High availability synchronization architecture
First Claim
1. A method of providing redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, the method including:
- (a) configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components;
(b) configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image;
(c) permitting said active image to execute;
(d) maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation; and
(e) transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image;
wherein each component in the active and standby images registers with a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility which performs (e).
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A “high availability” system comprises one or more switches under the control of multiple control processors (“CPs”). One of the CPs is deemed to be “active,” while the other CP is kept in a “standby” mode. Each CP generally has the same software load including a fabric state synchronization (“FSS”) facility. The FSSs of each CP communicate with each other. The state information pertaining to an active “image” is continuously provided to a standby copy of the image (“standby image”). The CPs'"'"' FSSs perform the function of synchronizing the standby image to the active image. The state information generally includes configuration and operational parameters and other information regarding the active image. By keeping the standby image synchronized to the active image, the standby image can be rapidly transitioned to the active mode if the active image experiences a fault and continue where the previous active image left off.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of providing redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, the method including:
-
(a) configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components;
(b) configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image;
(c) permitting said active image to execute;
(d) maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation; and
(e) transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image;
wherein each component in the active and standby images registers with a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility which performs (e). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system, comprising:
-
a plurality of electronic devices; and
a plurality of control processors coupled to each other and to the electronic devices;
wherein one control processor has an active image comprising a plurality of executable components running thereon, and another control processor has a standby image comprising a copy of the active image'"'"'s components; and
wherein all control processors have a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility running thereon, the FSS facility on the control processor having the active image providing updated state information to any other control processor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A control processor adapted to communicate with another control processor and other electronic devices, comprising:
-
a CPU;
memory coupled to said CPU;
an image stored in said memory and comprising a plurality of executable components; and
a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility also stored in said memory, said FSS executed by said CPU to permit said image to be in an active mode or to be in a standby mode;
wherein said FSS provides state information pertaining to the image to another control processor when said image is in the active mode and receives state information when the image is in the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer readable storage medium for storing an executable set of software instructions that are executable by a CPU, said software instructions being operable to provide redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, said software instructions comprising:
-
(a) a means for configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components;
(b) a means for configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image;
(c) a means for permitting said active image to execute;
(d) a means for maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation;
(e) a means for transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image; and
(f) a means to register each component in the active and standby images with a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility which performs (e). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification