diff --git a/backend/src/api/sniffer_api.py b/backend/src/api/sniffer_api.py
index e50f028..c9e5aa6 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/sniffer_api.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/sniffer_api.py
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ class SnifferStartRequest(BaseModel):
         example="tc_ebpf",
         description="Bridge capture mode: 'tc_ebpf' or 'af_packet'. Ignored for interface capture.",
     )
+    benchmark_mode: bool = Field(
+        False,
+        description=(
+            "Run capture hooks for measurement while skipping packet parsing, DB persistence, "
+            "DPI enrichment, and live packet publication."
+        ),
+    )
 
 
 class SnifferStartResponse(BaseModel):
@@ -45,6 +52,7 @@ class SnifferStartResponse(BaseModel):
     target: str = Field(..., description="Started target name.")
     target_type: str = Field(..., description="Either 'bridge' or 'interface'.")
     capture_mode: str = Field(..., description="The effective capture mode used by the session.")
+    benchmark_mode: bool = Field(False, description="Whether userspace packet processing is skipped.")
 
 
 class SnifferStopRequest(BaseModel):
@@ -71,6 +79,7 @@ class InterfaceSnifferStatus(BaseModel):
     session_id: Optional[str] = Field(None, description="Owning capture session ID.")
     session_label: Optional[str] = Field(None, description="Human-readable session label.")
     capture_mode: Optional[str] = Field(None, description="Capture mode used by the owning session.")
+    benchmark_mode: Optional[bool] = Field(None, description="Whether the owning session skips userspace processing.")
 
 
 class SnifferStatusResponse(BaseModel):
@@ -90,13 +99,18 @@ def sniffer_start(req: SnifferStartRequest) -> SnifferStartResponse:
 
     try:
         if req.interface:
-            session_id = start_capture_session(req.interface, target_is_interface=True)
+            session_id = start_capture_session(
+                req.interface,
+                target_is_interface=True,
+                benchmark_mode=req.benchmark_mode,
+            )
             return SnifferStartResponse(
                 started=True,
                 session_id=session_id,
                 target=req.interface,
                 target_type="interface",
                 capture_mode="af_packet",
+                benchmark_mode=req.benchmark_mode,
             )
 
         effective_capture_mode = req.bridge_capture_mode or BRIDGE_CAPTURE_MODE_TC_EBPF
@@ -106,6 +120,7 @@ def sniffer_start(req: SnifferStartRequest) -> SnifferStartResponse:
             req.bridge,
             target_is_interface=False,
             bridge_capture_mode=effective_capture_mode,
+            benchmark_mode=req.benchmark_mode,
         )
         return SnifferStartResponse(
             started=True,
@@ -113,6 +128,7 @@ def sniffer_start(req: SnifferStartRequest) -> SnifferStartResponse:
             target=req.bridge,
             target_type="bridge",
             capture_mode=effective_capture_mode,
+            benchmark_mode=req.benchmark_mode,
         )
     except Exception as exc:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Failed to start sniffer: {exc}") from exc
diff --git a/backend/src/network_sniffer.py b/backend/src/network_sniffer.py
index 15d7ee0..2f495d3 100644
--- a/backend/src/network_sniffer.py
+++ b/backend/src/network_sniffer.py
@@ -630,8 +630,16 @@ def _sync_bridge_telemetry() -> None:
         for session_id, session in sessions.items()
         if session.get("is_bridge") and session.get("capture_mode") == BRIDGE_CAPTURE_MODE_TC_EBPF
     }
+    benchmark_session_ids = {
+        session_id
+        for session_id, session in sessions.items()
+        if session.get("benchmark_mode")
+    }
     try:
-        bridge_telemetry_manager.update_sessions(bridge_session_interfaces)
+        bridge_telemetry_manager.update_sessions(
+            bridge_session_interfaces,
+            benchmark_session_ids=benchmark_session_ids,
+        )
     except Exception:
         logger.exception("Failed to update bridge telemetry collector")
 
@@ -639,6 +647,7 @@ def _sync_bridge_telemetry() -> None:
         {
             iface
             for session in sessions.values()
+            if not session.get("benchmark_mode")
             for iface in (
                 list(session.get("capture_ifaces", []))
                 + (
@@ -667,8 +676,9 @@ def _session_reader_loop(session_id: str) -> None:
     stop_event: threading.Event = session["stop_event"]
     sockets: Dict[str, socket.socket] = session["sockets"]
     label: str = session["label"]
+    benchmark_mode = bool(session.get("benchmark_mode"))
 
-    logger.info("Session %s reader starting (label=%s)", session_id, label)
+    logger.info("Session %s reader starting (label=%s benchmark_mode=%s)", session_id, label, benchmark_mode)
     sel = selectors.DefaultSelector()
 
