An apparatus includes at least one processing device configured to detect a cable fault that divides a network segment into first and second portions and that communicatively disconnects the second portion from the first portion. The apparatus also includes repeater configured to communicatively connect the second portion of the network segment to the first portion of the network segment such that one or more devices associated with the first portion maintain communication with one or more devices associated with the second portion. The at least one processing device could identify whether one or more of multiple linking devices coupled to the network segment are operating as active link masters using at least some of the decoded messages and detect the cable fault when more than one of the linking devices is operating as an active link master.