# US 10,313,155 B2 · Centralized management of authoritative edge devices

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- Number: US 10,313,155 B2
- Document ID: US10313155B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/939,667
- Filed: 2013-07-11
- Published: 2015-01-15
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-11
- Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Gaurav Badoni; Dhananjaya Rao; Hasmit Grover; Senthil Kenchiah; Vrushali Ashtaputre
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313155B2

## CPC

- H04L 12/4641: {Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272)}
- H04L 41/0813: characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
- H04L 41/0856: {by backing up or archiving configuration information}
- H04L 41/0895: Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
- H04L 45/04: {Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing}
- H04L 45/28: using route fault recovery
- H04L 45/42: Centralised routing
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

In one embodiment, an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network maintains assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), and in response to a triggered re-assignment, sends an AED change request identifying an old active AED for the particular VLAN and a new active AED for the particular VLAN (e.g., and/or corresponding backups). In response to receiving the change request, the old active AED ceases forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmits a relinquishment confirmation into the network. Also, in response to receiving the change request and the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits an activation confirmation into the network. The change request is then deemed completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
sending, from an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network, an AED change request identifying an old active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) and a new active AED for the particular VLAN, wherein the AED-server is a centralized server configured to run AED election for each VLAN in the computer network;
in response to receiving the change request at the old active AED, ceasing forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN by the old active AED and transmitting a relinquishment confirmation into the network;
in response to receiving the change request at the new active AED, and in response to receiving the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, assuming responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN by the new active AED and transmitting an activation confirmation into the network;
deeming the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation;
sending, from the AED-server, the AED change request identifying an old backup AED for the particular VLAN and a new backup AED for the particular VLAN;
in response to receiving the change request at the old backup AED, transmitting a backup relinquishment confirmation into the network;
wherein the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits the activation confirmation into the network in response to receiving both the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED and the backup relinquishment confirmation from the old backup AED;
in response to receiving the change request at the new backup AED, and in response to receiving both the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED and the backup relinquishment confirmation from the old backup AED, assuming responsibility for backing up traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN by the new backup AED and transmitting a backup activation confirmation into the network; and
deeming the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of the relinquishment confirmation, the activation confirmation, the backup relinquishment confirmation, and the backup activation confirmation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as in claim 1, further comprising:
in the event either the old active AED or old backup AED is the same AED as either the new active AED or new backup AED, waiting, by the same AED, only for a confirmation from a respective other AED prior to assuming new responsibility.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as in claim 1, wherein the change request is in response to an AED election event for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as in claim 1, further comprising:
assigning a backup AED-server for the AED-server.

### Claim 5

A method, comprising:
maintaining, by an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network, assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), wherein the AED-server is a centralized server configured to control AED election for each VLAN in the computer network;
determining a trigger for re-assignment of the active AED for the particular VLAN from an old active AED to a new active AED;
transmitting an AED change request into the network identifying the old active AED and the new active AED,
wherein the change request causes the old active AED to cease forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmit a relinquishment confirmation into the network,
wherein the change request and relinquishment confirmation together cause the new active AED to assume responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmit an activation confirmation into the network;
deeming the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation;
sending, from the AED-server, the AED change request identifying an old backup AED for the particular VLAN and a new backup AED for the particular VLAN; and
deeming the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of the relinquishment confirmation, the activation confirmation, a backup relinquishment confirmation, and a backup activation confirmation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method as in claim 5, further comprising:
in the event either the old active AED or old backup AED is the same AED as either the new active AED or new backup AED, not waiting, by the AED-server, for a confirmation from the same AED prior to deeming the change request completed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method as in claim 5, wherein the change request is in response to an AED election event for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as in claim 7, wherein the AED election event is failure of an active AED for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method as in claim 5, wherein the change request comprises a version number, and wherein the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation contain the version number.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The method as in claim 5, further comprising:
pacing a plurality of change requests from the AED-server.

### Claim 11

An apparatus, comprising:
one or more network interfaces to communicate with a computer network;
a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes; and
a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
maintain, as an authoritative edge device (AED)-server, assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), wherein the AED-server is a centralized server configured to run AED election for each VLAN in the computer network;
determine a trigger for re-assignment of the active AED for the particular VLAN from an old active AED to a new active AED;
transmit an AED change request into the network identifying the old active AED and the new active AED,
wherein the change request causes the old active AED to cease forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmit a relinquishment confirmation into the network,
wherein the change request and relinquishment confirmation together cause the new active AED to assume responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmit an activation confirmation into the network; and
deem the change request completed upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation;
send the AED change request identifying an old backup AED for the particular VLAN and a new backup AED for the particular VLAN; and
deem the change request completed upon receipt of the relinquishment confirmation, the activation confirmation, a backup relinquishment confirmation, and a backup activation confirmation.

### Claim 12

An apparatus, comprising:
one or more network interfaces on an authoritative edge device (AED)-server to communicate with a computer network;
a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes; and
a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
send an AED change request identifying an old active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) and a new active AED for the particular VLAN, wherein the AED-server is a centralized server configured to run AED election for each VLAN in the computer network;
in response to receiving the change request at the old active AED, cease forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN by the old active AED and transmitting a relinquishment confirmation into the network;
in response to receiving the change request at the new active AED, and in response to receiving the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, assume responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN by the new active AED and transmitting an activation confirmation into the network;
deem the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation;
send the AED change request identifying an old backup AED for the particular VLAN and a new backup AED for the particular VLAN;
in response to receiving the change request at the old backup AED, transmitting a backup relinquishment confirmation into the network;
wherein the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits the activation confirmation into the network in response to receiving both the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED and the backup relinquishment confirmation from the old backup AED;
in response to receiving the change request at the new backup AED, and in response to receiving both the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED and the backup relinquishment confirmation from the old backup AED, assuming responsibility for backing up traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN by the new backup AED and transmitting a backup activation confirmation into the network; and
deem the change request completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of the relinquishment confirmation, the activation confirmation, the backup relinquishment confirmation, and the backup activation confirmation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:
in the event either the old active AED or old backup AED is the same AED as either the new active AED or new backup AED, wait, by the same AED, only for a confirmation from a respective other AED prior to assuming new responsibility.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the change request is in response to an AED election event for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
assign a backup AED-server for the AED-server.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:
in the event either the old active AED or old backup AED is the same AED as either the new active AED or new backup AED, not wait for a confirmation from the same AED prior to deeming the change request completed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the change request is in response to an AED election event for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the AED election event is failure of an active AED for the particular VLAN.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the change request comprises a version number, and wherein the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation contain the version number.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method as in claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:
pace a plurality of change requests from the AED-server.