Patent ID: 7366101

Claim:
An apparatus enabling synchronization of network traffic with at least one network device, comprising a first network interface for communication with a first network device; a second network interface for communication with a second network device; at least a third network interface for exchange of synchronization packets with a partner network device; a control module operative to receive data packets on the first network interface; receive data packets on the second network interface wherein the data packets received on the first and second network interfaces are addressed to destination hosts; receive synchronization packets on the at least a third network interface from the partner network device; transmit, on the at least a third network interface, the data packets received on the first network interface as synchronization packets to the partner network device; transmit, on the at least a third network interface, the data packets received on the second network interface as synchronization packets to the partner network device; process the received data packets and the synchronization packets; forward the data packets received on the first network interface from the second network interface; forward the data packets received on the second network interface from the first network interface; wherein the control module is further operative to compose summary versions of the packets received on the first and second network interfaces and transmit the summary versions as synchronization packets on the at least a third network interface; and wherein the summary versions each comprise a packet header and a payload size.