Apparatus and method for network error prevention

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least two redundant structures, each redundant structure comprising:
• a plurality of interfaces configured to be coupled to a plurality of link partners in a network, wherein the redundant structures are configured to be coupled to a common set of link partners;
• and
• a logic module comprising:
• a switch fabric configured to forward frames of information to or from the plurality of interfaces;
• a physical layer transceiver adapted to be configured by its associated switch fabric to communicate using at least one protocol;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• perform a plurality of tests on its associated redundant structure;
• detect a failure of the associated redundant structure based on the plurality of tests;
• and
• disable the forwarding of the frames of information by the switch fabric in the associated redundant structure based upon the detection of the failure of the associated redundant structure;
• wherein at least one of the tests is a test of each switch fabric's ability to recall and change its configuration based on configurable settings stored in a memory of that switch fabric.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

• performing a plurality of tests on at least two redundant structures of a network component, each redundant structure having a logic module comprising:
• a switch fabric configured to forward frames of information in a network, the switch fabrics in the redundant structures configured to be coupled to a common set of link partners;
• a physical layer transceiver configured by its associated switch fabric to communicate using at least one protocol;
• and
• a controller;
• detecting, with the controller in at least one of the redundant structures, a failure of at least one of the redundant structures based on the plurality of tests;
• and
• disabling the forwarding of the frames of information by the switch fabric in at least one of the redundant structures based upon the detection of the failure;
• wherein at least one of the tests is a test of each switch fabric's ability to recall and change its configuration based on configurable settings stored in a memory of that switch fabric.