Patent ID: 7385931

Claim:
A method for detecting network misconfigurations comprising: identifying a remote target; transmitting a forward packet series on a data path to the remote target; receiving at least some packets from a reverse packet series transmitted on the data path from the remote target; determining forward path performance characteristics for transmission of the forward packet series; determining reverse path performance characteristics for transmission of the reverse packet series; and if the forward path performance characteristics and the reverse path performance characteristics indicate asymmetry on the data path: generating an alert signaling a potential network misconfiguration of the data path; determining that the data path comprises a plurality of links; identifying a second remote target on the data path; transmitting a second forward packet series on the portion of the data path to the second remote target; receiving at least some packets from a second reverse packet series transmitted on the portion of the data path from the second remote target; determining second forward path performance characteristics for transmission of the second forward packet series; determining second reverse path performance characteristics for transmission of the second reverse packet series; and if the second forward path performance characteristics and the second reverse path performance characteristics indicate asymmetry on the portion of the data path, generating a second alert signaling a second potential network misconfiguration of the portion of the data path.