A first device is provided. The first device includes a first processing unit, wherein the first processing unit is adapted to determine a first status of a first connection between the first processing unit of the first device and a corresponding first processing unit of a second device; and a second processing unit, wherein the second processing unit is adapted to determine a second status of a second connection between the second processing unit of the first device and a corresponding second processing unit of the second device. The first processing unit is further adapted to: receive the second status of the second connection from the second processing unit of the first device over a path between the first processing unit of the first device and the second processing unit of the first device; and determine one or more actions to take with respect to a machine associated with the first device based on one or both of the first status and the second status.