Dual redundant server system for transmitting packets via linking line and method thereof

• US 20080184059A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chih-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/699,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2025 using centralised failover control functionality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups

Abstract

The present invention discloses a dual redundant server system for transmitting packets via a linking line. The server system includes a primary server and a standby server, and the linking line is installed between the primary server and the standby server and the primary server continuously produces a heartbeat packet. If there is any change of data in the primary server, the primary server will produce a mirror packet. The heartbeat packet or mirror packet is transmitted to the standby server through the linking line. If the standby server receives no heartbeat packet or mirror packet transmitted from the primary server within a set period of time, then the standby server will take over the primary server.

Claims

1. A dual redundant server system for transmitting packets via linking line, comprising:

a primary server for continuously producing a heartbeat packet, in which a mirror packet is also produced when there is any change of data in the primary server;

a standby server for receiving said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet;

when said standby server receives no heartbeat packet or mirror packet transmitted from the primary server within a set period of time, said standby server takes over the primary server; and

a linking line disposed between said primary server and said standby server, for transmitting said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet.

2. The server system of claim 1, wherein said primary server comprises:

a processing module for continuously producing said heartbeat packet;

when there is any change of data in the primary server, said processing module subsequently turn the changed data into said mirror packet; and

a transmission module connected between said processing module and one end of said linking line, said transmission module receives and subsequently transmits said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet via said linking line to said standby server.

3. The server system of claim 2, wherein said standby server comprises:

a reception module connected to the other end of said linking line, which receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet; and

a monitoring module connected to said reception module, which determines whether or not said reception module has received said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet within a set period of time;

if not, said monitoring module makes said standby server take over the primary server.

4. The server system of claim 3, wherein said monitoring module includes a live flag, and said monitoring module sets said live flag to be in a live status when said monitoring module receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet.

5. The server system of claim 4, wherein said monitoring module sets said live flag to be in a clear status when said live flag remains in the live status after a set period of time.

6. The server system of claim 5, wherein said monitoring module makes said standby server take over the primary server when said live flag remains in the clear status after a set period of time.

7. The server system of claim 4, wherein said linking line is an Ethernet cable.

8. A method for supporting redundant server system consisting of a primary server and a standby server, comprising the steps of:

said primary server continuously transmitting a heartbeat packet to said standby server;

said primary server producing a mirror packet in accordance with any change of data in said primary server and then transmitting said mirror packet to said standby server; and

the standby server taking over said primary server when said standby server receives no heartbeat packet or mirror packet from said primary server within a set period of time.

9. The method of claim 8, before said set period of time lapses, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server receiving said heartbeat packet; and

said standby server setting a live flag stored therein from a clear status to a live status.

10. The method of claim 8, before said set period of time lapses, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server receiving said mirror packet; and

said standby server setting a live flag stored therein from a clear status to a live status.

11. The method of claim 9, when said standby server receives no heartbeat packet or mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server reading said live flag; and

said standby server setting said live flag to the clear status.

12. The method of claim 10, when said standby server receives no heartbeat packet or mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server reading said live flag; and

said standby server setting said live flag to the clear status.

13. The method of claim 11, when said standby server receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server reading said live flag; and

said standby server setting said live flag to the live status.

14. The method of claim 12, when said standby server receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the steps of:

said standby server reading said live flag; and

said standby server setting said live flag to the live status.

15. The method of claim 13, said standby server receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the step of:

said standby server setting said live flag from the live status to the clear status.

16. The method of claim 14, said standby server receives said heartbeat packet or said mirror packet within said set period of time, further comprises the step of:

said standby server setting said live flag from the live status to the clear status.