A method and system for providing statistical network information carried in a data packet being transmitted on a network. The method includes the steps of receiving a data packet having a data portion on a repeater and transferring the data portion to a management unit. The method further includes the step of appending statistical information to the data portion during an inter-packet gap period. The apparatus for providing statistical information in a data packet on a network includes a repeater mechanism, a management unit mechanism, and a packet tagging circuit. The repeater mechanism receives a data packet having a data portion, the management unit mechanism determines statistical information based on the data packet, and the packet tagging circuit appends information to the data portion of the data packet during an inter-packet gap period.