Method of detecting network errors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method in a computer system of transferring control of network traffic between network interface cards (NICs), the method comprising:
- determining the address of a first network interface card (NIC), the network interface card being enabled;
assigning said address to at least a second network interface card, the second network interface card being disabled;
sending at least one data packet from a protocol stack to said address;
disabling said first NIC if said data packet is not received in a predetermined period without receipt of additional packets elapses; and
responsive to the disabling, enabling said second network interface card.
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Abstract
A method is described for providing fault tolerance within a computer system. The method allows multiple network interface cards to reside within the same computer system. If a primary network interface card fails, a secondary network interface card automatically begins managing the network communications. In addition, a method of load-sharing data transmissions between each network interface card installed in a server computer is described.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system of transferring control of network traffic between network interface cards (NICs), the method comprising:
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determining the address of a first network interface card (NIC), the network interface card being enabled; assigning said address to at least a second network interface card, the second network interface card being disabled; sending at least one data packet from a protocol stack to said address; disabling said first NIC if said data packet is not received in a predetermined period without receipt of additional packets elapses; and responsive to the disabling, enabling said second network interface card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for disabling a failing network interface card comprising:
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sending a probe from a protocol stack to a virtual adapter interface on an intermediate driver; forwarding said probe packet from a transport protocol interface on said intermediate driver to a first network interface card (NIC); attempting to receive said probe packets at a first NIC; disabling said first NIC if said probe packet is not received in a predetermined period without receipt of additional packets elapses; and responsive to the disabling, enabling a second network interface card. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting failures in a first network interface card (NIC) and sharing load balance, the method comprising:
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transmitting a plurality of probe packets to the first NIC over a network using a second NIC; responsive to not receiving one or more of the plurality of probe packets on the first NIC, waiting a predetermined period to receive packets on the first NIC; if no packets are received on the first NIC during the predetermined period; deactivating the first NIC, and assigning the second NIC an address corresponding to the first NIC; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification