Methods and arrangements to detect a failure in a communication network

• US 7,765,290 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hua, Binh K., Kodukula, Sivarama K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US12/130,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/239, 709/249, 370/216, 370/271, 370/221, 714/2, 714/6, 714/10, 714/25, 714/39, 714/47
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods and arrangements to monitor communication components such as a network adapters for activity, and identify components that have lower than normal levels of activity are provided. An identified communication component can become suspect component and a candidate for further testing, including different forms of interrogation. Process for interrogating candidates can include generating and sending test packets having the media access control (MAC) address of the candidate to the candidate and if activity is not detected subsequent to the interrogation, the candidate can be flagged as a failed component. Correspondingly, the component can be deactivated and removed from service. In a further embodiment, a backup component can be activated and assume the role previously held by the failed component.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to detect failures, the apparatus comprising:

a traffic generator adapted to generate at least one packet to initiate a data transmission to a communication component of a bundle of communication components, wherein the bundle of communication components is configured to transmit and receive data in parallel via a load-sharing arrangement for a communication device, wherein further communication components of the bundle share at least one network address;

an activity monitor to detect a monitored activity level of the communication component responsive to the at least one packet; and

an activity comparator to compare the monitored activity level against a predetermined activity level and identify the communication component as a failed component if the monitored activity level is below the predetermined level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a component flagger to flag the communication component as a failed component if the activity monitor detects less than, a predetermined activity level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a register to store the monitored activity level.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor to control at least one timer, the traffic generator, the activity monitor, and the activity comparator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one packet comprise a test packet having a destination media access control address of the communication component.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication component is an Ethernet adapter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a backup component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises transmit and receive activity.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

route data to a communication component that shares one Internet protocol address with a plurality of communication components of a bundle, wherein routing the data activates at least a portion of the communication component, wherein further the plurality of communication components of a bundle is configured to transmit and receive data in parallel via a load-sharing arrangement for a communication device;

monitor at least the portion of the communication component to determine a monitored activity level responsive to the routed data;

compare the monitored activity level to a predetermined activity level; and

identify the communication component as a failed component if the monitored activity level is less than the predetermined activity level.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer further causes the computer to activate a backup component to replace the failed component.

11. A method, comprising:

monitoring a component of a bundle of components for an aspect of data transmission for the component, wherein the bundle of components is configured to transmit and receive data in parallel via a load-sharing arrangement for a communication device;

determining, via the monitored aspect of data transmission, the component is suspect;

monitoring the operation of the component based on attempted reception or attempted transmission of a test packet via the component in response to the suspect determination; and

flagging the component as a failed component based on the monitored operation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising deactivating the failed component.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating a backup component to replace the failed component.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring the component for the aspect of data transmission comprises monitoring for a number of retransmission requests.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring the component for the aspect of data transmission comprises monitoring for a fraction comprising a number of successfully transmitted data packets and a number of unsuccessfully transmitted data packets.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring the component for the aspect of data transmission comprises monitoring for an activity level, wherein further the determining the component is suspect comprises comparing the activity level with a predetermined activity level.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising routing the test packet based on the activity level being below the predetermined activity level during a predefined period of time.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the routing comprises routing a packet having a media access control address associated with the component.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the routing comprises routing the test packet at predetermined time intervals.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the routing comprises routing the test packet when the component is idle.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitoring the component for the aspect of data transmission comprises detecting at least one of a transmit activity and a receive activity.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

an activity monitor configured to determine an activity level of a network adapter during a time interval and configured to monitor activity of the network adapter responsive to at least one test packet, wherein the network adapter is one of a plurality of network adapters in a bundle, wherein further the network adapters of the bundle are configured to operate in parallel via a load-sharing arrangement;

an activity comparator to compare the determined activity level to a predetermined activity level, to identify the network adapter as a suspect adapter if the determined activity is less than the predetermined activity level;

a traffic generator to transmit the at least one test packet to the suspect adapter; and

a flagger to flag the suspect adapter as a failed adapter if the monitored activity is less than a projected activity associated with the at least one test packet.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a processor to modify an address assignment table based upon failure of the network adapter.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the network adapter comprises logic to count packet receptions.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the monitor detects activity of the network adapter subsequent to the transmission of the at least one test packet and flags the network adapter as a failed adapter if no activity by the network adapter, responsive to the at least one test packet, is detected.

26. A system comprising:

a plurality of network adapters in a bundle configured to share a data transmission load, wherein the network adapters of the bundle are configured to transmit and receive data in parallel via a load-sharing arrangement for a single network address;

a failure detection logic coupled to the plurality of network adapters to measure a number of unsuccessful data transmissions associated with a network adapter in the bundle, to identify the network adapter as a suspect adapter based upon the number, to attempt transmission of a test packet via the suspect adapter or attempt reception of the test packet via the suspect adapter, and to determine whether to mark the suspect adapter as a failed adapter based upon the attempted transmission or attempted reception.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the failure detection logic further comprises a flagger to deactivate the failed adapter.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the flagger is adapted to activate a backup adapter to replace the failed adapter.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the failure detection logic is capable of communicating with another failure detection logic to identify the failed adapter.