System and method for providing a link state database (LSDB) snapshot for neighbor synchronization
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorBarry D. Friedman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus resynchronizes a link state database (LSDB) of router with the LSDB of a neighboring router (“neighbor”) while maintaining an existing adjacency with the neighbor in a computer network. An out-of-band resynchronization process executes on the routers to essentially maintain the existing adjacency between the router and neighbor, rather than resetting that adjacency as defined by a conventional resynchronization approach. By keeping the adjacency “up” from the perspective of a routing protocol, such as the Open Shortest Path First routing protocol, the adjacency can be used for continued data traffic to and from the router.
Claims27
A method for resynchronizing a link state database of a router with a link state database of a neighboring router in a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- allocating an index number associated with the neighboring router;
- marking an index number bit in a bit field associated with the link state database of the router, the index number bit identifying records within the link state database to be sent to the neighboring router;
- and
- sending a set of database description packets to the neighboring router, the database description packets containing the records identified by the index number bit set in the bit field.
A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for resynchronizing a link state database of a router a link state database of a neighboring router in a computer network, the executable program instructions comprising program instructions for:
- generating an index number associated with the neighboring router;
- marking an index number bit in a bit field associated with the link state database of the router, the index number bit identifying records within the link state database to be sent to the neighboring router;
- and
- sending a set of database description packets to the neighboring router, the database description packets containing the records identified by the index number bit set in the bit field.
An apparatus for resynchronizing a link state database of a router with a link state database of a neighboring router in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
- means for allocating an index number associated with the neighboring router;
- means for marking an index number bit in a bit field associated with the link state database of the router, the index number bit identifying records within the link state database to be sent to the neighboring router;
- and
- means for sending a set of database description packets to the neighboring router, the database description packets containing the records identified by the index number bit set in the bit field.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a memory configured to associate an index number with a neighboring router;
- a link state database storing a plurality of records, at least some of the records marked to indicate the index number in a bit field, to identify the records within the link state database to be sent to the neighboring router;
- and
- a network interface configured to send a set of database description packets to the neighboring router, the database description packets containing the records marked with the index number in the bit field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.