Method and system for router misconfiguration autodetection

• US 20040139179A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/18 Loop-free operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery

Abstract

Reconfiguration operations in a networking environment are actively monitored to automatically detect faulty network traffic routing conditions, such as routing loop. The autodetection includes identifying a condition in which one of a number of routers is switched to a reconfiguration mode. In response, a network monitoring state is initiated in which operational parameters of each router are recurringly analyzed to detect an unexpected deviation that evidences the faulty network traffic condition.

Claims

1. A method of controlling reconfiguration operations in a networking environment having a plurality of routers comprising:

identifying a condition in which one of said routers is switched to a reconfiguration mode;

initiating a network monitoring state that includes monitoring operational parameters of each said router as an automated response to said identifying said condition, where said operational parameters are indicative of network traffic routing conditions within said networking environment;

detecting faulty network traffic routing conditions on a basis of said monitoring of said operational parameters;

resetting said routers to configurations that preceded said network monitoring state as an automated response to said detecting said faulty network traffic routing conditions; and

enabling router reconfigurations if no said faulty network traffic routing condition is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiating said network monitoring state includes transmitting messages to said routers to store current configuration settings, said current configuration settings for said routers being reinstated as said automated response to said detecting said faulty network traffic routing conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiating said network monitoring state includes activating a watchdog timer at a central monitoring site, said watchdog timer being configured to maintain said network monitoring state for a specified time period.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiating said network monitoring state includes:

activating a report requirement in which each said router transmits periodic reports to a central site, each said report including information specific to said operational parameters; and

enabling router reconfigurations to be sustained beyond said network monitoring state only upon receiving authorization from said central site.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said initiating said network monitoring state includes requiring each said router to receive an all-clear message for each said periodic report, said detecting faulty network routing conditions being based on said information within said periodic reports.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said resetting said routers is an automated response by said routers when said all-clear messages are not received by said routers.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising analyzing each said periodic report at said central site to detect occurrences of router loop as a consequence of misconfiguration of at least one router table.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking said routers, other than said one router switched to said reconfiguration mode, into a locked mode that prevents said routers from switching to said reconfiguration mode, wherein said locking continues until a termination of said network monitoring state.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting includes identifying router loop within said network environment, said operational parameters being indicative of current use of bandwidth.

10. A method of controlling router table reconfigurations in a network environment comprising:

triggering a locked mode at second devices having routing tables in response to a first device having a particular routing table entering a reconfiguration mode for changing said particular routing table;

analyzing reports generated by said first and second devices while in said locked and reconfiguration modes, said reports including information relevant to detecting a routing loop;

as an automated response to each said report that is indicative of proper network operating conditions, transmitting a message to said first or second device at which said report was generated, said message providing clearance to continue operations; and

using continuity between generating said reports and said messages as a condition for implementing reconfigurations of said particular routing table-entered while said first device is in said reconfiguration mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said triggering said locked mode includes inhibiting reconfigurations at said second devices, said first and second devices being network routers.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said triggering said locked mode includes activating a watchdog timer such that:

each said first and second device is set to generate one of said reports for each selected period of time;

each said report is transmitted to a central location at which said analyzing occurs;

said messages are transmitted from said central location, each said message having a correspondence with one of said reports; and

said locked mode is automatically terminated upon expiration of a specified time period in which said continuity is uninterrupted.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein activating said watchdog timer includes using receptions of said reports in accordance with said selected period of time as a second condition for implementing said reconfigurations.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising reverting each of said first and second devices to configurations that preceded said locked mode in response to a failure of either said continuity condition or said second condition.

15. A system for monitoring router reconfigurations in a network having a plurality of routers comprising:

a reconfiguration controller enabled to identify a condition in which one of said routers is switched to a reconfiguration mode for affecting network trafficking, said reconfiguration controller being responsive to said identifying said condition to initiate a network monitoring state in which each said router periodically transmits a report indicative of operational parameters at said router;

a report analyzer for receiving said reports from said routers and detecting faulty network routing conditions on a basis of said operational parameters; and

a messaging unit cooperative with said report analyzer to send messages to said routers in response to receiving said reports for which no faulty network routing condition is detected;

wherein said routers are enabled to revert to configurations preceding said switch to said reconfiguration mode in response to an absence of receiving one of said messages.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said report analyzer and said messaging unit are further cooperative to provide a one-to-one correspondence between said messages and said reports for which no faulty network routing condition is detected.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said reconfiguration controller is a component of a watchdog timer enabled to determine a time during which said routers are to generate said reports, said time being adjustable via a user input device.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said reconfiguration controller is further enabled to determine a frequency of said generating said reports by each said router, said frequency being adjustable via said user input device.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said messages are all-clear messages which enable implementation of reconfigurations of said one router switched to said reconfiguration mode.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said reconfiguration controller is responsive to said router switching to said reconfiguration mode for entering changes to a router table, said reconfiguration mode being set to prevent two said routers from simultaneously and non-cooperatively being in said reconfiguration mode.