Importance

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Abstract

An LAN management facility for monitoring and managing errors on the physical links connecting the stations of a LAN. The facility includes, in part, an Enhanced Link Error Monitor (LEM). The Enhanced LEM continuously determines a Link Error Rate (LER) estimate as a function of time based upon the errors seen on the physical links. The enhanced LEM applies a link specific characteristic function to the LER estimate in order to determine an Adjusted LER Estimate. The link specific characteristic function takes into account the particular characteristics of the link experiencing the errors and is used to alter the station's responsiveness to these errors. The Adjusted LER Estimate is compared to alarm and cutoff thresholds in order to determine the appropriate action to take with respect to the link. By altering the link specific characteristic function, the Enhanced LEM will either become more or less responsive to errors on the link, thereby tolerating more or less errors in a greater or lesser period of time. In a preferred embodiment of invention, each station on the LAN maintains a Management Information Base (MIB) which contains the link specific characteristic function. The attributes in the MIB, including the link specific characteristic function, can be altered remotely by a LAN manager through one of the LAN stations acting as a proxy agent.

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First Claim