US Patent 10291533 Systems and methods for network traffic monitoring

A packet forwarding network may include switches that forward network traffic between end hosts and network tap devices that forward copied network traffic to an analysis network formed from client switches that are controlled by a controller. Network analysis devices and network service devices may be coupled to the client switches at interfaces of the analysis network. The controller may receive one or more network policies from a network administrator. A network policy may identify ingress interfaces, egress interfaces, matching rules, packet manipulation services to be performed. The controller may control the client switches to generate network paths that forward network packets that match the matching rules from the ingress interfaces to the egress interfaces through service devices that perform the services of the list. The controller may generate network paths for network policies based on network topology information and/or current network conditions maintained at the controller.