Patent ID: 7774447
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: initializing a proxy_client module with a client IP address and a client MAC address of a client computer having a connectivity problem with an end station included in a network, with the proxy_client module stored on memory of a switch and with the switch having first, second, and third ports, where the client computer is coupled to the first port of the switch and where the network is coupled to the second port of the switch, and also initializing the proxy_client module with the identity of a VLAN on which the client computer is connected and with an IP address of the end station in the network, with the client IP address and client MAC address, the identity of the VLAN and the IP address of the end station provided by a remote computer coupled to the third port of the switch; disabling the first port of the switch; with the proxy_client module having a logical interface with the VLAN and utilizing the IP address of the end station in the network, the client IP and client MAC addresses and the identity of VLAN provided by the remote computer to: assign the client IP address and the client MAC address to the logical interface with the VLAN; and run a sequence of connectivity tests with the end station, when the first port is disabled, utilizing the client IP address and client MAC address as the source addresses; and reporting the results of the sequence of connectivity tests to facilitate identification of the reasons packets are being dropped; determining whether the connectivity problem is on the switch, on a device in the network other than the switch, or on a link on the switch; when packets are dropped at the switch, identifying the reason for the packets being dropped; identifying the feature responsible for dropping the packets, such as failure to respond to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) queries; and when packets are dropped or showing errors on a link of the switch, then testing a link where the packets are dropped or showing errors.