Patent ID: 6675206
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
For use with multiple networked computing hosts using the Internet Protocol (IP) and the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), a method of processing ARP requests, comprisingin response to the activation of an adapter X at a first host, determining what physical network N contains the adapter X, if the first host owns one or more VIPAs, where a VIPA is an IP address associated with the first host rather than with an adapter, assigning responsibility for responding to ARP requests directed to a VIPA to adapter X, in response to the inactivation of adapter X, determining if there is another adapter Y owned by the first host and in the same physical network N as adapter X, if there is another adapter Y in network N, designating adapter Y as backup for adapter X by broadcasting an ARP message into the network mapping the IP address associated with adapter X with the Media Access Control (MAC) address of adapter Y, determining if adapter X owns responsibility for responding to ARP requests directed to a VIPA and, if so, assigning responsibility for responding to ARP requests directed to a VIPA to adapter Y.