Simulated Packet Tracing for Network Device Operation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining operations performed on packets by network devices are inefficient, requiring time-consuming correlation of logs and debugs, which hampers security and network operations groups in validating network security configurations and troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a simulated packet that travels through the network device, with tags added to record operations and path, allowing for efficient determination of actions taken on the packet by analyzing these tags upon reaching the egress interface or being dropped internally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional log correlation methods are used to determine packet operations, then comprehensive network analysis is achieved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simulated packet that copies the characteristics and behavior of real packets. This simulated packet traverses the network device and generates a trace that replicates the operations performed on actual packets, allowing analysis without processing real traffic and eliminating time-consuming log correlation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by injecting the simulated packet before actual packet analysis is needed. The trace generated by the simulated packet预先 records all operations that would be performed on real packets, enabling immediate lookup and analysis without waiting for log collection and correlation.
2Reliability
If detailed log scrutiny is performed to validate security configurations, then security validation completeness is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The simulated packet creates a copy of the packet traversal process, generating a trace that mirrors the actual packet operations. This allows security operations to validate configurations by analyzing the simulated trace instead of scrutinizing extensive logs, maintaining validation completeness while dramatically improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulated packet acts as an intermediary between the network device and the analysis process. It mediates the interaction by traversing the device and capturing operations in a structured trace format, eliminating the need for direct log scrutiny while preserving the ability to validate security configurations.
3Measurement precision
If network operations personnel manually analyze packet operations for troubleshooting, then connectivity issue diagnosis accuracy is improved, but time consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The simulated packet creates a simplified copy of the packet traversal process, generating a structured trace that directly shows the operations performed. This eliminates the need for manual log correlation and reduces troubleshooting complexity while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, as the trace provides a clear, organized record of packet operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential packet operation information from the complex network device processing into a simplified trace format. By taking out only the relevant operation data from the simulated packet traversal, the system provides diagnostic information in an easily analyzable form without the complexity of manual log analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for determining the operations performed on packets by a network device are described. A simulated packet is input into a network device. The path taken by the simulated packet is traced. Also, the operations performed on the simulated packet are logged. Further, the operations performed on the simulated packet and configuration information of the operations are analyzed and displayed.