Spontaneous topology discovery in a multi-node computer system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorPankaj Mehra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and associated apparatus may implement spontaneous topology discovery in a computer network. The network may include a plurality of entities. When a change in the topology is detected, a spanning tree is created and topology information is propagated from individual entities through the spanning tree towards an entity that functions as a “root.” Arbitrarily large topologies may be discovered this way without requiring arbitrarily large amounts of memory in participating switches.
Claims21
A method of spontaneous topology discovery in a computer network including a plurality of entities, comprising:
- (a) detecting a change in the topology;
- (b) creating a spanning tree comprising at least some of the entities, said spanning tree including an entity as a root coupled to at least one tier having at least one entity;
- and
- (c) propagating topology information pertaining to individual entities through said spanning tree towards said root.
The method of clam 1 wherein (b) includes determining whether an entity has sufficient resources to be the root.
A method, comprising:
- (a) spontaneously detecting a change in a network topology;
- (b) in response to detecting the change, creating a spanning tree comprising entities of a network in which each entity represents a parent and/or a child to another entity;
- and
- (c) transmitting topology messages through the spanning tree to a parent entity.
The method of clam 9 wherein (b) includes determining whether an entity has sufficient resources to be the root.
A computer system, comprising:
- a plurality of end nodes;
- a plurality of switches coupled together and to said end nodes to form a topology;
- and
- wherein a switch or end node detects a change in said topology and, in response, initiates generating a tree in which one of said end nodes or switches becomes the root and, as such, receives topology information from all other end nodes and switches in said tree.
A computer system, comprising:
- a plurality of end nodes;
- a plurality of switches coupled together and to said end nodes to form a topology;
- and
- a means for detecting a change in said topology and, in response, initiating generating a tree in which one of said end nodes or switches becomes the root and, as such, receives topology information from all other end nodes and switches in said tree.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.