In-Service Software Upgrade on Cards of Virtual Partition of Network Element that Includes Directing Traffic Away from Cards of Virtual Partition
First Claim
1. A method performed within a network element, for directing traffic away from cards of a first virtual partition, before changing software on the cards of the first virtual partition, until after the cards of the first virtual partition have session data, and while the network element services sessions, the method comprising the steps of:
- redistributing sessions, currently serviced by the cards of the first virtual partition of the network element, to cards of a second virtual partition of the network element, each of the first and second virtual partitions having at least one control card and at least one line card;
performing the step of directing the traffic away from the cards of the first virtual partition, prior to taking the at least one line card of the first virtual partition offline;
after the step of redistributing the sessions, from the cards of the first virtual partition to the cards of the second virtual partition, performing the step of changing the software on, at least, the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, while the cards of the second virtual partition service sessions, including the sessions redistributed from the cards of the first virtual partition; and
after the step of changing the software on the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, synchronizing session data, for sessions currently serviced by the cards of the second virtual partition, from the cards of the second virtual partition to the cards of the first virtual partition,wherein the step of directing the traffic away from the cards of the first virtual partition is performed before the step of changing the software on the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, and continues until after the step of synchronizing the session data from the cards of the second virtual partition to the cards of the first virtual partition,whereby speed of traffic movement away from the cards of the first virtual partition is increased by the step of directing of the traffic away from the first virtual partition prior to the taking of the at least one line card of the first virtual partition offline, and the traffic is directed away from the cards of the first virtual partition until after the cards of the first virtual partition have session data to handle the traffic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method within network element, for directing traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, before changing software on cards of first virtual partition, until after cards of first virtual partition have session data, while network element services sessions. Redistribute sessions, serviced by cards of first virtual partition, to cards of second virtual partition. Each of virtual partitions has control card and line card. Direct traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, prior to taking line card of first virtual partition offline. After redistributing sessions, change software on line card of first virtual partition, while cards of second virtual partition service sessions, including redistributed sessions. After changing software, synchronize session data, for sessions serviced by cards of second virtual partition to cards of first virtual partition. Traffic is directed away from cards before changing software on line card, and until after synchronizing session data to cards of first partition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed within a network element, for directing traffic away from cards of a first virtual partition, before changing software on the cards of the first virtual partition, until after the cards of the first virtual partition have session data, and while the network element services sessions, the method comprising the steps of:
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redistributing sessions, currently serviced by the cards of the first virtual partition of the network element, to cards of a second virtual partition of the network element, each of the first and second virtual partitions having at least one control card and at least one line card; performing the step of directing the traffic away from the cards of the first virtual partition, prior to taking the at least one line card of the first virtual partition offline; after the step of redistributing the sessions, from the cards of the first virtual partition to the cards of the second virtual partition, performing the step of changing the software on, at least, the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, while the cards of the second virtual partition service sessions, including the sessions redistributed from the cards of the first virtual partition; and after the step of changing the software on the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, synchronizing session data, for sessions currently serviced by the cards of the second virtual partition, from the cards of the second virtual partition to the cards of the first virtual partition, wherein the step of directing the traffic away from the cards of the first virtual partition is performed before the step of changing the software on the at least one line card of the first virtual partition, and continues until after the step of synchronizing the session data from the cards of the second virtual partition to the cards of the first virtual partition, whereby speed of traffic movement away from the cards of the first virtual partition is increased by the step of directing of the traffic away from the first virtual partition prior to the taking of the at least one line card of the first virtual partition offline, and the traffic is directed away from the cards of the first virtual partition until after the cards of the first virtual partition have session data to handle the traffic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network element, that is operable to direct traffic away from a first set of one or more line cards, before upgrading software on the first set of the line cards, until after the first set of the line cards have session data, and while the network element services sessions, the network element comprising:
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a plurality of control cards coupled together; a plurality of line cards coupled with the control cards and coupled together, wherein each of the line cards have line card software; an interface to receive an in-service software upgrade (ISSU) command; and an ISSU system that, responsive to the ISSU command, is operable to cause the network element to; direct traffic away from the first set of one or more of the line cards, prior to taking the first set of the line cards offline; upgrade the line card software on the first set of the line cards, after taking the first set of the line cards offline, and while a second set of one or more of the line cards is online and operable to receive traffic associated with the sessions serviced by the network element; bring the first set of the line cards online, after the line card software has been upgraded on the first set of the line cards, wherein in directing the traffic away from the first set of the line cards, the network element is operable to direct the traffic away from the first set of the line cards, prior to upgrading the line card software on the first set of the line cards, and until after the session data for the sessions serviced by the network element is available to the first set of the line cards, whereby speed of traffic movement away from the first set of the line cards is increased by the directing of the traffic away from the first set of the line cards, prior to taking the first set of the line cards offline, and the traffic is directed away from the first set of the line cards until after session data to handle the traffic is available to the first set of the line cards. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification