Computer-based switch for testing network servers
First Claim
1. A computer functioning as a computer-based network switch, comprising:
- a first network adapter for connecting to an external network;
a plurality of second network adapters each for forming a connection with a network server in a private network;
a switching component for receiving network communication data from the external network through the first network adapter and directing the received network communication data to the second network adapters for transmission to the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto; and
a test control component for selectively disabling the second network adapters to create failure of physical connections between the second network adapters and the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto, the test control component further including a third network adapter for connecting the test control component to a server testing controller on the external network to allow the test control component to communicate with the server testing controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-based switch enables automated testing of the fail-over and load-balancing operations of a cluster of network servers. The computer-based switch includes a control component, a switching component, and a plurality of network adapters each for forming a connection with a network server. The switching component directs network communication data received from clients on an external network to the network servers through the network adapters. The network adapters are selectively disabled and re-enabled by the control component to create connection failure and recovery conditions. The switching component is also programmable to operate on the network communication data passing therethrough to create other test conditions such as communication delay, data loss, data reordering, and data corruption. The switching component also allows communication flows from the individual network servers to the clients to be monitored for determining whether load balancing of the servers is properly performed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer functioning as a computer-based network switch, comprising:
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a first network adapter for connecting to an external network; a plurality of second network adapters each for forming a connection with a network server in a private network; a switching component for receiving network communication data from the external network through the first network adapter and directing the received network communication data to the second network adapters for transmission to the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto; and a test control component for selectively disabling the second network adapters to create failure of physical connections between the second network adapters and the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto, the test control component further including a third network adapter for connecting the test control component to a server testing controller on the external network to allow the test control component to communicate with the server testing controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for controlling a plurality of network adapters in a computer to create test conditions for testing network servers in a private network, the network servers connected to the network adapters, comprising:
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a switching component for receiving network communication data from an external network and directing the received network communication data to the network adapters for transmission to the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto; a test control for selectively disabling the network servers to create failure of physical connections between the network adapters and the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto, and configured for sending/receiving instructions with a server testing controller over a network adapter separate from the network adapters associated with the switching component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for testing network servers in a private network, comprising:
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a computer functioning as a computer-based network switch, including a plurality of network adapters for forming connections to the network servers, a switching component for receiving network communication data from an external network and directing the received network communication data to the network adapters for transmission to the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto, and a test control for selectively disabling the network adapters; a plurality of client computers connected to the external network for communication with the network servers in the private network through the computer-based network switch; a server testing controller connected through the external network for coordinating testing of the network servers, including instructing the client computers to send network communication data to the network servers in the private network through the computer-based network switch, and causing the test control to selectively disable the network adapters to create failure of physical connections between the network adapters and the network servers in the private network connected thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of testing a plurality of network servers in a private network, comprising the steps of:
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connecting the network servers to a plurality of network adapters; receiving network communication data from an external network; directing the received network communication data to the network adapters for transmission to the respective network servers in the private network connected thereto; selectively disabling the network adapters using a test control component to create failure of physical connections between the network adapters and the network servers in the private network connected thereto; and communicating, using the test control component, to a server testing controller on the external network through a third network adapter separate from others of the plurality of network adapters. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer comprising:
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a first set of network adaptors configured to connect the computer to a plurality of clients through a first network; a second set of network adaptors configured to connect the computer to a plurality of servers through a second network; a switching module configured to identify incoming communication data from the clients received by the first set of network adaptors and to send the communication data to the servers through the second set of network adaptors; and a testing module including a third network adapter for connecting the testing module to the external network to allow the testing module to communicate with a server testing controller on the external network, the testing module configured to create a failure of a physical connection to at least one of the servers by disabling the network adaptor corresponding to the at least one server in the second set of network adaptors; wherein a fail-over mechanism associated with the plurality of servers is tested by the failure of the physical connection created by the testing module.
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Specification