System and method for virtual fabric link failure recovery
AssigneeAlcatel Lucent
InventorsAnand Vinayagam, Roberto H. Jacob Da Silva
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aggregation switches are connected to an edge node by a multi-chassis link aggregation group and a virtual fiber link provides a connection for exchange of information between the aggregation switches regarding MAC addressing to synchronize MAC address tables across the aggregation switches. When failure of the virtual fiber link is detected, the multi-chassis link aggregation group is reconfigured into two or more link aggregates with each link aggregate connecting the edge node to one of the aggregation switches. A spanning tree protocol is initiated over the link aggregates to prevent loops in the network. MAC address tables are flushed and relearned with the two or more link aggregates.
Claims20
An aggregation switch in a multi-chassis system, comprising:
- a first set of member port interfaces of the aggregation switch grouped with one or more member port interfaces of a remote aggregation switch configured to form a multi-chassis link aggregate, wherein the multi-chassis link aggregate couples the aggregation switch and the remote aggregation switch to an edge node;
- a second set of port interfaces configured to form a virtual fiber link for coupling the aggregation switch to the remote aggregation switch;
- a processing module operable to:
- determine a connection failure of the virtual fiber link to the remote aggregation switch;
- reconfigure one or more of the first set of port interfaces of the the multi-chassis link aggregate to form a link aggregate for coupling to the edge node;
- and
- initiate a spanning tree protocol in the one or more of the first set of port interfaces.
A method in a switch, comprising:
- communicating with an end node over a first set of port interfaces in the switch, wherein the first set of ports are configured to form a multi-chassis link aggregate with one or more port interfaces of a remote switch to the end node;
- communicating with the remote switch over a second set of port interfaces in the switch configured to form a virtual fiber link;
- determining a connection failure of the virtual fiber link to the remote switch;
- reconfiguring the first set of port interfaces of the multi-chassis link aggregate to form a link aggregate;
- and
- initiating a spanning tree protocol in the first set of port interfaces.
A method in a switch, comprising:
- operating in a multi-chassis mode, wherein operating in a multi-chassis mode includes:
- communicating with an end node over a first set of port interfaces in the switch, wherein the first set of ports are configured to form a multi-chassis link aggregate with one or more port interfaces of a remote switch to the end node;
- communicating with the remote switch over a second set of port interfaces in the switch configured to form a virtual fiber link;
- receiving a command to operate in a stand-alone mode;
- in response to the command, reconfiguring a plurality of the first set of port interfaces of the multi-chassis link aggregate to form a link aggregate and initiating a spanning tree protocol in the plurality of the first set of port interfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.