Network router having an internal automated backup
AssigneeInternational Business Machine Corporation
InventorArthur Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network router having an internal automated backup is provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a network router having at least one primary port facility, a switched fabric, and a backup card array. When a router card connected to a primary port facility fails, a failure message is automatically sent to the switched fabric. The switched fabric then disconnects the failed card from the primary port facility and places it in an extended bay. Thereafter, the switched fabric connects a backup router card from the backup card array to the primary port facility. In addition, the primary port facilities under the present invention can include a primary and a secondary processor for more reliable communication.
Claims15
1-15. (canceled)
A method of communicating data through network router, comprising:
- (a) connecting a data communication network to the network router, the network router having one or more primary port facilities, each primary port facility having a primary processor and a secondary processor, the processors having the same function;
- and
- (b) managing communication through the network router by the primary processor of each primary port;
- and
- (c) switching communications through the network router between the primary processor and the secondary processor.
A method of providing redundancy and automated backup for communications of information packets in a network router, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) controlling communications with a primary processor connected to a primary port of the network router;
- (b) detecting that more than a predetermined volume of information packets are being communicated;
- (c) switching management of communications between the primary processor and a secondary processor also connected to the primary port of the network router.
A network router having redundant and backup capabilities comprising:
- (a) a primary port having two processors, the processors each capable of identically managing communications through the router card;
- (b) a router card connected to the processors;
- (c) the router card further connected to a robotic switching fabric;
- and
- (d) an array of replacement router cards connected to the robotic switching fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.