Preservation of a PPP session in a redundant system

An apparatus for conducting a point-to-point (PPP) session comprising:

• a data plane for handling transfer of data for a PPP session;
• a first control plane for controlling operations of the data plane;
• a second control plane configured to access a portion of PPP session information replicated from the first control plane;
• wherein the second control plane comprises first components that operate concurrently with the first control plane and at least one second component that begins operation following a switch over from the first control plane to the second control plane,
• wherein the portion of information relating to the PPP session is replicated from the first control plane to the second control plane,
• wherein the first components of the second control plane direct operation of the data plane in accordance with the at least one portion of information prior to operation of the at least one second component,
• wherein the data plane is configured to continue to handle transfer of data for the PPP session during switching from the first control plane to the second control plane,
• wherein the data plane is configured to receive a PPP control packet for the PPP session during switching from the first control plane to the second control plane and terminate the PPP session in response to the PPP control packet.

A system for conducting a point-to-point (PPP) session comprising:

• means for establishing a PPP session involving at least a local node and a remote node, wherein the local node comprises a data plane for handling transfer of data for the PPP session at the local node, and wherein the local node comprises a first control plane for controlling operations of the data plane;
• means for replicating a portion of PPP session information accessed by the first control plane to a second control plane of the local node, the second control plane comprising first means that operate concurrently with the first control plane and at least one second means that begins operation in response to a switch over from the first control plane to the second control plane;
• means for switching from the first control plane to the second control plane, wherein the first means of the second control plane direct operation of the data plane in accordance with the portion of information prior to operation of the at least one second means;
• means for detecting a possible disconnection of the PPP session during switching from the first control plane to the second control plane;
• and
• means for terminating the PPP session in response to detecting the possible disconnection, and
• wherein the data plane maintains a transfer of data for the PPP session during switching from the first control plane to the second control plane.