Passive tap and associated system for tapping network data

A network tap device array including one or more passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices is disclosed. The array enables data from multiple nodes in a communications network to be tapped and forwarded to a plurality of monitoring devices. In one embodiment the network tap device array includes a chassis that is configured to receive a plurality of passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices. Each passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap device includes network ports for passing network data via communication cables and tap ports for forwarding the tapped network data to the monitoring device. In another embodiment, a sub-chassis includes a plurality of passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices and an aggregator that aggregates tapped data from each of the tap devices. The aggregator then forwards the aggregated data to the monitoring device. The sub-chassis can be included in a chassis that is configured to receive multiple populated chassis.