Patent ID: 7200649

Claim:
A method for a probing entity to detect a duplicate IP address, the method comprising: generating an identifying value that identifies a random period of time to wait before probing a network with which a probing entity desires to interact; waiting a random period of time related to the identifying value; sending one or more first ARP probes onto the network with which the probing entity desires to interact; determining whether a response to the first ARP probes indicates that there is a duplicate IP address conflict; determining whether the probing entity is connected to an active network, comprising: analyzing network traffic received by a network interface associated with the probing entity; analyzing electrical signals received from hardware associated with the network with which the probing entity desires to interact; and analyzing BPDUs (Bridge Protocol Data Units) received by a network device associated with the network with which the probing entity desires to interact; sending one or more second ARP probes onto the network with which the probing entity desires to interact; and determining whether a response to the second ARP probes indicates that there is a duplicate IP address conflict.