Pre-computation of backup topologies in computer networks

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a backup device of a computer network, an estimate of an amount and a pattern of traffic that will be routed from one device of the network to the backup device in case of a power outage;
• computing a backup operation strategy for the backup device, the backup operation strategy defining a link capacity and a unicast schedule allocated by the backup device to the one device for routing the traffic in case of the power outage;
• and
• synchronizing the backup device with the one device using the computed operation backup strategy.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a path computation element (PCE), information identifying a set of backup devices for one device of a computer network that received a request to build a backup directed acyclic graph (BDAG), the request comprising at least one requirement specifying to use a device remaining powered after the power outage as a backup device, and wherein, each backup device of the set of backup devices fulfills the at least one requirement;
• selecting one backup device from the set of backup devices;
• computing a backup operation strategy using a traffic matrix and collision domains of the computer network, the backup operation strategy defining a link capacity and a unicast schedule allocated by the selected backup device to the one device for routing the traffic in case of a power outage;
• and
• sending the computed backup operation strategy to the selected backup device for later synchronization with the one device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more devices of a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed being operable to:
• receive a request to build at least a part of a backup directed acyclic graph (BDAG) for routing traffic within the computer network in case of a power outage, the request comprising at least one requirement specifying to use a device remaining powered after the power outage as a backup device;
• and
• in response to the received request:
• identify a set of backup devices, each backup device of the set of backup devices fulfilling the at least one requirement;
• select a backup device from the set of backup devices;
• and
• synchronize with the backup device according to a backup operation strategy received from the backup device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more devices of a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed being operable to:
• receive an estimate of an amount and a pattern of traffic that will be routed from one device of the network in case of a power outage;
• compute a backup operation strategy, the backup operation strategy defining a link capacity and a unicast schedule allocated to the one device for routing the traffic in case of the power outage;
• and
• synchronizing with the one device using the computed operation backup strategy.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more devices of a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed being operable to:
• receive information identifying a set of backup devices for one device of a computer network that received a request to build a backup directed acyclic graph (BDAG), the request comprising at least one requirement specifying to use a device remaining powered after the power outage as a backup device, and wherein, each backup device of the set of backup devices fulfills the at least one requirement;
• select one backup device from the set of backup devices;
• compute a backup operation strategy using a traffic matrix and collision domains of the computer network, the backup operation strategy defining a link capacity and a unicast schedule allocated by the selected backup device to the one device for routing the traffic in case of a power outage;
• and
• send the computed backup operation strategy to the selected backup device for later synchronization with the one device.