Data set integrity assurance with reduced traffic

• US 20060168265A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wakumoto, Shaun Kazuo, Bare, Ballard Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,769,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of assuring integrity of a data set between multiple devices. A normalizing factor is generated at a first device. Based on the data set at the first device and the normalizing factor, a first integrity mechanism is calculated. The normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism are sent from the first device to at least a second device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of assuring integrity of a data set between multiple devices, the method comprising:

generating a normalizing factor at a first device;

calculating a first integrity mechanism based on the data set at the first device and the normalizing factor;

sending the normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism from the first device to at least a second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism at the second device;

calculating a second integrity mechanism based on the data set at the second device and the normalizing factor;

comparing the first and second integrity mechanisms.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending a request for a complete data set from the second device to the first device if the first and second integrity mechanisms do not match.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

computing a first number of entries from the data set at the first device; and

sending the first number of entries, in addition to the normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism, from the first device to the second device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the first number of entries, the normalizing factor, and the first integrity mechanism at the second device; and

computing a second number of entries from the data set at the second device;

comparing the first and second numbers of entries;

calculating a second integrity mechanism based on the data set at the second device and the normalizing factor; and

comparing the first and second integrity mechanisms.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending a request for a complete data set from the second device to the first device if either the first and second numbers of entries do not match, or the first and second integrity mechanisms do not match.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrity mechanism consists of a mechanism from a group of mechanisms including a checksum, a CRC, and a message digest.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is applied after no updates to the data set have occurred for a period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the normalizing factor is generated such that the first integrity mechanism is different from a previously sent integrity mechanism.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the normalizing factor is generated by providing a distinct integrity mechanism, then determining the normalizing factor corresponding to the distinct integrity mechanism.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the normalizing factor is generated by providing a candidate normalizing factor, then verifying that the candidate normalizing factor results in a distinct integrity mechanism.

12. A method of assuring integrity of a data set between multiple devices, the method comprising:

learning new information changing the data set at a first device;

updating the data set with the new information at the first device;

generating a normalizing factor at the first device;

calculating a first integrity mechanism at the first device based on the updated data set and the normalizing factor;

sending the new information, the normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism from the first device to at least a second device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the new information, the normalizing factor, and the first integrity mechanism at the second device;

updating the data set at the second device with the new information;

calculating a second integrity mechanism at the second device based on the updated data set and the normalizing factor;

comparing the first and second integrity mechanisms.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending a request for a complete data set from the second device to the first device if the first and second integrity mechanisms do not match.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

computing a first number of entries from the updated data set at the first device; and

sending the first number of entries from the first device to the second device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the new information, the first number of entries, the normalizing factor, and the first integrity mechanism at the second device; and

updating the data set at the second device with the new information;

computing a second number of entries from the updated data set at the second device;

comparing the first and second numbers of entries;

calculating a second integrity mechanism based on the data set at the second device and the normalizing factor; and

comparing the first and second integrity mechanisms.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a request for a complete data set from the second device to the first device if either the first and second numbers of entries do not match, or the first and second integrity mechanisms do not match.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the integrity mechanism consists of a mechanism from a group of mechanisms including a checksum, a CRC, and a message digest.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first device sends the new information, the normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism to all pertinent peer devices via a broadcast mechanism.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the data set comprises a table from a group consisting of routing tables, ARP tables, and MAC address tables.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the normalizing factor is generated such that the first integrity mechanism is different from a previously sent integrity mechanism.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the normalizing factor is generated by providing a distinct integrity mechanism, then determining the normalizing factor corresponding to the distinct integrity mechanism.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the normalizing factor is generated by providing a candidate normalizing factor, then verifying that the candidate normalizing factor results in a distinct integrity mechanism.

24. An apparatus configured to maintain integrity of a data set between the apparatus and peer devices, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute processor-executable code;

communication connections to the peer devices;

processor-executable code configured to create a normalizing factor;

processor-executable code configured to compute a first integrity value based on the data set at the apparatus and the normalizing factor; and

processor-executable code configured to transmit the normalizing factor and the first integrity value from the apparatus to at least one peer device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

processor-executable code configured to determine a first number of entries from the data set at the apparatus; and

processor-executable code configured to transmit the first number of entries, in addition to the normalizing factor and the first integrity value, from the apparatus to the peer device(s).

26. An apparatus configured to maintain integrity of a data set between the apparatus and peer devices, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute processor-executable code;

communication connections to the peer devices;

processor-executable code configured to receive a data update pertinent to the data set at the apparatus and to update the data set at the apparatus with the data update;

processor-executable code configured to create a normalizing factor;

processor-executable code configured to compute a first integrity value based on the data set at the apparatus and the normalizing factor; and

processor-executable code configured to transmit the data update, the normalizing factor, and the first integrity value from the apparatus to at least one peer device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

processor-executable code configured to determine a first number of entries from the updated data set at the apparatus; and

processor-executable code configured to transmit the first number of entries from the apparatus to the peer device(s).