Method and apparatus for providing continuous availability of applications in a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for preserving application sessions between pairs of communicating logical units located at a plurality of nodes in a computer network, said computer network having a telecommunications access method program to control communication between network resources and a session monitor to interface with an operator, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating a persistent sessions capability at one of the logical units;
suspending the active sessions of the logical unit;
maintaining the status of the suspended sessions during the recovery phase;
initiating recovery actions to resume the suspended sessions;
switching the suspended sessions to a take-over task; and
resuming session activity on at least one of the suspended sessions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining active sessions between communicating logical units in a computer network when an application system fails without having to re-establish the active sessions. By activating a persistent sessions capability at one of the logical units, the active sessions can be suspended and maintained while attempts at recovery are made. Recovery attempts include restarting the failed application or switching the suspended sessions to an alternate instance of the logical unit. The suspended sessions are resynchronized with the application system and session activity is resumed.
242 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for preserving application sessions between pairs of communicating logical units located at a plurality of nodes in a computer network, said computer network having a telecommunications access method program to control communication between network resources and a session monitor to interface with an operator, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating a persistent sessions capability at one of the logical units; suspending the active sessions of the logical unit; maintaining the status of the suspended sessions during the recovery phase; initiating recovery actions to resume the suspended sessions; switching the suspended sessions to a take-over task; and resuming session activity on at least one of the suspended sessions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for preserving application sessions between pairs of network nodes in a computer network in which the nodes are characterized by associated logical units and the network controls access to, and communication between, resources by a telecommunications access method software program, the method comprising:
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activating a persistent sessions capability by at least one of the communicating logical units in the network; suspending the application sessions of the logical unit; maintaining the status of suspended sessions during the recovery phase; restarting the application system at the logical unit; resuming ownership of the suspended application sessions at the logical unit; and reporting the status of the suspended sessions to the application. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling application sessions between network nodes in a computer network, each of said nodes having at least one associated logical unit with access to the network controlled by a telecommunication access method program, the method comprising:
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activating a persistent sessions capability at the network node logical unit running the application system; suspending the application sessions at the logical unit; maintaining the suspended sessions during application system recovery attempts; attempting recovery of the application system and suspended sessions; resuming session activity if recovery attempts are successful; deactivating persistent sessions capability if recovery attempts are unsuccessful; and executing termination processing if persistent sessions capability is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for retaining application sessions between a pair of communicating logical units located at a plurality of nodes in a computer network wherein a network application system is running at one of said communicating logical units, said apparatus comprising:
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means for activating a persistent sessions capability at the logical unit running the application system; means for suspending the application sessions between said logical units; means for maintaining the status of the suspended sessions during the recovery period; means for initiating recovery actions and resuming the suspended application sessions; means for switching the suspended sessions to a take-over task; and means for resuming the application sessions between said logical units. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An apparatus for retaining application sessions between a pair of communicating logical units located at a plurality of nodes in a computer network wherein a network application system is running at one of said communicating logical units, said apparatus comprising:
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means for activating a persistent sessions capability at the logical unit running the application system; means for suspending the application sessions between said logical units; means for maintaining the status of the suspended sessions during the recovery period; means for restarting the application system; means for resuming ownership of the suspended application sessions at the affected logical unit; and means for reporting the status of the suspended sessions to the application system.
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Specification