Patent ID: 6556953
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of performing an online, non-disruptive health check test in a fully redundant fibre channel switching network having an active switching element, a redundant switching element, a port, a transmit path coupling said port with said redundant switching element and said active switching element and a receive path coupling said port with said redundant switching element and said active switching element, said port comprising port logic, a transmit portion and a receive portion, said health check test performed on said redundant switching element, said method comprising:starting a first timer; using said port logic, monitoring said receive path at said receive portion for a first status condition and monitoring said transmit path at said transmit portion for a second status condition; terminating said health check test if said first timer expires before the occurrence of both said first status condition and said second status condition; verifying a working data path from said port to said redundant switching element; and verifying a working control path to said redundant switching element.