Abstract: A method is described for providing fault tolerance within a computer system. The method allows multiple network interface cards to reside within the same computer system. If a primary network interface card fails, a secondary network interface card automatically begins managing the network communications. In addition, a method of load-sharing data transmissions between each network interface card installed in a server computer is described.

Abstract: A system is described for providing fault tolerance within a computer system. The system provides a method for allowing multiple network interface cards to reside within the same computer system. If the primary network interface card fails, a secondary network interface card automatically begins managing the network communications. In addition, a system that provides load-sharing of data transmissions between each network interface card installed in a server computer is described.

Abstract: A model of a physical object is constructed in a modeling system running on a computer system. The model includes model objects and constraints. The constraints on the model describe the relationship between the model objects. The modeling system constructs a graph representing the model. The graph has nodes representing the modeling objects and arcs representing the relationships between the model objects. The relationships are either directed or nondirected. The modeling system then identifies the set of cycles in the graph. The cycles have a subset of the nodes of the graph coupled by arcs representing nondirected relationships. The modeling system starts with a first cycle from the set of cycles and determines the set of programs that can be used to satisfy all of the relationships between the model objects represented by nodes in the first cycle.