A real-time flow monitor architecture encompassing on-demand monitoring functions

This paper introduces a new flow monitoring architecture that is based on FPGA technology offering high speed and programmability for monitoring in the next generation Internet. Two monitoring functions are also presented that can be implemented on the proposed architecture. The functions are based on Internet traffic characteristics and can increase monitoring efficiency and compute additional network statistics. The two functions illustrate how the programmable nature of the architecture allows for flexible, intelligent and on-demand monitoring. The first function classifies flows based on size and speed and the second function, measures flow traffic bursts.