US 8,799,419 B1 · Configuration update on virtual control plane

Abstract

The control plane of a network device comprises a plurality of software processes that manage routing control operations of the device. Through a hypervisor in the control plane, a managing virtual machine controls access to a first virtual machine running a first software system to control a routing communication session between the network device and other network devices. In response to an in-service software upgrade request, the managing virtual machine initializes a second virtual machine. On the second virtual machine, the second software system is loaded. State data maintained by the managing virtual machine can be transferred to the second virtual machine, and the second virtual machine takes control of the routing communication session. During the transfer of control from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine, techniques of “non-stop forwarding” and “graceful restart” can be implemented to minimize the effect the switchover has on the network.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

on a routing component of a network device running a first virtual machine, executing a first operating system for the network device, wherein the first operating system controls a routing communication session between the network device and a second network device;
in response to receiving an in-service configuration update (ISCU) request to update the first operating system to a second operating system, initializing a second virtual machine on the routing component;
on the second virtual machine, installing the second operating system for the network device;
after installing the second operating system, transferring control of the routing communication session from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine while continuing to forward data packets from the network device to the second network device;
and
after transferring control of the routing communication session to the second virtual machine, shutting down the first virtual machine.

3 more elements

A network device comprising at least one processor configured to operate as:

a routing component having a single hardware platform;
a first virtual machine running on the routing component, wherein the first virtual machine is configured to execute a first operating system for the network device, and wherein the first operating system controls a communication session between the network device and a second network device;
a second virtual machine running on the routing component;
and
a managing virtual machine (MVM) running on the routing component, wherein the MVM is configured to initialize the second virtual machine in response to receiving an in-service configuration update (ISCU) request to update the first operating system to a second operating system, install the second operating system for the network device onto the second virtual machine, transfer control of the routing communication session from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine while a forwarding component of the network device continues to forward data packets from the network device to the second network device, and shut down the first virtual machine after the transfer of control of the routing communication session to the second virtual machine.

2 more elements

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause one or more programmable processors to:

on a routing component of a network device running a first virtual machine, execute a first operating system for the network device, wherein the first operating system controls a routing communication session between the network device and a second network device;
in response to receiving an in-service configuration update (ISCU) request to update the first operating system to a second operating system, initialize a second virtual machine on the routing component;
on the second virtual machine, install the second operating system for the network device;
after installing the second operating system, transfer control of the routing communication session from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine while continuing to forward data packets from the network device to the second network device;
and
after transferring control of the routing communication session to the second virtual machine, shut down the first virtual machine.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Configuration update on virtual control plane

Life of this patent

Configuration update on virtual control plane

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27