Patent ID: 7573829

Claim:
A method for testing network performance, comprising: detecting on a first host at least a first data packet to be sent from a first application running on said first host over a network, wherein said first data packet is formatted according to a first protocol, wherein said first application is a source of native traffic, wherein said native traffic includes said first data packet, wherein said first data packet does not include network test data, wherein said first data packet is addressed to a second host only, and wherein said first protocol comprises a protocol corresponding to a first network layer; a first encapsulator running on said first host intercepting said first data packet; encapsulating by said first encapsulator on said first host said first data packet into a second data packet to form a first test data packet, wherein said second data packet is formatted according to a second protocol, wherein said second protocol comprises a protocol corresponding to said first network layer, wherein said first test data packet is addressed to said second host only, and wherein said first test data packet includes said first data packet and further includes first information including performance testing information; and providing said first test data packet from said first host to said network for transmission.