Patent ID: 8339969

Claim:
A distributed ethernet system comprising a plurality of switches, the plurality of switches are connected in sequence to form a ring, wherein after being synchronized in clock, each switch of the plurality of switches is adapted to: periodically perform sequential loop detection for detecting a loop of the system by sending a loop fault detecting message for detecting a loop fault, and protocol machine detection for detecting whether a protocol machine fault occurs in a protocol machine of an adjacent switch by sending a link fault detecting message to the adjacent switch according to a predetermined configuration, wherein: all switches of the plurality of switches send the link fault detecting message simultaneously, and when the protocol machine fault is detected in the protocol machine of the adjacent switch, the protocol machine fault indicates that common data can be processed by the adjacent switch and that at least one detecting message and at least one link fault alarming message cannot be processed and sent by the adjacent switch; and each of the plurality of switches is further adapted to send a fault alarming message when at least one of the loop fault and the protocol machine fault occur.