Patent ID: 7765327
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: transceiving data between a server and a client from a first of a plurality of VNICs (virtual network interface controllers); receiving from a first driver at a multi-protocol bridge coupled between the server and the client an error message in the first of the plurality of VNICs; echoing, by the first of the plurality of VNICs, the error message to a second driver, the driver including fail-over functionality; in response to the error message, switching, by the second driver, to another of the plurality of VNICs in the network and to another multi-protocol bridge that corresponds to the other of the plurality of VNICs; enabling, by the second driver, the other of the plurality of VNICs and the other multi-protocol bridge to become active from an inactive condition; and transceiving subsequent data between the client and the server using the other of the plurality of VNICs and discontinuing using the first VNIC, wherein the client and the server are to transmit respective data via respective packets having respective different formats, and the bridges are to perform packet format conversion between the respective different formats.