     # register existing sockets
@@ -729,6 +739,11 @@ def _session_reader_loop(session_id: str) -> None:
                         logger.exception("Recv error on %s in session %s", iface, session_id)
                         continue
 
+                if benchmark_mode:
+                    session["benchmark_packets"] = int(session.get("benchmark_packets") or 0) + 1
+                    session["benchmark_bytes"] = int(session.get("benchmark_bytes") or 0) + len(raw)
+                    continue
+
                 # parse with scapy
                 try:
                     recv_ts = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
@@ -775,6 +790,7 @@ def start_capture_session(
     target: str,
     target_is_interface: bool = False,
     bridge_capture_mode: str = BRIDGE_CAPTURE_MODE_TC_EBPF,
+    benchmark_mode: bool = False,
 ) -> str:
     """
     Start a packet capture session. Returns session_id string.
@@ -796,6 +812,9 @@ def start_capture_session(
         "label": target,
         "is_bridge": not target_is_interface,
         "capture_mode": effective_capture_mode,
+        "benchmark_mode": bool(benchmark_mode),
+        "benchmark_packets": 0,
+        "benchmark_bytes": 0,
         "ports": [],
         "capture_ifaces": [],
     }
@@ -834,10 +853,11 @@ def start_capture_session(
         session["thread"] = None
     _sync_bridge_telemetry()
     logger.info(
-        "Started capture session %s label=%s capture_mode=%s ports=%s capture_ifaces=%s",
+        "Started capture session %s label=%s capture_mode=%s benchmark_mode=%s ports=%s capture_ifaces=%s",
         session_id,
         target,
         effective_capture_mode,
+        bool(benchmark_mode),
         ports,
         capture_ifaces,
     )
@@ -946,6 +966,7 @@ def get_capture_session_status() -> Dict[str, Dict[str, object]]:
                 "session_id": sid,
                 "session_label": s.get("label"),
                 "capture_mode": s.get("capture_mode"),
+                "benchmark_mode": bool(s.get("benchmark_mode")),
             }
         if not s.get("sockets") and s.get("is_bridge"):
             for iface in s.get("ports", []):
@@ -956,6 +977,7 @@ def get_capture_session_status() -> Dict[str, Dict[str, object]]:
                     "session_id": sid,
                     "session_label": s.get("label"),
                     "capture_mode": s.get("capture_mode"),
+                    "benchmark_mode": bool(s.get("benchmark_mode")),
                 }
     return out
 
@@ -970,6 +992,9 @@ def get_internal_debug_state() -> dict:
                 "label": s.get("label"),
                 "is_bridge": s.get("is_bridge"),
                 "capture_mode": s.get("capture_mode"),
+                "benchmark_mode": bool(s.get("benchmark_mode")),
+                "benchmark_packets": int(s.get("benchmark_packets") or 0),
+                "benchmark_bytes": int(s.get("benchmark_bytes") or 0),
                 "ports": list(s.get("ports", [])),
                 "capture_ifaces": list(s.get("capture_ifaces", [])),
                 "sockets": list(s.get("sockets", {}).keys()),
@@ -993,6 +1018,7 @@ def get_internal_debug_state() -> dict:
             }
         ),
         "tshark": tshark_manager.get_debug_snapshot(),
+        "bridge_telemetry": bridge_telemetry_manager.get_debug_snapshot(),
         "packet_tracker": packet_tracker.get_debug_snapshot(),
     }
 
@@ -1001,12 +1027,14 @@ def start_afpacket_sniffer(
     target: str,
     target_is_interface: bool = False,
     bridge_capture_mode: str = BRIDGE_CAPTURE_MODE_TC_EBPF,
+    benchmark_mode: bool = False,
 ) -> str:
     """Backward-compatible wrapper for start_capture_session()."""
     return start_capture_session(
         target,
         target_is_interface=target_is_interface,
         bridge_capture_mode=bridge_capture_mode,
+        benchmark_mode=benchmark_mode,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/backend/src/utilities/bridge_telemetry.py b/backend/src/utilities/bridge_telemetry.py
index fe9bb8d..0f2cc44 100644
--- a/backend/src/utilities/bridge_telemetry.py
+++ b/backend/src/utilities/bridge_telemetry.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class BridgeTelemetryManager:
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         self._interfaces: set[str] = set()
         self._session_ids_by_interface: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {}
+        self._benchmark_by_interface: dict[str, bool] = {}
         self._process: Optional[subprocess.Popen[str]] = None
         self._reader_thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
         self._event_queue: queue.Queue = queue.Queue(maxsize=settings.bridge_telemetry_event_queue_maxsize)
@@ -38,13 +39,20 @@ class BridgeTelemetryManager:
         self._worker_thread.start()
         self._dropped_events = 0
         self._dropped_raw_payloads = 0
+        self._benchmark_events = 0
+        self._benchmark_raw_payloads = 0
         self._last_drop_log_at = 0.0
         self._suppressed_collector_messages = 0
         self._last_collector_warning_at = 0.0
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
 
