Patent ID: 7639624
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring network connectivity, comprising the acts of: transmitting a respective request packet from each network interface card (NIC) of a plurality of NICs in a NIC team to an external network device via different network segments to test connectivity of each network segment between the external network device and each respective NIC, each network segment being associated respectively and uniquely with one of the NICs of the NIC team, and each NIC having a different receive address, wherein: receiving a respective response packet from the external network device at each respective NIC from which a respective request packet was received by the external network device; and if connectivity between the external network device and the primary NIC is not present and a response packet is not received from the external network device by the primary NIC, designating one of the remaining NICs as a new primary NIC.