A method for monitoring and/or testing network communications, the method comprising: at a computing platform (108, 208A, 208B): hosting a monitoring and testing module, MTM, (110,210) including a passive tap module, PTM, and an active tap module, ATM,, wherein the MTM (110,210) is configured to operate in any of the following modes: a first mode for assessing functionality of a network device that is only connected to the MTM (110,210), a second node in which the MTM (110,210) emulates an audio/video talker node or an audio/video listener node, a third mode in which the MTM (110,210) monitors bidirectional network traffic for passively monitoring the network for quality, and a fourth mode in which the MTM (110,210) inserts packets within a data stream for running network tests and for monitoring the network; while operating in the third mode, receiving packets from a network connected device; and determining, while operating in the third mode, performance metrics associated with either the network connected device or a communications network (104, 206) to which the network connected device is connected by passively monitoring the packets; and receiving, from a node, device, network operator and/or network administrator, a packet carrying instructions and automatically switching from the third mode to one of the first, second, and fourth modes in response to receiving the packet carrying instructions and designating an operating mode, characterized in that, automatically switching from the third mode to one of the first, second, and fourth modes comprises engaging a Layer 2, L2, switch to route the packets between the PTM that implements the third mode and the ATM that implements the first, second, and fourth modes. hosting a monitoring and testing module, MTM, (110,210) including a passive tap module, PTM, and an active tap module, ATM,, wherein the MTM (110,210) is configured to operate in any of the following modes: a first mode for assessing functionality of a network device that is only connected to the MTM (110,210), a second node in which the MTM (110,210) emulates an audio/video talker node or an audio/video listener node, a third mode in which the MTM (110,210) monitors bidirectional network traffic for passively monitoring the network for quality, and a fourth mode in which the MTM (110,210) inserts packets within a data stream for running network tests and for monitoring the network; while operating in the third mode, receiving packets from a network connected device; and determining, while operating in the third mode, performance metrics associated with either the network connected device or a communications network (104, 206) to which the network connected device is connected by passively monitoring the packets; and receiving, from a node, device, network operator and/or network administrator, a packet carrying instructions and automatically switching from the third mode to one of the first, second, and fourth modes in response to receiving the packet carrying instructions and designating an operating mode, characterized in that, automatically switching from the third mode to one of the first, second, and fourth modes comprises engaging a Layer 2, L2, switch to route the packets between the PTM that implements the third mode and the ATM that implements the first, second, and fourth modes.