Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Yuan Zhang

Gavin G Gibson

Sam Gibson

Methods, systems and programs for isolating faults in a network loop is described. The link between the last device and the initiator in the network loop is tested. The loop segment between the initiator and the last device in the network loop is testesd. If a faulty link is identified in the loop segment between the initiator and the last device, then a faulty loop segment is identified and the faulty link within the faulty loop segment is isolated. For various embodiment of the present invention, divide and conquer testing or other systematic testing methods may be used to isolate the faulty link.

Method and apparatus for fault isolation on network loops

Methods, systems and programs for isolating faults in a network loop are described. A single write and multiple read test is performed on the last device in a network loop to determine whether the link between the last device and the initiator is a faulty link. A multiple write test is performed on the last device to determine whether the loop segment between the initiator and the last device includes at least one faulty link. If a write error is identified, then the low level error counters of each network device are monitored. The network device with the updated error counter is identified such that the device before that network device in the network loop is selected as the first test device to be used in isolating a faulty link between the initiator and the last device.

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Broomfield, CO, United States of America

Yuan Zhang