Network switch and network architecture for heterogeneous network coupling and backup

A backup network switch in a main network for coupling a subnet, comprising:

• at least one first port, coupled to the main network operating with a first redundancy protocol;
• a second port, coupled to the subnet operating with a second redundancy protocol;
• a processing unit, configured to execute a program code;
• and
• a storage unit, coupled to the processing unit, storing the program code that instructs the processing unit to execute a backup method for network coupling, wherein the backup method comprises:
• switching a state of the second port;
• and
• sending a first control packet to update a MAC address table of the main network through the at least one port according to the first redundancy protocol;
• and sending a second control packet to update a MAC address table of the subnet through the second port according to the second redundancy protocol.

A network architecture for network coupling, comprising:

• a subnet, operating with a first redundancy protocol;
• a main network, operating with a second redundancy protocol;
• a primary network switch, disposed in the main network, coupled to the main network through at least one first port and coupled to the subnet through a second port;
• and
• a backup network switch, disposed in the main network, coupled to the main network through at least third port and coupled to the subnet through a fourth port;
• wherein the primary network switch and the backup network switch execute a backup method for network coupling, and the backup method comprises:
• sending, by the primary network switch, a first control packet through the at least one first port;
• in response to receiving the first control packet, the backup network switch sending an acknowledgement (ACK) packet of the first control packet and performing link change, sending a second control packet to update a MAC address table of the main network through the at least third port according to the second redundancy protocol, and sending a third control packet to update a MAC address table of the subnet through the fourth port according to the first redundancy protocol;
• and
• in response to receiving the ACK packet of the first control packet, the primary network switch performing link change, sending a fourth control packet to update the MAC address table of the main network through the at least one first port according to the second redundancy protocol, and sending a fifth control packet to update the MAC address table of the subnet through the second port according to the first redundancy protocol.