Patent ID: 6173325
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In conjunction with an extensible network monitoring software program, said program being capable of capturing a quantity of network packets in sequential time order as a capture of packets, displaying contents of packets, and providing an interface for customized viewing and other processing based on packet type, and having extensible software modules written to the interface provided by the extensible network monitoring software program that provide customized processing and viewing based on packet type, a method utilizing the extensible network monitoring software for assessing the performance of a packet scheduler, the method comprising:at a node of a network, performing a capture of packets that are transferred between nodes of the network;periodically inserting a triggering packet into the capture so as to define a quantum of time between successive triggering packets;analyzing the packets of the capture by performing the steps of:in response to the network monitoring software program encountering one of the triggering packets, transferring processing control to a triggering software module pertinent to the triggering packet type; andsaid triggering software module processing other packets positioned in the capture during the quantum of time between said encountered triggering packet and a next triggering packet to measure performance of said packet scheduler.