> I need to collect raw throughput statistics without increasing latency > or reducing bandwidth on 10GbE fiber links, so most of the typical > methods are out of the question
After re-reading your post(s) and the thread, I am still unsure what level of detail you need, e.g. what you mean by "collect raw throughput statistics". Does that go more in-depth than simple Byte- or packet counts which you might read by SNMP GETs from a network device in your path? Or would a NetFlow or sFlow export provide enough level of detail for those statistics? Arien Vijn from AMS-IX has given some interesting presentations on monitoring 10GE, also using the Meta / Force10 Networks "programmable NIC" and a photonic cross connect/splitter: http://events.ccc.de/congress/2006/Fahrplan/events/1640.en.html (There is/was a voice/video recording if the session, but I can find it right now.) Another source for similar special NICs: http://www.napatech.com Rolf
