Efficient management of ring networks

A method comprising:

• determining, with a first device of a ring network designated as an adjacent selective forwarding device, a status of the ring network based on a message received from a second device of the ring network designated as a master device;
• based on the determination, selectively forwarding, with the adjacent selective forwarding device, data traffic in a manner that limits data traffic loops and enables routing of the data traffic around a fault in the ring network;
• and
• regardless of the determination, forwarding, with the adjacent selective forwarding device, control traffic that enables the master device to monitor the ring network to determine whether the fault has occurred.

A network device designated as a master network device of a ring network, the network device comprising:

• an interface module that includes a primary port and a secondary port;
• a control unit that includes a forwarding module that:
• monitors the ring network to determine whether a fault has occurred in the ring network;
• based on the determination, transmits via the secondary port of interface module a network status message to a second network device of the ring network designated as an adjacent selective forwarding network device, wherein the adjacent selective forwarding network device couples to the secondary port of the interface module via a network link and selectively forwards traffic to the master device in a manner that avoids traffic loops until the master devices determines the fault has occurred in the ring network;
• and
• receives, subsequent to the determination that the fault has occurred in the ring network, data traffic from the adjacent selective forwarding network device.

A network device designated as an adjacent selective forwarding network device of a ring network, the network device comprising:

• a control unit that includes a forwarding module to:
• determine a status of the ring network based on a message received from a second network device of the ring network designated as a master network device;
• based on the determination, selectively forward data traffic in a manner that limits data traffic loops and enables routing of the data traffic around a fault in the ring network;
• and
• regardless of the determination, forward control traffic that enables the master network device to monitor the ring network to determine whether the fault has occurred.

A system comprising:

• a ring network;
• a first network device of the ring network designated as an adjacent selective forwarding network device, the adjacent selective forwarding network device includes a first control unit comprising a first forwarding module;
• a second network device of the ring network designated as a master network device, the master network device includes:
• an interface module that comprises a primary port and a secondary port;
• and
• a second control unit that comprises a second forwarding module, wherein the second forwarding module monitors the ring network to determine whether a fault has occurred in the ring network and transmits via the secondary port of interface module a network status message to the adjacent selective forwarding network device based on the determination of whether the fault has occurred,
• wherein the first forwarding module of the adjacent selective forwarding network device determines a status of the ring network based on the network status message, and selectively forwards data traffic to the master network device based on the determination of the status.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

• monitor, with a first device of a ring network designated as a master device, the ring network to determine whether a fault has occurred in the ring network, wherein the master device comprises a primary port and a secondary port;
• based on the determination, transmit via the secondary port of the master device a network status message to a second device of the ring network designated as an adjacent selective forwarding device, wherein the adjacent selective forwarding device couples to the secondary port of the master device via a network link and selectively forwards traffic to the master device in a manner that avoids traffic loops until the master devices determines the fault has occurred in the ring network;
• and
• receive, subsequent to the determination that the fault has occurred in the ring network, data traffic with the master device from the adjacent selective forwarding device.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

• determine, with a first device of a ring network designated as an adjacent selective forwarding device, a status of the ring network based on a message received from a second device of the ring network designated as a master device;
• based on the determination, selectively forward, with the adjacent selective forwarding device, data traffic in a manner that limits data traffic loops and enables routing of the data traffic around a fault in the ring network;
• and
• regardless of the determination, forward, with the adjacent selective forwarding device, control traffic that enables the master device to monitor the ring network to determine whether the fault has occurred.