Fast failure protection using redundant network edge ports

A method for network communication, comprising:

• coupling a first bridge in a network to a second bridge located downstream of the first bridge, by connecting at least first and second redundant links to respective first and second ports of the first bridge so as to communicate with the second bridge;
• placing the first port in an active state, while placing the second port in a blocking state;
• conveying communication traffic over the first link while the first port is in the active state, thereby causing the bridges to build respective databases for use in forwarding the traffic;
• responsive to a failure associated with the first link, placing the second port in the active state and the first port in the blocking state;
• and
• sending dummy traffic from the first bridge over the second link downstream to the second bridge, so as to cause the second bridge to modify its database responsive to the second port being in the active state.

A network switching device, comprising:

• a network port, adapted to be coupled over a network trunk link to a core switch in a network so as to exchange communication traffic with the core switch;
• first and second access ports, adapted to be coupled via first and second redundant network access links to one or more access switches serving network users;
• and
• a protocol processor, adapted to place the first access port in an active state, while placing the second access port in a blocking state, so that the communication traffic is conveyed over the first link while the first port is in the active state, thereby causing each of the access switches to build a respective access switch database for use in forwarding the traffic, the protocol processor being further adapted, responsive to a failure associated with the first link, to place the second access port in the active state and the first port in the blocking state and to send dummy traffic through the second access port over the second link to the one or more access switches, so as to cause each of the one or more access switches to modify its respective access switch database responsive to the second access port being in the active state.

A bridge device for use in a communication network having a spanning tree root, the device comprising:

• a designated port, adapted to be coupled over an upstream link in the network so as to communicate with the root;
• first and second downstream ports, adapted to be coupled via first and second redundant links to a further bridge device located downstream in the network relative to the spanning tree root;
• and
• a protocol processor, which is adapted to place the first downstream port in an active state, while placing the second downstream port in a blocking state, so that communication traffic is conveyed over the first downstream link while the first port is in the active state, thereby causing the bridge devices to build respective databases for use in forwarding the traffic, the protocol processor being further adapted, responsive to a failure associated with the first link, to place the second downstream port in the active state and to send dummy traffic over the second link downstream to the further bridge device, so as to cause the further bridge device to modify its database responsive to the second downstream port being in the active state.