Patent ID: 6049825
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of switching from a first network adapter, having a first physical address, to a second network adapter, having a second physical address, to provide a first host, having a first logical address with duplicated functionality for TCP/IP communications with a plurality of hosts including a second host over a network, the method comprising the steps of:(a) disconnecting the first network adapter when a fault of the first network adapter has been detected by the first host;(b) activating the second network adapter and initializing a network table stored therein;(c) initiating a transmission of a control message from the first host to the second host;(d) as a result of the control message initiated at step (c), broadcasting an ARP request message from the second network adapter to the hosts on the network, thereby causing the second host to update a network table thereof so that the first logical address is associated with the second physical address;(f) transmitting the control message from the second network adapter to the second host by using address information contained in an ARP response message received from the second host;(g) receiving a response message from the second host in reply to the control message; and(h) recognizing the reception of the response message as completion of the response of switching from the first network adapter to the second network adapter.