Methods and apparatus to manage a physical network to reduce network dependencies in a multi-fabric virtual network

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause a first top-of-rack (ToR) switch to at least:

• access a network packet from a first host, the network packet to include a destination address of a second host;
• and
• after a failed physical network interface card (pNIC) at the second host eliminates a first link between the second host and the first ToR switch, send the network packet to a second ToR switch via an inter-switch link between the first and second ToR switches to cause the second ToR switch to forward the network packet to the second host via a second link between the second ToR switch and the second host.

A method comprising:

• receiving a network packet at a first top-of-rack (ToR) switch from a first host, the network packet including a destination address of a second host;
• and
• after a failure of a physical network interface card (pNIC) at the second host eliminates a first link between the second host and the first ToR switch, sending the network packet to a second ToR switch via an inter-switch link between the first and second ToR switches to cause the second ToR switch to forward the network packet to the second host via a second link between the second ToR switch and the second host.