Mesh network protection using dynamic ring

A method for redirecting traffic in a mesh network comprising a plurality of computing nodes, the plurality of computing node being interconnected to one another by a plurality of communication links, the computing nodes being operative for exchanging traffic with one another over the communication links, said method comprising:

• i) detecting a failure on a certain communication link part of the plurality of communication links, the certain communication link interconnecting a first computing node and a second computing node;
• ii) upon detecting a failure on the certain communication link:
• (1) generating a ring protection path between the first computing node and the second computing node, the ring protection path excluding the certain communication link;
• (2) redirecting a least part of the traffic from the certain communication link to the ring protection path.

A computer readable medium comprising a program element suitable for execution by a given computing apparatus for implementing traffic redirection in a network, the network having a plurality of computing apparatuses, said given computing apparatus comprising:

• a) a port through which traffic can be exchanged between the computing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus over a certain communication link;
• b) a processor operatively, said program element when executing on said processor being responsive to the occurrence of a failure on the certain communication link for:
• i) causing the generation of a certain ring protection path between the computing apparatus and the remote computing apparatus on the basis of a set of alternate paths between the computing apparatus and the remote computing apparatus, the set of alternate paths including at least one path excluding the certain communication link;
• ii) redirecting a least part of the traffic from the certain communication link to the certain ring protection path.

A computing node suitable for use in a network having a plurality of computing nodes, said computing node comprising:

• a) means through which traffic can be exchanged between the computing node and a remote computing node over a certain communication link;
• b) processing means responsive to the occurrence of a failure on the certain communication link for:
• (1) causing the generation of a certain ring protection path between the computing node and the remote computing node on the basis of a set of alternate paths between the computing node and the remote computing node, the set of alternate paths including at least one path excluding the certain communication link;
• (2) redirecting a least part of the traffic from the certain communication link to the certain ring protection path.