Cross-communication links for a unidirectional, bilateral data network

A method comprising:

• receiving a data packet at a low-side network element of a unidirectional, bilateral network system;
• transmitting the data packet to a primary high-side network element through a primary one-way data diode;
• and
• transmitting a duplicate of the data packet to a secondary high-side network element through a unidirectional cross-communications link;
• wherein the low-side network element comprises a primary low-side network element, and the method comprises receiving, at a secondary low-side network element, a health status of the primary low-side network element,
• the method, further comprising:
• receiving the data packet at the secondary low-side network element;
• determining, by the secondary low-side network element, that the primary low-side network element is experiencing a fault condition based on the health status;
• transmitting the data packet to the secondary high-side network element through a secondary one-way data diode;
• and
• transmitting a duplicate of the data packet to the primary high-side network element through a secondary unidirectional cross-communications link.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, perform operations comprising:

• receiving a data packet at a low-side network element of a unidirectional, bilateral network system;
• transmitting the data packet to a primary high-side network element through a primary one-way data diode;
• and
• transmitting a duplicate of the data packet to a secondary high-side network element through a unidirectional cross-communications link;
• wherein the low-side network element comprises a primary low-side network element, and the operations comprise receiving, at a secondary low-side network element, a health status of the primary low-side network element,
• the operations further comprising:
• receiving the data packet at the secondary low-side network element;
• determining, by the secondary low-side network element, that the primary low-side network element is experiencing a fault condition based on the health status;
• transmitting the data packet to the secondary high-side network element through a secondary one-way data diode;
• and
• transmitting a duplicate of the data packet to the primary high-side network element through a secondary unidirectional cross-communications link.