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AssigneeFoundry Networks, Inc.
InventorsIvy Pei-Shan Hsu, Rajkumar Jalan, Gurudccp Kamat, Andrew Tai-Chin Kuo, Jordi Moncada-elias
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A network configuration protocol and algorithm are described which resolve deficiencies with existing protocols. A large network having many bridges may be built as a combination of smaller networks, many of which may each-be arranged in a ring topology. Each ring may be monitored by a single master bridge regularly sending control packets, and each other bridge in the ring does not make decisions with respect to its status. A loop free topology is achieved by selectively blocking and unblocking data traffic in one of the ring ports of the single master bridge for the ring, while all other bridges in the ring keep their ports in non-blocked states. In multiple ring topologies, each ring has a single master bridge which chooses one of its ports to be blocking. When rings are connected through a shared link formed between two shared bridges, rings with higher priorities carry control packets of rings with lower priorities so that, in case of failure of the shared link, a single ring may be formed from the connected rings with only the master bridge of the higher priority ring aware of and monitoring the larger ring. In case of any link failure inside a given ring, the master bridge quickly detects the failure and automatically changes its blocking port to a non-blocking state in which traffic may flow and follow an alternate path, avoiding the failed link.
In a network topology comprising a plurality of rings, each ring having a plurality of bridges each having a plurality of ports, two of which ports belonging to the respective ring, wherein one of the plurality of bridges in each ring serves as a master bridge for the ring, the master bridge having a first port belonging to the first ring which is convertible between a blocking state and a non-blocking and a second port being maintained in a non-blocking state, and wherein all ports for other bridges belonging to each ring other than the master bridge are maintained in non-blocking states, a method for facilitating rapid traffic recovery while avoiding loops, the method comprising:
A computer readable medium storing a data structure defining a network configuration control packet protocol used by a ring topology in which each of a plurality of bridges has a plurality of ports, two of which ports belonging to a first ring, wherein one of the plurality of bridges serves as a master bridge for the first ring, wherein a first master bridge port belonging to the first ring is maintained in a non-blocking state and a second master bridge port belonging to the first ring is convertible between a blocking state and one or more non-blocking states, the control packet protocol comprising:
A network in which each of a plurality of bridges has a plurality of ports, two of which ports belonging to a first ring, the network comprising:
In a network comprising a plurality of connected rings, each ring being assigned a priority value different than priority values of other connected rings, a method for coordinating control of fault recovery between the rings, the method comprising:
In a network topology comprising a plurality of rings, each ring having a plurality of bridges each having a plurality of ports, two of which ports belonging to the respective ring, wherein one of the plurality of bridges in each ring serves as a master bridge for the ring, the master bridge having a first port belonging to the first ring which is convertible between a blocking state and a non-blocking and a second port being maintained in a non-blocking state, and wherein all ports for other bridges belonging to each ring other than the master bridge are maintained in one of a plurality of non-blocking states, a method for facilitating rapid traffic recovery while avoiding loops, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.