The SwitchMaster attaches to an Ethernet IP network and monitors devices that are defined in user created configuration files. If a monitored device is discovered to be unreachable, the SwitchMaster then executes a user defined series of actions that can include: sending switch commands to one or more R1000/R5000/R6000 Switching Systems; issuing SNMP traps or SYSLOG messages to alert network operations personnel that a path failure has been detected; or executing other SNMP commands and user defined commands. The device configuration files can also define what actions to take should the monitored device become reachable again.

If desired, a second NIC can be added to the SwitchMaster, or a second SwitchMaster can be added to the network to provide failover monitoring should the primary NIC/SwitchMaster become disabled from the network.