Patent ID: 7899048
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of remotely monitoring network traffic through a generic network, the method comprising: receiving a first data packet including a first header that indicates a first destination network element; wherein the first data packet is a data packet in a plurality of variable-length data packets to be monitored; generating a second data packet that contains at least a part of the first data packet, wherein the second data packet comprises a new Internet Protocol (IP) header that indicates a second destination network element that is configured to monitor network traffic, wherein the second destination network element differs from the first destination network element; wherein the second data packet further comprises metadata about the first data packet that was not originally in the first data packet; wherein the metadata comprises a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier that identifies a VLAN from which the first data packet originated; wherein the part of the first data packet includes the first header that indicates the first destination network element; and forwarding the first data packet towards the first destination network element and separately forwarding the second data packet towards the second destination network element; wherein the method is implemented by one or more computing devices.