capture and store network traffic data with precise timestamps before analysis is needed. The centralized system then retrieves these pre-captured traces for analysis, allowing detailed diagnostic accuracy without the time penalty of real-time capture during the analysis phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of network traffic data at multiple protocol analyzers simultaneously, with each analyzer capturing the same or different portions of network traffic. The centralized system then correlates these copies using timestamps, achieving comprehensive diagnostic accuracy by analyzing multiple data copies in parallel rather than sequentially.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol analyzers are configured to monitor multiple network ports, then network coverage is improved, but the difficulty of correlating traffic patterns across ports increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the centralized analysis system continuously monitors traffic patterns across multiple ports and provides correlated analysis results. By using timestamp synchronization and aggregate analysis, the system feeds back unified diagnostic information that reveals traffic patterns across the entire monitored network, making it easier to detect and measure cross-port traffic relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
A cross-port analysis method is provided to analyze multichannel traces in a network. More particularly, cross-port analysis is a method allowing for aggregate network analysis capabilities from a multi-channel analyzer. This can be performed as traces of network traffic generated by each port on two or more analyzers. Precise timestamps are recorded for each trace and the topology of devices on the network is determined. An expert analysis is then performed on the captured data traces.