Patent ID: 8542574

Claim:
A method, comprising: performing a plurality of tests on at least two redundant structures of a network component, each redundant structure having a logic module that comprises: a switch fabric configured to forward frames of information in a network, the switch fabrics in the redundant structures configured to be coupled to a common set of link partners; a physical layer transceiver configured by its associated switch fabric to communicate using at least one protocol; and a controller; and detecting, with the controller in at least one of the redundant structures, a failure of at least one of the redundant structures based on the plurality of tests; and disabling the forwarding of the frames of information by the switch fabric in at least one of the redundant structures based upon the detection of the failure; wherein at least one of the tests is a test of each switch fabric's ability to recall and change its configuration based on configurable settings stored in a memory of that switch fabric.