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Methods and apparatus for performing in-service software upgrading for a network device using system virtualization

  • US 10,372,437 B2
  • Filed: 10/31/2017
  • Issued: 08/06/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of modifying software via virtual machines (“

  • VMs”

    ) to a line card of a network device facilitated by a network processing card (“

    NPC”

    ), comprising;

    receiving a software upgrade command on a control card;

    maintaining a first version of data structure containing a first data portion and a first metadata portion in a first VM, wherein maintaining the first version of data structure further includes maintaining first type region, first length region, and first offset region of the first metadata portion;

    generating a second version of data structure containing a second data portion and a second metadata portion in a second VM in response to the software upgrade commend, wherein generating the second version of data structure includes creating a second type region, a second length region, and a second offset region of the second metadata portion;

    activating a second version 2 (“

    V2”

    ) in-service software upgrade (“

    ISSU”

    ) manager for the NPC, and a V2 ISSU proxy for the line card;

    activating the second VM on the NPC in response to the software upgrade signal while a first version 1 (“

    V1”

    ) ISSU manage continuing providing network service based on V1 software operating in the first VM running on the NPC;

    downloading new version software onto the second VM; and

    switching over from the V1 software to the new version software for all nodes and obtaining checkpoint files for synchronizing execution state between the first VM and the second VM in accordance with information contained in checkpoint files.

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