Biasing active-standby determination
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorsBill Jianqiang Zhou, William R. Mahoney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In computing systems that provide multiple computing domains configured to operate according to an active-standby model, techniques are provided for intentionally biasing the race to gain mastership between competing computing domains, which determines which computing domain operates in the active mode, in favor of a particular computer domain. The race to gain mastership may be biased in favor of a computing domain operating in a particular mode prior to the occurrence of the event that triggered the race to gain mastership. For example, in certain embodiments, the race to mastership may be biased in favor of the computing domain that was operating in the active mode prior to the occurrence of an event that triggered the race to gain mastership.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- determining that a first computing domain in a computing system did not operate in a first mode prior to occurrence of an event;
- and
- upon determining that the first computing domain did not operate in the first mode prior to the occurrence of the event:
- refraining, for a period of time, the first computing domain from attempting to start operating in the first mode;
- allowing, during the period of time, the second computing domain to attempt to start operating in the first mode;
- and
- after the period of time has passed:
- determining, by the first computing domain, whether the second computing domain is operating in the first mode;
- upon determining that the second computing domain is not operating in the first mode, allowing the first computing domain to attempt to operate in the first mode;
- and
- upon determining that the second computing domain is operating in the first mode, causing the first computing domain to operate in a second mode different from the first mode.
A system comprising:
- a first computing domain;
- and
- a second computing domain;
- wherein the first computing domain is configured to:
- determine that the first computing domain did not operate in a first mode prior to occurrence of an event;
- refrain from attempting to start operating in the first mode for a period of time;
- after the period of time has passed:
- determine whether the second computing domain is operating in the first mode;
- upon determining that the second computing domain is not operating in the first mode, attempt to operate in the first mode;
- and
- upon determining that the second computing domain is operating in the first mode, start to operate in a second mode different from the first mode;
- and
- wherein the second computing domain is configured to, while the first computing domain is refrained from attempting to start operating in the first mode for the period of time, attempt to start operating in the first mode.
A network device comprising:
- a set of one or more ports for forwarding one or more data packets from the network device;
- a plurality of processing units;
- a first computing domain, the first computing domain being allocated a first set of one or more processing units from the plurality of processing units;
- a second computing domain, the second computing domain being allocated a second set of one or more processing units from the plurality of processing units;
- wherein, in response to the occurrence of an event, the first computing domain is configured to refrain from attempting to start operating in a first mode for a period of time;
- wherein, in response to the occurrence of the event, the second computing domain is configured to attempt to start operating in the first mode during the period of time;
- wherein, after the period of time has passed, the first computing domain is configured to:
- if the second computing domain is operating in the first mode, start to operate in a second mode different from the first mode;
- and
- if the second computing domain is not operating in the first mode, attempt to operate in the first mode.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for refraining, by a first computing domain refraining, for a period of time, from attempting to start operating in a first mode;
- and
- means for allowing, during the period of time, a second computing domain to attempt to start operating in the first mode;
- and
- after the period of time has passed:
- means for determining, by the first computing domain, whether the second computing domain is operating in the first mode;
- upon determining that the second computing domain is not operating in the first mode, means for allowing the first computing domain to attempt to operate in the first mode;
- and
- upon determining that the second computing domain is operating in the first mode, means for causing the first computing domain to operate in a second mode different from the first mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.