Mobile IP mobility agent standby protocol

In an active Mobility Agent on a network segment, a method of maintaining Mobile IP operation, the method comprising:

• registering a Mobile Node;
• creating a registration entry internally for the Mobile Node;
• and
• sending a message notifying a standby Mobility Agent on the network segment of the registration, the active Mobility Agent and the standby Mobility Agent sharing a virtual IP address known to the Mobile Node.

In a router, a method of providing redundancy for a network segment, the method comprising:

• assuming the status of standby router on the network segment to backup an active router on the network segment, with which the standby router shares a virtual IP address known to a host based at the network segment;
• determining that the active router is no longer acting as an active router for the host;
• assuming the role of active router for the shared virtual IP address, thereby handling packet exchange tasks for the host;
• and
• apprising a new standby router of an entry to a dynamic list specifying the status of one or more hosts based at the network segment.