LAN software development and integration environment

A description is given of a software development and integration environment for local area networks. It is based on a discrete-event simulation of the required network (MAC layer) along with a powerful network analyzer. Each node in the network can be configured as a MAC layer only, or can be configured to communicate with upper layers/applications. The network analyzer makes possible the monitoring the tracing the network from the MAC layer up to the application layer. A mechanism of triggering and filtering is used in order to capture the required traffic from the network for future analysis. Thus malfunctions in the applications can be revealed. The environment can also be used to debug implementation of the MAC layer (in silicon) in a network, by incorporating the chip implementation instead of one of the nodes in the network simulator