Patent ID: 8625416

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to perform, based on instructions stored in the at least one memory: identifying a first selected device of a first plurality of devices in a first network ring, wherein: the first selected device interacts with the first network ring through a first port and a second port; a first parameter is specified by a network protocol, wherein the network protocol ensures a loop-free topology to prevent bridge loops for the first network ring; and a first parameter value of the first parameter for the first selected device is distinguishable from a value of any device of the first plurality of devices in the first network ring; querying the first selected device about an operation of the first selected device in the first network ring with the network protocol; when one of the first port and the second port is in a blocking state, generating a first indicator that indicates network redundancy with the first network ring; and when the first port and the second port are not in the blocking state, generating a second indicator that indicates a redundancy problem with the first network ring.