Failback to a primary communications adapter

Abstract

Methods, systems, and program products are provided for failback to a primary communications adapter. Embodiments of the present invention include receiving, in a driver for a primary communications adapter and a backup communications adapter, a link up event for the primary communications adapter; determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets; setting the backup communications adapter to idle; and activating the primary communications adapter. In typical embodiments, the primary communications adapter includes a plurality of linked communications adapters comprising an EtherChannel pseudo-adapter.

1 . A method for failback to a primary communications adapter, the method comprising: 
 receiving, in a driver for a primary communications adapter and a backup communications adapter, a link up event for the primary communications adapter;    determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets;    setting the backup communications adapter to idle; and    activating the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises: 
 sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter; and    receiving the packet in the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter further comprises broadcasting an ARP packet to all link layer addresses on a LAN.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises predetermining a period of time to initialize ports connecting segments of a LAN.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the primary communications adapter further comprises a plurality of linked communications adapters.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of linked communications adapters further comprise an EtherChannel pseudo-adapter.  
   
   
       7 . A system for failback to a primary communications adapter, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving, in a driver for a primary communications adapter and a backup communications adapter, a link up event for the primary communications adapter;    means for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets;    means for setting the backup communications adapter to idle; and    means for activating the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein means for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises: 
 means for sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter; and    means for receiving the packet in the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein means for sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter further comprises means for broadcasting an ARP packet to all link layer addresses on a LAN.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein means for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises means for waiting a predetermined period of time after receiving the link up event for the primary communications adapter.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the primary communications adapter further comprises a plurality of linked communications adapters.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of linked communications adapters further comprise an EtherChannel pseudo-adapter.  
   
   
       13 . A computer program product for failback to a primary communications adapter, the computer program product comprising: 
 a recording medium;    means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving, in a driver for a primary communications adapter and a backup communications adapter, a link up event for the primary communications adapter;    means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets;    means, recorded on the recording medium, for setting the backup communications adapter to idle; and    means, recorded on the recording medium, for activating the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises: 
 means, recorded on the recording medium, for sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter; and    means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving the packet in the primary communications adapter.    
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for sending a packet from the backup communications adapter to the primary communications adapter further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for broadcasting an ARP packet to all link layer addresses on a LAN.  
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining that the primary communications adapter is capable of receiving packets further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for waiting a predetermined period of time after receiving the link up event for the primary communications adapter.  
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein the primary communications adapter further comprises a plurality of linked communications adapters.  
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of linked communications adapters further comprise an EtherChannel pseudo-adapter.