METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING INTERFACE REDUNDANCY IN A COMPUTER NETWORK

摘要

A method and system for recovering transparently from a network interface failure. The method is to be run in a computing device on a network with multiple peer computing devices, having redundant network interface connected with redundant cables. The method transparently recovers from network failures by first establishing an address list of the peer (102) computing devices on the subnet. The computing device then periodically tests (130) the communication link with one or more of the peer computing devices until at least one peer device responds thereby sending its network address (110). The computing device then uses the peer network address to retest the communication link with the peer device until the peer device does not respond. If there is no response, the computing device reassigns the network address of the computing device from the primary network interface to the redundant network interface. This substantially reduces or eliminates disruptions in network connections established by computer applications or other higher layer connections.