Real time reliability check for network links

A computing device for testing network adapters, the computing device comprising:

• one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, an included network adapter, and program instructions which are stored on at least one of the computer-readable memories or embedded as control logic on the included network adapter, for execution by the one or more processors via the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising:
• instructions to receive a network address for a network;
• instructions to identify a device on the network based on the network address, the device having a network adapter;
• instructions to identify any additional devices along a route to the device, each of the any additional devices having a respective network adapter;
• instructions to send one or more requests to the respective network adapter of each of the any additional devices and to the network adapter of the device;
• and
• instructions to determine an indication of reliability for the respective network adapter of each of the any additional devices based on handling of the one or more requests by the respective network adapter and for the network adapter of the device based on handling of the one or more requests by the network adapter.

A network adapter, the network adapter comprising a chipset responsible for sending and receiving data to and from network devices and control logic for controlling the network adapter, the control logic comprising:

• logic to simulate the receipt of a data stream comprising a data pattern by the network adapter;
• logic to determine whether the network adapter processed the data pattern without any errors;
• and
• logic to log results of the simulation.