Patent ID: 7194661

Claim:
A system adapted to quickly and efficiently identify failures or errors arising during operation of an intermediate network node, the system comprising: at least one source input/output module including an ingress port to receive data into the intermediate network node; at least one destination input/output module including an egress port to transmit the data from the intermediate network node; data and control paths extending through the intermediate network node between the ingress and egress ports; a test packet generator to generate a test packet and inject the test packet into the data path at the source input/output module, the test packet configured to exercise the data and control paths in the intermediate network node so as to detect failures or errors arising during operation of the intermediate network node; a control and status block (CSB) including a first register configured as a timer that determines when to generate and send the test packet and including a second register to record the source input/output module from which the test packet is sent; and a test packet receiver adapted to extract the test packet from the data path at the destination input/output module.