Method for detecting problems in routing protocol modules of distributed router

A method for detecting a module that is not functioning normally in a router, comprising:

• in a router including at least a first input/output processor having a first routing protocol module and including a second input/output processor having a second routing protocol module, determining when a transmission cycle expires;
• when the transmission cycle expires, transmitting a first hello packet to the second routing protocol module;
• when the second routing protocol module is functioning normally, sending a first hello response packet from the second routing protocol module in response to the first hello packet;
• and
• when the second routing protocol module does not send the first hello response packet in response to the first hello packet, determining that the second routing protocol module is not functioning normally and transmitting information indicating that the second routing protocol module is not functioning normally.

A method for detecting when a routing protocol module in a router is not functioning normally, the method comprising:

• detecting when a routing protocol module is not functioning normally in a distributed router, said detecting being performed through hello packet transmission in the distributed router, the distributed router including at least two switch modules, a first input/output processor having a first routing protocol module, and a second input/output processor having a second routing protocol module, each of the two switch modules including a designate routing protocol, said detecting comprising:
• monitoring a timer to determine when a hello packet transmission cycle expires;
• when the hello packet transmission cycle expires, transmitting a hello packet to the second routing protocol module from the first routing protocol module;
• when the second routing protocol module is functioning normally, sending a first hello response packet from the second routing protocol module to the first routing protocol module in response to the first hello packet;
• and
• when the second routing protocol module does not send the first hello response packet in response to the first hello packet within a predetermined period of time, determining that the second routing protocol module is not functioning normally and transmitting information from the first routing protocol module to the designate routing protocol of at least one of the two switch modules, the information indicating that the second routing protocol module is not functioning normally.