-    def update_sessions(self, session_interfaces: Mapping[str, Iterable[str]]) -> None:
+    def update_sessions(
+        self,
+        session_interfaces: Mapping[str, Iterable[str]],
+        benchmark_session_ids: Optional[set[str]] = None,
+    ) -> None:
         """Restart the collector when the active bridge interface set changes."""
+        benchmark_session_ids = benchmark_session_ids or set()
         normalized: dict[str, set[str]] = {}
         for session_id, interfaces in session_interfaces.items():
             if not session_id:
@@ -58,11 +66,17 @@ class BridgeTelemetryManager:
             iface: tuple(sorted(session_id for session_id, ifaces in normalized.items() if iface in ifaces))
             for iface in normalized_interfaces
         }
+        benchmark_by_interface = {
+            iface: bool(session_ids_by_interface.get(iface))
+            and all(session_id in benchmark_session_ids for session_id in session_ids_by_interface.get(iface, ()))
+            for iface in normalized_interfaces
+        }
 
         with self._lock:
             interfaces_changed = set(normalized_interfaces) != self._interfaces
             self._interfaces = set(normalized_interfaces)
             self._session_ids_by_interface = session_ids_by_interface
+            self._benchmark_by_interface = benchmark_by_interface
             if not interfaces_changed:
                 return
             self._restart_locked()
@@ -192,6 +206,17 @@ class BridgeTelemetryManager:
                 if not isinstance(event, dict):
                     continue
 
+                iface = str(event.get("iface") or "")
+                with self._lock:
+                    benchmark_mode = bool(self._benchmark_by_interface.get(iface))
+                if benchmark_mode:
+                    raw_b64 = event.pop("raw_b64", None)
+                    with self._lock:
+                        self._benchmark_events += 1
+                        if raw_b64:
+                            self._benchmark_raw_payloads += 1
+                    continue
+
                 if event.get("event_type") == "ingress":
                     self._handle_ingress_packet(event)
 
@@ -311,5 +336,17 @@ class BridgeTelemetryManager:
         if rc not in (0, None):
             logger.warning("Bridge telemetry collector exited with code %s", rc)
 
+    def get_debug_snapshot(self) -> dict[str, object]:
+        with self._lock:
+            return {
+                "interfaces": sorted(self._interfaces),
+                "benchmark_by_interface": dict(self._benchmark_by_interface),
+                "queue_size": self._event_queue.qsize(),
+                "dropped_events": self._dropped_events,
+                "dropped_raw_payloads": self._dropped_raw_payloads,
+                "benchmark_events": self._benchmark_events,
+                "benchmark_raw_payloads": self._benchmark_raw_payloads,
+            }
+
 
 bridge_telemetry_manager = BridgeTelemetryManager()
diff --git a/backend/src/utilities/ebpf_bridge_events.py b/backend/src/utilities/ebpf_bridge_events.py
index e96e5bb..ac7adb9 100644
--- a/backend/src/utilities/ebpf_bridge_events.py
+++ b/backend/src/utilities/ebpf_bridge_events.py
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ class Event(ct.Structure):
 
 TARGET_INTERFACES: set[str] = set()
 IPR: IPRoute | None = None
+OMIT_RAW_PAYLOAD = False
 
 
 def _run_checked(cmd: list[str]) -> None:
@@ -546,7 +547,7 @@ def _emit_ingress_event(cpu: int, data: int, size: int) -> None:
         return
 
     raw_size = size - ct.sizeof(Event)
-    if raw_size > 0:
+    if raw_size > 0 and not OMIT_RAW_PAYLOAD:
         raw = ct.string_at(data + ct.sizeof(Event), min(raw_size, int(event.length)))
         payload["raw_b64"] = base64.b64encode(raw).decode("ascii")
 
@@ -597,6 +598,11 @@ def _parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
         default=128,
         help="Perf-buffer page count for metadata events.",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--omit-raw-payload",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Drain raw ingress events but do not base64-encode or print raw packet bytes.",
+    )
     return parser.parse_args()
 
