System and method for providing network route redundancy across Layer 2 devices
US7209435B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/40
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for providing network route redundancy through Layer 2 devices, such as a loop free Layer 2 network having a plurality of switching devices. A virtual switch is coupled to the loop free Layer 2 network, the virtual switch having two or more switches configured to transition between master and backup modes to provide redundant support for the loop free Layer 2 network, the switches communicating their status through use of a plurality of redundancy control packets. The system also includes means for allowing the redundancy control packets to be flooded through the Layer 2 network. The means may include time-to-live data attached to the redundancy control packet which is decremented only when the packets are transferred through devices which are configured to recognize the protocol used in redundancy control packets.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.