Fast node/link failure detection using software-defined-networking

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for detecting failure of node, link, or both, in a network. The system for detecting failure of nodes, link, or both, in a network includes an agent that monitors status of one or more applications on a first end node, sends a status notice related to the applications on the first end node to a controller through an input-output (IO) port, receives status information of at least one application on a second end node from the controller through the IO port, and stores the status information into a memory. When the agent receives a query from an application on the first end node, it looks up the status information in the memory to check aliveness of an application on the second end node.