Data router backup feature
First Claim
1. A method of providing a backup feature for data processors each having a plurality of input ports for receiving messages from a host processor via respective communications paths, said method comprising the steps ofarranging a first input port of a first data processor and a second input port of a second data processor into a group and respectively designating said first and second input ports as active and standby ports for said group,responsive to said first port becoming inoperative, causing said second port to assume an identity priorly specified for said first port so that said second port may receive a message that the host transmits to said first port via the respective one of said communications paths for presentation to its associated second data processor, andarranging said second data processor so that it routes said message to a second input port of said first data processor by inserting a local address associated with said second input port of said first data processor in said message and then outputting said message to said one of said communications paths for receipt by the latter input port, thereby causing said message to be delivered to said first processor as intended.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A back-up facility for data routers is enhanced by providing a mutual back-up feature which allows each of the routers to be active at the same time while also providing a standby monitoring function for the other router(s).
212 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of providing a backup feature for data processors each having a plurality of input ports for receiving messages from a host processor via respective communications paths, said method comprising the steps of
arranging a first input port of a first data processor and a second input port of a second data processor into a group and respectively designating said first and second input ports as active and standby ports for said group, responsive to said first port becoming inoperative, causing said second port to assume an identity priorly specified for said first port so that said second port may receive a message that the host transmits to said first port via the respective one of said communications paths for presentation to its associated second data processor, and arranging said second data processor so that it routes said message to a second input port of said first data processor by inserting a local address associated with said second input port of said first data processor in said message and then outputting said message to said one of said communications paths for receipt by the latter input port, thereby causing said message to be delivered to said first processor as intended.
-
4. A method of providing a backup feature for data processors each having a plurality of input ports for receiving messages from a host processor via respective communications paths, said method comprising the steps of
connecting first and second input ports of a first one of said data processors to first and second busses, respectively, said first and second busses connecting to respect data ports of said host, connecting first and second input ports of a second one of said data processors to said second and first busses, respectively, causing the first and second input ports of said first and second data processors, respectively, to be active ports and respectively causing the second and first input ports of said first and second data processors to be standby ports such that if the first port of said first data processor becomes inoperable then the first port of said second data processor assumes the active state for said first data processor and such that, alternatively, if the second port of said second data processor becomes inoperable then the second port of said first data processor assumes the active state for said second first data processor.
-
5. A method of interconnecting data processors each having a plurality of bus interface ports, said method comprising the steps of
connecting a first bus interface port of a first one of said data processors to a bus and connecting a first bus interface port of a second one of said data processor to said bus, and causing the first bus interface port of said first processor to be an active port so that it removes messages destined for said first data processor from said bus and causing the first bus interface port of said second data processor to be a standby port such that it becomes the active port for said first data processor if the first bus interface port of said first processor becomes inoperable.
-
7. An architecture for interconnecting data processors each having a plurality of bus interface ports comprising
connecting a first bus interface port of a first one of said data processors to a bus extending to a host processor and connecting a first bus interface port of a second one of said data processors to said bus, and arranging the first bus interface port of said first data processor so that it operates as an active port and removes messages destined for said first data processor from said bus and arranging the first bus interface port of said second data processor so that it operates as a standby port such that it becomes the active port for said first data processor if the first bus interface port of said first processor becomes inoperable.
-
9. A apparatus for backing up data processors each having a plurality of input ports for receiving messages from a host processor via respective communications paths comprising
connecting a first input port of a first data processor and a second input port of a second data processor into a group and respectively designating said first and second ports as active and standby ports for said group, means, responsive to said first port becoming inoperative, for causing said second port to assume an identity priorly specified for said first port so that said second port may receive a message that the host transmits to said first port via the respective one of said communications paths for presentation to its associated second data processor, and means for causing said second data processor to route said message to a second input port of said first data processor so as to cause said message to be delivered to said first processor as intended by said host.
Specification