Method and apparatus for negotiating link protocols for link aggregations

• US 20050265384A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nogueras, Jorge Rafael, Jain, Vinit, Fernandes, Lilian Sylvia
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted. Responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation is selected to form a preferred algorithm. A request is sent to the endpoint. This request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation. A reply to the request is received from the endpoint. A determination is made as to whether a convergence has occurred. The data packets in the conversation are processed using the preferred algorithm in response to a determination that the convergence has occurred.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted, the method comprising:

responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, selecting an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation to form a preferred algorithm;

sending a request to the endpoint, wherein the request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation;

receiving a reply to the request from the endpoint;

determining whether a convergence has occurred; and

responsive to a determination that the convergence has occurred, processing the data packets in the conversation using the preferred algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reply is a first reply and further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the convergence has not occurred, identifying an alternate algorithm specified in the first reply;

determining whether the alternate algorithm is supported in the data processing system; and

responsive to a determination that the specified algorithm is supported in the data processing system, sending a second reply to the endpoint indicating the convergence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes:

determining whether the reply specifies a complementary algorithm of the preferred algorithm.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the convergence is indicated in the second reply by specifying a complementary algorithm to the alternate algorithm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred algorithm is selected from one of a source media access control address algorithm, a destination media access control address algorithm, a source Internet Protocol address algorithm, a destination Internet Protocol address algorithm, a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm, or a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is a protocol data unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol data unit includes an identification of an algorithm field and a flags field.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a flags field includes a first bit identifying whether the convergence has occurred and a second bit indicating whether a master or slave role is requested.

9. A data processing system for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted, the data processing system comprising:

selecting means, responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, for selecting an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation to form a preferred algorithm;

sending means for sending a request to the endpoint, wherein the request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation;

receiving means for receiving a reply to the request from the endpoint;

determining means for determining whether a convergence has occurred; and

processing means, responsive to a determination that the convergence has occurred, for processing the data packets in the conversation using the preferred algorithm.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the reply is a first reply, wherein the determining means is a first determining means, and wherein the sending means is the first sending means further comprising:

identifying means, responsive to a determination that the convergence has not occurred, for identifying an alternate algorithm specified in the first reply;

second determining means for determining whether the alternate algorithm is supported in the data processing system; and

second sending means, responsive to a determination that the specified algorithm is supported in the data processing system, for sending a second reply to the endpoint indicating the convergence.

11. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the determining means includes:

determining means for determining whether the reply specifies a complementary algorithm of the preferred algorithm.

12. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the convergence is indicated in the second reply by specifying a complementary algorithm to the alternate algorithm.

13. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the preferred algorithm is selected from one of a source media access control address algorithm, a destination media access control address algorithm, a source Internet Protocol address algorithm, a destination Internet Protocol address algorithm, a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm, or a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm.

14. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the request is a protocol data unit.

15. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the protocol data unit includes an identification of an algorithm field and a flags field.

16. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein a flags field includes a first bit identifying whether the convergence has occurred and a second bit indicating whether a master or slave role is requested.

17. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions, responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, for selecting an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation to form a preferred algorithm;

second instructions for sending a request to the endpoint, wherein the request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation;

third instructions for receiving a reply to the request from the endpoint;

fourth instructions for determining whether a convergence has occurred; and

fifth instructions, responsive to a determination that the convergence has occurred, for processing the data packets in the conversation using the preferred algorithm.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the reply is a first reply and further comprising:

sixth instructions, responsive to a determination that the convergence has not occurred, for identifying an alternate algorithm specified in the first reply;

seventh instructions for determining whether the alternate algorithm is supported in the data processing system; and

eighth instructions, responsive to a determination that the specified algorithm is supported in the data processing system, for sending-a second reply to the endpoint indicating the convergence.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the fourth instructions includes:

sub-instructions for determining whether the reply specifies a complementary algorithm of the preferred algorithm.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the convergence is indicated in the second reply by specifying a complementary algorithm to the alternate algorithm.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the preferred algorithm is selected from one of a source media access control address algorithm, a destination media access control address algorithm, a source Internet Protocol address algorithm, a destination Internet Protocol address algorithm, a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm, or a transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol source port algorithm.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the request is a protocol data unit.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the protocol data unit includes an identification of an algorithm field and a flags field.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein a flags field includes a first bit identifying whether the convergence has occurred and a second bit indicating whether a master or slave role is requested.

25. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes a set of instructions to select an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation to form a preferred algorithm, in response to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation;

send a request to the endpoint, wherein the request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation;

receive a reply to the request from the endpoint;

determine whether a convergence has occurred; and

process the data packets in the conversation using the preferred algorithm, in response to a determination that the convergence has occurred.