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Apparatus, system, and method for debugging network devices based on the contents of dropped packets

  • US 10,735,282 B1
  • Filed: 06/29/2018
  • Issued: 08/04/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2018
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • detecting, at a network stack of a network device, a packet that;

    is destined at least intermediately for a network interface of the network device; and

    has been flagged by the network stack to be dropped instead of forwarded to the network interface based on at least one characteristic of the packet;

    identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) identification number within a header of the packet;

    instead of dropping the packet;

    replacing, within the header of the packet, the IP identification number with an error code that corresponds to a reason that the packet has been flagged based on the characteristic of the packet;

    altering a checksum field of the packet such that the packet is undeliverable to the network interface; and

    forwarding the packet to an alternative network interface of the network device that analyzes content of packets;

    identifying, at the alternative network interface, the error code that replaced the IP identification number within the header of the packet; and

    executing, based on the error code identified within the header of the packet, at least one action in connection with the packet that improves the performance of the network device.

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