Vorrichtung zur Sammlung von Informationen über die Benutzung eines Paketnetzwerks

A protocol analyzer (15) for collecting packet network (16) statistics includes an input buffer (18), a lookup table (20) and a counter memory (66).The input buffer includes a frame header buffer and the lookup table comprises a state machine including a CAM and a RAM. A frame is stored in the frame header buffer while the CAM and RAM analyze predetermined portions of it. If a portion is eight bits or less, it is input into the RAM and the RAM outputs instructions stored at the location indicated by the data portion. If the portion is greater than eight bits, it is input into the CAM, which outputs a RAM address at which corresponding instructions are stored. The instructions can include an instruction to increment a count in a predetermined register of the counter memory; an instruction to add a new count register in the counter memory; an instruction to generate a snapshot trigger to cause a capture RAM (80) to store a specific data segment traveling on the packet network; and an instruction to further analyze the data portion. The instruction to further analyze the data portion includes an address offset to indicate the location of the next data segment to be analyzed. The protocol analyzer does not include a processor, and is not operated by software; it can analyze all data frames on a packet network, even at gigabit transfer rates.