An adaptive architecture for monitoring and failure analysis of high-speed networks

This paper describes the design of a reconfigurable device using an FPGA (field programmable gate array) whose primary function is high-speed (several Gb/s) network data monitoring and run-time adaptive fault injection and statistics gathering for failure analysis. The device is designed for two types of media-Myrinet SAN and Fibre Channel-and failure analysis can be performed simultaneously over both of these networks. Although the device intercepts and retransmits signals on the network, no impact on the data transfer rate is observed and the latency caused by inserting the device in the network is negligible. The fault injection capabilities are demonstrated on a Myrinet LAN. Fault injection experiments are conducted on data transmitted across the network, including control packets previously inaccessible to software-based techniques.