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US 6,763,479 B1Granted
High availability networking with alternate pathing failover
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorJames E. Hebert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and mechanism operating within the Application layer of the architectural model for maintaining high availability in a two node computer network which utilizes alternate pathing. A failover mechanism operating within the Application layer monitors the original, primary network path. Upon detecting a failure of the primary path, the failover mechanism halts monitoring of the primary connection, configures the alternate network interface with the parameters of the primary network interface, and brings up the backup interface.
Claims29
A method for maintaining high availability in a two node computer network, wherein said computer network includes alternate pathing, said method comprising:
- adding a first High Availability Networking (HAnet) mechanism to a first node of said two node computer network, wherein said HAnet mechanism operates within an Application layer of an architectural model of said computer network;
- monitoring a first network path of said computer network, wherein said first network path is between said first node and said second node, wherein said first network path corresponds to a primary path of said alternate pathing, and wherein said monitoring is by said first HAnet mechanism;
- detecting a failure of said first network path, wherein said failure is detected by said first HAnet mechanism;
- and
- performing a failover from said first network path to a second network path of said first node in response to detecting said failure, wherein said second network path corresponds to an alternate path of said alternate pathing, wherein said failover is performed by said first HAnet mechanism;
- wherein said first network path comprises a first network interface card in said first node coupled to a second network interface card in said second node, wherein said first network interface card and said second network interface card are coupled via a first crossover cable, and wherein said second network path comprises a third network interface card in said first node coupled to a fourth network interface card in said second node, wherein said third network interface card and said fourth network interface card are coupled via a second crossover cable;
- wherein said failover comprises:
- pausing monitoring of said first network interface card;
- disabling said first network interface card;
- plumbing said third network interface card;
- configuring said third network interface card with interface address parameters corresponding to said first network interface card;
- and
- enabling said third network interface card, wherein said enabling is subsequent to the expiration of a time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to a delay parameter read from a configuration file;
- and
- resuming monitoring, wherein said second network path is monitored.
12 more elements
A network node configured to support alternate pathing, said network node comprising:
- a first network interface, wherein said first network interface is coupled to a first network path, wherein said first network path corresponds to a primary path of said alternate pathing;
- a second network interface, wherein said second network interface is coupled to an second network path, wherein said second path corresponds to an alternate path of said alternate pathing;
- wherein said first network path comprises a first network interface card in said first node coupled to a second network interface card in said second node, wherein said first network interface card and said second network interface card are coupled via a first crossover cable, and wherein said second network path comprises a third network interface card in said first node coupled to a fourth network interface card in said second node, wherein said third network interface card and said fourth network interface card are coupled via a second crossover cable;
- a High Availability Networking (HAnet) mechanism, wherein said HAnet mechanism operates within an Application layer of an architectural model of said computer network, wherein said HAnet mechanism is configured to monitor said first network interface, and wherein said HAnet mechanism is configured to perform a failover from said first network interface to said second network interface in response to detecting a failure of said first network path,
- wherein said failover comprises:
- pausing monitoring of said first network interface;
- disabling said first network interface;
- plumbing said second network interface;
- configuring said second network interface with interface address parameters corresponding to said first network interface;
- and
- enabling said second network interface wherein said enabling is subsequent to the expiration of a time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to a delay parameter read from a configuration file;
- and
- resuming monitoring, wherein said second network interface is monitored.
10 more elements
A computer network configured to maintain high availability, wherein said computer network includes alternate pathing, said computer network comprising:
- a first node, wherein said first node includes a first High Availability Networking (HAnet) mechanism, wherein said first HAnet mechanism operates within an Application layer of an architectural model of said computer network;
- a second node;
- a second network path, wherein said second network path corresponds to an alternate path of said alternate pathing, wherein said second network path is between said first node and said second node;
- a first network path, wherein said first network path corresponds to a primary path of said alternate pathing, wherein said first network path is between said first node and said second node, and wherein said first HAnet mechanism is configured to monitor said first network path, and wherein said first HAnet mechanism is configured to perform a failover from said first network path to said second network path in response to detecting a failure of said first network path;
- wherein said first network path comprises a first network interface card in said first node coupled to a second network interface card in said second node, wherein said first network interface card and said second network interface card are coupled via a first crossover cable, and wherein said second network path comprises a third network interface card in said first node coupled to a fourth network interface card in said second node, wherein said third network interface card and said fourth network interface card are coupled via a second crossover cable;
- wherein said failover comprises:
- pausing monitoring of said first network interface;
- disabling said first network interface;
- plumbing said second network interface;
- configuring said second network interface with interface address parameters corresponding to said first network interface;
- and
- enabling said second network interface wherein said enabling is subsequent to the expiration of a time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to a delay parameter read from a configuration file;
- and
- resuming monitoring, wherein said second network interface is monitored.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.