Network Testing System Signature Location Cache
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network testing systems face challenges in efficiently locating and processing user-specified signatures within packets, particularly in varying locations, which affects the accuracy and efficiency of network performance evaluation and conflict checking in user-defined network tests.
Innovation Solution
The network testing system employs a method where user-specified signatures are placed and searched for in packets using a location cache and efficient algorithms like the Boyer-Moore or Quick Search Algorithms, allowing for focused analysis and increased processing efficiency by prioritizing cached signature locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional signature searching methods are used in network packets, then the system can locate signatures, but the processing efficiency and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores possible signature locations in a lookup table before actual packet processing. When a packet arrives, the system first checks the cached location information to determine where the signature might be located, rather than searching the entire packet from scratch. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time required to locate signatures in incoming packets.
Solution Approach 2:
A location cache acts as an intermediary data structure between the packet data and the signature matching process. The cache stores pre-computed location information that mediates the search process, allowing the system to quickly access potential signature locations without performing exhaustive searches through packet contents.
2Reliability
If the system searches for signatures at every possible location in packets, then it ensures complete detection, but the computational complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packet processing is segmented into distinct phases: first checking cached location information, then performing signature matching only at the cached locations, and finally handling any missed detections. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high reliability by covering all necessary locations while reducing complexity by avoiding exhaustive searches at every possible position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial searching by focusing computational resources on the most likely signature locations identified through the location cache, rather than uniformly searching every possible position. This partial action approach maintains adequate detection accuracy while significantly reducing the overall computational complexity and processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for locating signatures in packets is disclosed. The method may include receiving a packet over the network and searching the packet for a signature at locations specified in a location cache. When the signature is found at a stored location specified in the location cache, pertinent data located after the signature is obtained and network testing processing is performed. When the signature is not found at any stored location specified in the location cache, the packet is searched for the signature. When the signature is found, the location at which the signature is found is added to the location cache. Pertinent data located after the signature is obtained and network testing processing is performed. The method may be performed by a network testing system and by a computing device having a virtual machine.