Stacked hardware abstraction layer methods for maintaining software/hardware backward compatibility
AssigneeCiena Corporation
InventorsMATTHEW W. CONNOLLY, MARK E. LAVERGNE, BORIS ALTSHUL
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Abstract
In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides methods for maintaining software/hardware backward compatibility across multiple versions in a modular and scalable manner. More specifically, the present invention provides, stacked hardware abstraction layer methods for maintaining software/hardware backward compatibility for networking equipment and the like.
Claims20
A stacked hardware abstraction layer method for maintaining software/hardware backward compatibility for networking equipment and the like, the method comprising:
- given application software and a hardware abstraction layer associated with a newer release and a device comprising firmware associated with an older release, providing one or more shadow hardware abstraction layers for each intervening release;
- transferring messages that are supported by the older release between the application software and the device through the one or more shadow hardware abstraction layers;
- filtering messages that are not supported by the older release between the application software and the device at the one or more shadow hardware abstraction layers;
- and
- thereby upgrading the firmware of the device to the newer release.
A method for the upgrade of firmware on one or more circuit packs, the method comprising:
- performing a general software release upgrade of a network element comprising one or more circuit packs, wherein the general software release upgrade comprises loading firmware images on one or more modules;
- booting the one or more circuit packs;
- checking firmware on the one or more circuit packs;
- for circuit packs of the one or more circuit packs with a firmware revision below the general software release upgrade, running one or more shadow hardware abstraction layers to communicate between each of the circuit packs and the network element;
- and
- raising a firmware mismatch for each of the circuit packs with a firmware revision below the general software release upgrade.
A rolling upgrade method for firmware on one or more circuit packs in a network element, the method comprising:
- performing a general software release upgrade of the network element comprising one or more circuit packs;
- initializing the one or more circuit packs;
- checking firmware on the one or more circuit packs;
- for circuit packs of the one or more circuit packs with a firmware revision below the general software release upgrade, running one or more shadow hardware abstraction layers to communicate between each of the circuit packs and the network element;
- raising a firmware mismatch for each of the circuit packs with a firmware revision below the general software release upgrade;
- and
- sequentially upgrading each circuit pack of the circuit packs with a firmware revision below the general software release upgrade to a firmware revision associated with the general software release upgrade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.