Abstract: A host receives messages from a network processing device. Messages received from a primary port are processed and also forwarded to a standby host over a secondary port. Messages received by the standby host over the secondary port are processed in the same was as the messages received over the primary port. However, the standby host will not respond to the messages received over the secondary port.

Abstract: A network device to maintain resource management within a network may comprise an emulator or watchdog that may send an emulation request to a resource manager for emulating a request of a client. Operability of the resource manager may be identified based on a reply of the resource manager to the emulation request. If the resource manager does not provide a response within a given time frame, then the watchdog may identify a failure condition for the resource manager. The watchdog may then initiate corrective actions for replacing the resource manager with a backup server responsive to identifying the fail condition.