Systems and methods for generating a command to monitor communications in a asynchronous transfer mode network are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, an analyst or automated system creates a command to instruct a network element to mirror a port to another network element in communication with the asynchronous transfer mode network. In one embodiment, the analyst troubleshoots a communication link between two network elements by creating two port mirror commands, transmitting the commands to the network elements, and then monitoring subsequent communications between the elements.