Coordinated reboot mechanism reducing service disruption in network environments

• US 20080126498A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Allan, Doshi, Bhautik, Badjate, Pramod S., Calhoun, Patrice
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0836 to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at least one child element; selecting a first network element from the plurality of network elements, transmitting a disable message to the first network element; determining whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and conditionally transmitting a reinitiation message to the first network element.

Claims

1. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

identify a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at least one child element;

select a first network element from the plurality of network elements;

transmit a disable message to the first network element;

determine whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and

conditionally transmit a reinitiation message to the first network element.

2. The logic of claim 1 wherein the logic is further operable to repeat the select, transmit, and determine steps for each remaining network element of the plurality of network elements.

3. The logic of claim 1 wherein the logic is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

4. The logic of claim 1 wherein the logic is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined percentage of all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

5. The logic of claim 1 wherein the logic is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined period of time has expired.

6. The logic of claim 1 wherein the plurality of network elements comprise central controllers.

7. The logic of claim 1 wherein the at least one child element comprises wireless access points.

8. The logic of claim 1 wherein, to determine whether the at least one child element has migrated, the logic is further operable to receive a notification message when a child element has migrated.

9. The logic of claim 1 wherein, to determine whether the at least one child element has migrated, the logic is further operable to maintain current associations between child elements and parent network elements in a data structure.

10. A method comprising:

identifying a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at least one child element;

selecting a first network element from the plurality of network elements;

transmitting a disable message to the first network element;

determining whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and

conditionally transmitting a reinitiation message to the first network element.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising repeating the select, transmit, and determine steps for each remaining network element of the plurality of network elements.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising conditionally transmitting the reinitiation message of the first network element based on whether all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising conditionally transmitting the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined percentage of all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising conditionally transmitting the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined period of time has expires.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of network elements comprise central controllers.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one child element comprises wireless access points.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a notification message when a child element has migrated.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising maintaining current associations between parent network elements and child network elements in a data structure.

19. A system comprising:

a wireless network infrastructure node operable to identity a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at last one child element;

select a first network element from the plurality of network elements;

transmit a disable message to the first network element;

determine whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and

conditionally transmit a reinitiation message to the first network element; and

the central controller operable to communicate with the wireless network infrastructure node.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the wireless network infrastructure node operable is further operable to repeat the select, transmit, and determine steps for each remaining network element of the plurality of network elements.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the wireless network infrastructure node operable is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the wireless network infrastructure node operable is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined percentage of all child elements of a plurality of child elements have migrated.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the wireless network infrastructure node operable is further operable to conditionally transmit the reinitiation message to the first network element based on whether a predefined period of time has expired.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of network elements comprise central controllers.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one child element comprises wireless access points.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein, to determine whether the at least one child element has migrated, the wireless network infrastructure node is further operable to transmit notification messages each time a new wireless access point has migrated.

27. The system of claim 19 wherein, to determine whether the at least one child element has migrated, the wireless network infrastructure node is further operable to maintain current associations between access points and central controllers in a data structure.