Method, system, and computer program product for providing failure protection in a network node

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• gleaning said table entries from said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• storing said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node;
• wherein said table entries are gleaned from said hardware-based forwarding table in the event of a switchover from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A computer program product for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable media having computer program readable program code thereon for executing on a computer, including computer-readable program code for:

• gleaning table entries from a hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries having been programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table from said primary control module;
• and
• storing said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node;
• wherein said table entries are gleaned from said hardware-based forwarding table in the event of a switchover from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A system for providing failure protection in a network node comprising:

• a primary control module;
• and
• a secondary control module, said secondary control module including glean logic that is configured to glean table entries from a hardware-based forwarding table and to store said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node, said table entries having been programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table from said primary control module;
• wherein said glean logic gleans said table entries from said hardware-based forwarding table in the event of a switchover from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• generating, at said secondary control module, table entry links to said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• using said table entry links to manage said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• switching control of said network node from said primary control module to said secondary control module;
• wherein said step of switching control of said network node from said primary control module to said secondary control module is executed before said table entry links are generated at said secondary control module.

A computer program product for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable media having computer program readable program code thereon for executing on a computer, including computer-readable program code for:

• generating table entry links to table entries that are programmed into a hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• managing, using said table entry links, said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries being managed from said secondary control module;
• wherein said table entries are generated at said primary control module and programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table by said primary control module and wherein said table entry links are generated at said secondary control module after control of said network node is switched over from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A system for providing failure protection in a network node comprising:

• a primary control module;
• and
• a secondary control module, said secondary control module including an orphan manager for;
• generating table entry links to table entries that are programmed into a hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• managing, using said table entry links, said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries being managed from said secondary control module;
• wherein said table entries are generated at said primary control module and programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table by said primary control module, and wherein said table entry links are generated at said secondary control module after control of said network node is switched over from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• executing a configuration command within said primary control module of said network node;
• determining whether said executed configuration command causes a failure of said primary control module;
• and
• executing said configuration command within said secondary control module of said network node if execution of said configuration command does not cause a failure of said primary control module;
• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• gleaning said table entries from said hardware-based forwarding table;
• storing said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node;
• generating, at said secondary control module, table entry links to said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• using said table entry links to manage said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• switching control of said network node from said primary control module to said secondary control module before said table entry links are generated at said secondary control module.

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• gleaning said table entries from said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• storing said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node;
• wherein said table entries are programmed into hardware-based forwarding tables at multiple port interfaces and gleaned from said hardware-based forwarding tables at said multiple port interfaces.

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• gleaning said table entries from said hardware-based forwarding table;
• storing said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node;
• generating Layer 3 table entries at said primary control module of said network node, where Layer three is defined in the Open System Interconnect Model by the International Standards Organization;
• generating, at said secondary control module, table entry links to said Layer 3 table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• using said table entry links to manage said Layer 3 table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• switching control of said network node from said primary control module to said secondary control module before said table entry links are generated at said secondary control module.

A system for providing failure protection in a network node comprising:

• a primary control module;
• and
• a secondary control module, said secondary control module including glean logic that is configured to glean table entries from a hardware-based forwarding table and to store said gleaned table entries in said secondary control module of said network node, said table entries having been programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table from said primary control module;
• wherein said glean logic gleans table entries from hardware-based forwarding tables at multiple port interfaces.

A method for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules comprising:

• generating table entries at said primary control module of said network node;
• programming said table entries into a hardware-based forwarding table of said network node;
• generating, at said secondary control module, table entry links to said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• using said table entry links to manage said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table;
• wherein said table entries are programmed into hardware-based forwarding tables at multiple port interfaces and wherein said table entry links are generated for table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding tables at said multiple port interfaces.

A computer program product for providing failure protection in a network node that includes primary and secondary control modules, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable media having computer program readable program code thereon for executing on a computer, including computer-readable program code for:

• generating table entry links to table entries that are programmed into a hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• managing, using said table entry links, said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries being managed from said secondary control module;
• wherein said table entry links are generated after control of said network node is switched over from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A system for providing failure protection in a network node comprising:

• a primary control module;
• and
• a secondary control module, said secondary control module including an orphan manager for;
• generating table entry links to table entries that are programmed into a hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• managing, using said table entry links, said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries being managed from said secondary control module;
• wherein said table entry links are generated by said orphan manager after control of said network node is switched over from said primary control module to said secondary control module.

A system for providing failure protection in a network node comprising:

• a primary control module;
• and
• a secondary control module, said secondary control module including an orphan manager for;
• generating table entry links to table entries that are programmed into a hardware-based forwarding table;
• and
• managing, using said table entry links, said table entries that are programmed into said hardware-based forwarding table, said table entries being managed from said secondary control module;
• wherein said orphan manager manages said table entries using said table entry links after control of said network node is switched over from said primary control module to said secondary control module.