Patent ID: 9130818
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for unified operation of multiple network tool optimizer (NTO) devices, comprising: a first network tool optimizer (NTO) member device comprising at least one source port and at least one interconnect port; a second NTO member device comprising at least one destination port and at least one interconnect port; switch fabric circuitry coupled to the interconnect ports for the first and second NTO member devices; an NTO supervisor device configured to control the switch fabric circuitry to receive packets from the first NTO member device and to forward the received packets to the second NTO member device, the packets being associated with the at least one source port on the first NTO member device and being output to the at least one destination port on the second NTO member device; wherein the NTO supervisor device is further configured to manage the NTO member devices and the switch fabric circuitry to form a unified NTO system; and at least one secondary NTO supervisor device coupled to the NTO supervisor device and managed by the NTO supervisor device to extend the unified NTO system, the secondary NTO supervisor device being configured to control additional switch fabric circuitry to receive packets from the NTO supervisor device and to forward the received packets to one or more additional NTO member devices coupled to the secondary NTO supervisor device.