By-pass port facilitating network device failure detection in wide area network topologies

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment provides for methods, apparatuses and systems to facilitate the detection of network device failures in a variety of network topologies. This is accomplished by equipping a network device, or other devices used in conjunction with network devices, with a bypass port or network interface, such as a secondary outgoing network traffic communication port. In a normal operating mode, network traffic received at a first network interface or port is forwarded, after processing on the packet processing path of the network device, from a second network interface or port. In one implementation, the second network interface or port and the bypass port or network interface are connected to corresponding interfaces of a router or two routers. When a network device failure occurs network traffic bypasses the packet processing path of the network device and is forwarded from the bypass port or interface.