Shutdown response system

An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

• a communication system that is configured to couple to a network;
• a processing system that is coupled to the communication system;
• and
• a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a shutdown response engine that is configured to:
• send, using the communication system, a first data traffic flow through the network along a first data path that includes a first network device that is coupled to the network;
• receive, using the communication system, a first shutdown response notification from the first network device through the network, wherein the first shutdown response notification is associated with shutdown monitoring data for the first network device being within a predetermined shutdown notification range that is defined between a failing network device threshold that is indicative of a failing network device and a predetermined shutdown threshold that is associated with a shutdown condition, wherein the first network device forwards the first data traffic flow prior to the shutdown monitoring data reaching the predetermined shutdown threshold, and wherein the first network device shuts down in response to the shutdown monitoring data reaching the predetermined shutdown threshold such that the first network device cannot forward any data traffic;
• determine, in response to receiving the first shutdown response notification, a second data path for sending the first data traffic flow through the network that does not include the first network device;
• store, in the memory system, the second data path;
• receive, using the communication system, at least one second shutdown response notification through the network from the first network device, wherein the at least one second shutdown response notification is received subsequent to the receiving of the first shutdown response notification and is associated with the shutdown monitoring data for the first network device being within the predetermined shutdown notification range without having reached the predetermined shutdown threshold;
• and
• send, in response to determining that the first shutdown response notification and the at least one second shutdown response notification are indicative of an imminent shutdown of the first network device, the first data traffic flow through the network along the second data path.

A method for responding to a shutdown, comprising:

• sending, by a second network device, a first data traffic flow through a network along a first data path that includes a first network device;
• receiving, by the second network device from the first network device, a first shutdown response notification through the network, wherein the first shutdown response notification is associated with shutdown monitoring data for the first network device being within a predetermined shutdown notification range that is defined between a failing network device threshold that is indicative of a failing network device and a predetermined shutdown threshold that is associated with a shutdown condition for the first network device, wherein the first network device forwards the first data traffic flow prior the shutdown monitoring data reaching the predetermined shutdown threshold, and wherein the first network device shuts down in response to the shutdown monitoring data reaching the predetermined shutdown threshold such that the first network device cannot forward any data traffic;
• determining, by the second network device in response to receiving the first shutdown response notification, a second data path for sending the first data traffic flow through the network that does not include the first network device;
• storing, by the second network device, the second data path;
• receiving, by the second network device from the first network device, at least one second shutdown response notification through the network;
• and
• sending, by the second network device in response to determining that the first shutdown response notification and the at least one second shutdown response notification are indicative of an imminent shutdown of the first network device, the first data traffic flow through the network along the second data path.