Method and apparatus for generating a unique packet identifier

1. A method comprising:

in a network traffic tester device:

accepting, from a networking device under test (DUT) in a test environment, a packet that includes a packet header comprising a serial plurality of packet words,

selecting a subset of a first packet word in the packet header,

selecting a subset of a second packet word in the packet header,

selecting a subset of an Nth packet word in the packet header,

generating a packet identifier from a combination of the subsets selected from the first, second, and Nth packet words in the packet header, wherein the packet identifier identifies a connection between the network traffic tester device and the networking DUT in the test environment to which the packet is associated, and

accessing a state memory using the packet identifier.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 repeating accepting, selecting, and generating for a serial plurality of packets in a data stream.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 implemented in a series of instantiations and wherein each instantiation performs a different one of the selecting.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising programming at least one bit used to select the subset of each of the first packet word, the second packet word, and the Nth packet word.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising programming at least one bit to define the first packet word, the second packet word, and the Nth packet word from the serial plurality of packet words.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a network traffic tester device including:

a stream processor controller port for accepting, from a networking device under test (DUT) in a test environment, a packet that includes a packet header comprising a serial plurality of packet words,

a first field selector for selecting a subset of a first packet word in the packet header,

a second field selector for selecting a subset of a second packet word in the packet header,

an Nth field selector for selecting a subset of an Nth packet word in the packet header,

a plurality of selector latches for generating a packet identifier from a combination of the subsets selected from the first, second, and Nth packet words in the packet header, wherein the packet identifier identifies a connection between the network traffic tester device and the networking DUT in the test environment to which the packet is associated, and

a packet processor for accessing a state memory using the packet identifier.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising a programming selector for programming at least one bit to define the first packet word, the second packet word, and the Nth packet word from the serial plurality of packet words.

8. A network traffic testing apparatus comprising:

means for accepting, from a networking device under test (DUT) in a test environment, a packet that includes a packet header comprising a serial plurality of packet words,

means for selecting a subset of a first packet word in the packet header,

means for selecting a subset of a second packet word in the packet header,

means for selecting a subset of an Nth packet word in the packet header,

means for generating a packet identifier from a combination of the subsets selected from the first, second, and Nth packet words in the packet header, wherein the packet identifier identifies a connection between the network traffic tester device and the networking DUT in the test environment to which the packet is associated, and

means for accessing a state memory using the packet identifier.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 comprising means for programming at least one bit to define the first packet word, the second packet word, and the Nth packet word from the serial plurality of packet words.