Identifying Failed Network Interface Cards Using Third-Party Mediator
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for identifying a failed network interface card (NIC) within a team of NICs are inefficient, especially in systems with multiple NICs, as they generate excessive network traffic and cannot pinpoint the specific faulty NIC, leading to difficulties in failover operations and network reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of keep-alive packets from one NIC to a third-party NIC, which is not part of the team, allows for the identification of a failed NIC within a team of two or more NICs by using a 'round-robin' scheme and targeted fault determination processes, reducing network traffic and accurately determining the nature of the failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If keep-alive packets are transmitted between all pairs of NICs in a team to identify failed NICs, then fault detection capability is improved, but network traffic increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third NIC as an intermediary component that mediates the fault detection process. Instead of having each NIC pair exchange keep-alive packets directly, the third NIC acts as a central mediator that receives packets from one NIC and sends them to another, consolidating the communication path and reducing overall network traffic while maintaining fault detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The third NIC serves multiple functions: it acts as both a regular team member for load balancing and as a central mediator for fault detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring infrastructure, reducing system complexity and overhead while improving fault detection efficiency
2Reliability
If keep-alive packets are transmitted between two NICs in a team, then connectivity verification is improved, but the specific failed NIC cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The third NIC serves as a mediator that enables precise fault location. When NIC1 sends a keep-alive packet to NIC2 through the third NIC, and the third NIC receives it but NIC2 doesn't, the system can precisely identify NIC2 as the failed component. The intermediary provides the additional information needed to pinpoint the exact failure location
Solution Approach 2:
The fault detection process is segmented into distinct transmission paths: NIC1 to third NIC, and third NIC to NIC2. By breaking down the connectivity verification into separate segments, the system can identify which specific segment has failed, thereby locating the faulty NIC precisely rather than only detecting general connectivity issues
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying a failed network interface card in a system having two NICs configured as a team includes the steps of transmitting a first data packet from the first NIC to a third NIC, wherein the third NIC is not a member of the team, and transmitting a second data packet from the first NIC to the second NIC or from the second NIC to the third NIC, depending on whether the third NIC responds to the transmission of the first data packet. One advantage of the disclosed method is that it specifically identifies which NIC within the team has failed, which is something that cannot be determined by simply exchanging packets between the two NICs.