 
@@ -675,6 +681,8 @@ def _cleanup_tc(ifaces: Iterable[str]) -> None:
 
 def main() -> int:
     args = _parse_args()
+    global OMIT_RAW_PAYLOAD
+    OMIT_RAW_PAYLOAD = bool(args.omit_raw_payload)
     raw_sample_every = max(0, args.raw_sample_every)
     meta_sample_every = max(0, args.meta_sample_every)
     ingress_pages = max(1, args.ingress_pages)
@@ -706,6 +714,7 @@ def main() -> int:
                     "meta_sample_every": meta_sample_every,
                     "ingress_pages": ingress_pages,
                     "meta_pages": meta_pages,
+                    "omit_raw_payload": OMIT_RAW_PAYLOAD,
                 },
                 separators=(",", ":"),
             ),
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SnifferManager.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SnifferManager.tsx
index a0f22cd..a5d5aac 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SnifferManager.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SnifferManager.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   Select,
   Space,
   Spin,
+  Switch,
   Tag,
   Tooltip,
   Typography,
@@ -62,8 +63,13 @@ export default function SnifferManager(props: SnifferManagerProps): ReactElement
     setIsModalOpen(false);
   };
 
-  const handleStartSubmit = async (values: { target?: string; bridgeCaptureMode?: 'tc_ebpf' | 'af_packet' }) => {
+  const handleStartSubmit = async (values: {
+    target?: string;
+    bridgeCaptureMode?: 'tc_ebpf' | 'af_packet';
+    benchmarkMode?: boolean;
+  }) => {
     const target = values.target;
+    const benchmarkMode = Boolean(values.benchmarkMode);
     if (!target) {
       notification.warning({ message: 'Warning', description: 'Please select a target to start capture on.' });
       return;
@@ -72,12 +78,14 @@ export default function SnifferManager(props: SnifferManagerProps): ReactElement
     try {
       const payload =
         startMode === 'interface'
-          ? { interface: target }
-          : { bridge: target, bridge_capture_mode: values.bridgeCaptureMode ?? bridgeCaptureMode };
+          ? { interface: target, benchmark_mode: benchmarkMode }
+          : { bridge: target, bridge_capture_mode: values.bridgeCaptureMode ?? bridgeCaptureMode, benchmark_mode: benchmarkMode };
       const result = await startSniffer(payload);
       notification.success({
         message: 'Capture started',
-        description: `Capture started on ${target} via ${result.capture_mode} (session ${result.session_id})`,
+        description: `Capture started on ${target} via ${result.capture_mode}${
+          result.benchmark_mode ? ' in benchmark mode' : ''
+        } (session ${result.session_id})`,
       });
       await props.refreshAll();
       setIsModalOpen(false);
@@ -241,6 +249,7 @@ export default function SnifferManager(props: SnifferManagerProps): ReactElement
                             {status.capture_mode === 'af_packet' ? 'AF_PACKET' : 'tc/eBPF'}
                           </Tag>
                         )}
+                        {status.benchmark_mode && <Tag color="gold">benchmark</Tag>}
                       </Space>
                     }
                     description={<Text type="secondary">interface: {name}</Text>}
@@ -260,7 +269,12 @@ export default function SnifferManager(props: SnifferManagerProps): ReactElement
         confirmLoading={props.loading}
         okText="Start"
       >
-        <Form form={form} layout="vertical" onFinish={handleStartSubmit} initialValues={{ target: undefined }}>
+        <Form
+          form={form}
+          layout="vertical"
+          onFinish={handleStartSubmit}
+          initialValues={{ target: undefined, benchmarkMode: false }}
+        >
           <Form.Item label="Mode" name="mode">
             <Radio.Group
               value={startMode}
@@ -323,6 +337,19 @@ export default function SnifferManager(props: SnifferManagerProps): ReactElement
               </Radio.Group>
             </Form.Item>
           )}
+
+          <Form.Item
+            label="Benchmark Mode"
+            name="benchmarkMode"
+            valuePropName="checked"
+            extra={
+              startMode === 'bridge' && bridgeCaptureMode === 'tc_ebpf'
+                ? 'Keeps tc/eBPF raw export and JSON emission, but skips backend parsing, telemetry merge, DB persistence, DPI enrichment, and live packet publishing.'
+                : 'Receives packets for measurement, but skips packet parsing, packet tracking, DB persistence, DPI enrichment, and live packet publishing.'
+            }
+          >
+            <Switch checkedChildren="Benchmark" unCheckedChildren="Normal" />
+          </Form.Item>
         </Form>
       </Modal>
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/types/sniffer.ts b/frontend/src/types/sniffer.ts
index 1ab865f..5d65e68 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types/sniffer.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types/sniffer.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export interface SnifferStartRequest {
   bridge?: string;
   interface?: string;
   bridge_capture_mode?: 'tc_ebpf' | 'af_packet';
+  benchmark_mode?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ export interface SnifferStartResponse {
   target: string;
   target_type: 'bridge' | 'interface';
   capture_mode: 'tc_ebpf' | 'af_packet';
+  benchmark_mode?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ export interface InterfaceSnifferStatus {
   session_id?: string | null;
   session_label?: string | null;
   capture_mode?: 'tc_ebpf' | 'af_packet' | null;
+  benchmark_mode?: boolean | null;
 }
 
 /**