Detecting path break conditions while minimizing network overhead
First Claim
1. A method for determining a break condition in a communication path by a receiving network appliance of a plurality of network appliances, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first plurality of data packets for a data flow, by a transmitting network appliance to a receiving network appliance over a communication path;
receiving at the receiving network appliance, the first plurality of data packets for the data flow over the communication path;
determining that;
a first predetermined time interval has elapsed since a last data packet of the first plurality of data packets was received by the receiving network appliance over the communication path;
no data packets of any data flow have been received during the first predetermined time interval; and
no health probe packets have been received during the first predetermined time interval;
after expiration of the first predetermined time interval and during a second predetermined time interval;
determining by the transmitting network appliance that no data packets of any data flow have been transmitted from the transmitting network appliance to the receiving network appliance during the first predetermined time interval, and transmitting a plurality of health probe packets to the receiving network appliance;
expecting receipt at the receiving network appliance of either a data packet of a data flow, or a health probe packet of the plurality of health probe packets, during the second predetermined time interval;
determining, by the receiving network appliance, that;
the second predetermined time interval has elapsed;
no data packets of any data flow have been received during the second predetermined time interval; and
no health probe packets have been received during the second predetermined time interval; and
sending a message to the transmitting network appliance that there is likely a break condition in the communication path.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for detection of a path break in a communication network by one network appliance of a plurality of network appliance. A communication path that is transitioning from active to idle state can be quickly determined by evaluating network data traffic within a predetermined time interval after the end of a data transmission. By strategically utilizing health probes at only a set predetermined time interval after a data transmission, a path break condition can be quickly determined without significant use of network bandwidth. Further, the path break condition can be determined unilaterally by one network appliance.
562 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for determining a break condition in a communication path by a receiving network appliance of a plurality of network appliances, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a first plurality of data packets for a data flow, by a transmitting network appliance to a receiving network appliance over a communication path; receiving at the receiving network appliance, the first plurality of data packets for the data flow over the communication path; determining that; a first predetermined time interval has elapsed since a last data packet of the first plurality of data packets was received by the receiving network appliance over the communication path; no data packets of any data flow have been received during the first predetermined time interval; and no health probe packets have been received during the first predetermined time interval; after expiration of the first predetermined time interval and during a second predetermined time interval; determining by the transmitting network appliance that no data packets of any data flow have been transmitted from the transmitting network appliance to the receiving network appliance during the first predetermined time interval, and transmitting a plurality of health probe packets to the receiving network appliance; expecting receipt at the receiving network appliance of either a data packet of a data flow, or a health probe packet of the plurality of health probe packets, during the second predetermined time interval; determining, by the receiving network appliance, that; the second predetermined time interval has elapsed; no data packets of any data flow have been received during the second predetermined time interval; and no health probe packets have been received during the second predetermined time interval; and sending a message to the transmitting network appliance that there is likely a break condition in the communication path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11)
-
-
9. A method for determining a no-break condition in a communication path by a receiving network appliance of a plurality of network appliances, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a first plurality of data packets of a first data flow, by a transmitting network appliance to a receiving network appliance over a communication path; receiving at the receiving network appliance, the first plurality of data packets of the first data flow over the communication path; determining, at the receiving network appliance, that; a first predetermined time interval has elapsed since a last data packet of the first plurality of data packets was received; and no data packets of the first data flow, no data packets of a second data flow, or no health probe packets have been received during the first predetermined time interval; after expiration of the first predetermined time interval, expecting receipt at the receiving network appliance of either a data packet of the first data flow, a data packet of the second data flow, or a health probe packet during a second predetermined time interval; determining, at the receiving network appliance, that the second predetermined time interval has elapsed and at least one of a data packet of the first data flow, a data packet of the second data flow, or a health probe packet is received within the second predetermined time interval; and receiving, at the receiving network appliance, a second plurality of data packets transmitted by the transmitting network appliance over the communication path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for enabling fast detection of a break condition in a communication path by a receiving network appliance of a plurality of network appliances, the method comprising:
-
transmitting, by a transmitting network appliance, a first plurality of data packets of a data flow to a receiving network appliance over a communication path; determining, by the transmitting network appliance, that the transmission of the first plurality of data packets of the data flow has completed and the communication path is transitioning to an idle state; waiting, by the transmitting network appliance, for the expiration of a first predetermined time interval; and transmitting, by the transmitting network appliance, a plurality of fast health probes to the receiving network appliance during a second predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification