Path recovery on failure in load balancing switch protocols
US7430164B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/1001
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for managing multiple active paths among a plurality of network switches to identify and select an alternate path in response to failure of a path from a switch to a device. Load balancing protocols of the present invention enable the simultaneous use of multiple paths between network devices through a mesh of compliant network switches. When a port of a network switch fails (or the link connected to a port fails), a switch in accordance with the present invention selects an alternate port which may be used for forwarding packets to devices normally reached through the failed port. Networks switches operable in accordance with the structures and protocols of the present invention exchange messages to identify potential alternate paths. A potential alternate path is used to send a query message to a neighboring network switch to determine if a path to the identified devices is available through the neighboring network switch. Such query messages are propagated through all intermediate network switches between the switch sensing the failed port up to the identified network device. Acknowledgment messages are returned to verify potential availability of an alternate path. Whe…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.