System for detecting network errors

• US 6,105,151 A
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wallach, Walter A., Mahalingam, Mallikarjunan
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Revak, Christopher Alan
• Application Number:
  US08/942,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 714/48, 714/49, 714/50, 714/7, 714/8, 714/4, 714/41, 714/43, 714/47, 714/55, 714/56, 710/102, 710/103, 370/409, 709/239
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2002 where interconnections or communication control functionality are redundant flexible arrangements for bus networks involving redundancy H04L12/40176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2017 where memory access, memory control or I/O control functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005; redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40195 by using a plurality of nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/58 Association of routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is described for providing fault tolerance within a computer system. The system provides a method for allowing multiple network interface cards to reside within the same computer system. If the primary network interface card fails, a secondary network interface card automatically begins managing the network communications. In addition, a system that provides load-sharing of data transmissions between each network interface card installed in a server computer is described.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a protocol stack;

a first network interface card (NIC) and a second NIC, each capable of being coupled in communication with the protocol stack, each having a corresponding address; and

a driver program coupled in communication with said protocol stack, said first NIC and said second NIC, wherein said driver program includes instructions for;

sending a plurality of probe packets to said first NIC, responsive to not receiving one or more of the plurality of probe packets on said first NIC, waiting a predetermined period to receive packets on said first NIC, and

if no packets are received on said first NIC during said predetermined period, deactivating said first NIC and assigning said second NIC said address corresponding to said first NIC.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said protocol stack is selected from the group consisting of:

TCP/IP, IPX/SPX or NETBEUI.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said driver program comprises a virtual adapter for communicating with said protocol stack.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said driver program comprises a transport protocol for communicating with said first NIC and said second NIC.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said driver program is a Microsoft Windows NT intermediate driver.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first NIC and said second NIC are capable of being coupled in communication with a network, and wherein the driver program further includes instructions for routing a portion of a plurality of data packets addressed for transmission over said network using said first NIC to said second NIC for transmission over said network.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the instructions for routing further comprise instructions for modifying a source media access control address (MAC) in each of the portion of the plurality of data packets addressed for transmission using said first NIC to indicate said second NIC.

8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the instructions for routing further comprise instructions for modifying a source address in each of the portion of the plurality of data packets addressed for transmission using said first NIC to indicate said second NIC.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the instructions for routing further comprise instructions for routing all data packets in the plurality of data packets to said second NIC for transmission over the network responsive to deactivating said first NIC.

10. An apparatus for detecting failures in a first network interface card (NIC) and sharing load balance, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of probe packets to the first NIC over a network using a second NIC;

means for waiting a predetermined period to receive packets on the first NIC;

means for deactivating the first NIC in response to not receiving one or more of the plurality of probe packets on the first NIC;

means for assigning the second NIC an address corresponding to the first NIC if no packets are received on the first NIC during the predetermined period; and

means for routing a portion of a plurality of packets being generated by at least a first program for transmission over the first NIC for transmission over the second NIC.