A packet switch routes data packets based on both packet headers and data payloads in the data packets. The packet switch receives data packets, identifies a destination port of the packet switch for each data packet based on a packet header of the data packet, and routes the data packet to the destination port. Additionally, the packet switch selects data packets among the data packets received by the packet switch based on the data payloads of the received data packets, identifies a trace port of the packet switch for each selected data packet, and routes the selected data packet to the trace port.