Message distribution capability which uses distribution nodes to collect acknowledgements for a primary node

• US 6,067,567 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bartfai, Robert Francis, Divirgilio, John, Doxtader, John William, Reilly, Kevin John, Merritt, Laura Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIELDS, KENNETH WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US08/803,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.55, 395/200.67, 395/200.51, 395/200.72, 395/200.76, 709/225, 709/237, 709/221, 709/242, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17368 non hierarchical topologies

Abstract

Messages are sent from a primary node of a computer system to one or more distribution nodes of the system. Each of the distribution nodes then further sends the message to one or more other nodes of the computer system. After receipt of the message, the other nodes forward an acknowledgement to the particular distribution node, which sent the message. The distribution nodes collect their respective acknowledgements, and when all of the expected acknowledgements are received by a distribution node, the distribution node sends one acknowledgement to the primary node. The one acknowledgement indicates receipt of the message by the other nodes.

Claims

1. A message distribution method for a computer system, comprising:

determining, by a primary node of said computer system, a valid distribution node of said computer system, said determining comprising selecting, by said primary node, said valid distribution node from a list of active nodes of said computer system;

sending, by said primary node, a message to said valid distribution node, said message comprising, at least in part, information contained in a list of active nodes;

sending said message from said valid distribution node to a plurality of nodes of said computer system;

collecting, by said valid distribution node, indications of receipt of said message from said plurality of nodes; and

forwarding one acknowledgement from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said one acknowledgement indicating receipt of the message by said plurality of nodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining by said primary node further comprises determining another valid distribution node wherein said sending by said primary node further comprises sending said message in parallel to said another valid distribution node, and wherein said another valid distribution node sends said message to one or more additional nodes of said computer system, said another valid distribution node collects indications of receipt of said message from said one or more additional nodes, and said another valid distribution node forwards an acknowledgement to said primary node, said acknowledgement indicating receipt of the message by said one or more additional nodes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said sending by said primary node comprises a broadcast function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending by said valid distribution node comprises a broadcast function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said valid distribution node and said plurality of nodes are located in one frame of said computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said message comprises system control information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said system control information comprises at least one of:

(a) point to point route updates;

(b) one or more additions to system destinations;

(c) one or more deletions to system destinations;

(d) a quiesce of system data traffic for system maintenance; and

(e) a resume of system data traffic after a quiesce.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said forwarding comprises forwarding a number of acknowledgements from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said number of acknowledgements being less than the number of indications received by said valid distribution node from said plurality of nodes, and wherein said number of acknowledgements indicates receipt of the message by said plurality of nodes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said list of active nodes is maintained only by said primary node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of nodes is identified in said list of active nodes.

11. A message distribution method for a computer system, comprising:

determining, by a primary node of said computer system, a valid distribution node of said computer system, said determining comprising selecting, by said primary node, said valid distribution node from a list of active nodes of said computer system;

sending, by said primary node, a message to said valid distribution node, said message comprising, at least in part, information contained in a list of active nodes;

sending said message from said valid distribution node to a plurality of nodes of said computer system;

collecting, by said valid distribution node, messages from said plurality of nodes, said messages corresponding to the message received from said valid distribution node; and

forwarding one communication from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said one communication indicating a condition specified by the messages of said plurality of nodes collected by said valid distribution node.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said forwarding comprises forwarding a number of communications from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said number of communications being less than the number of messages received by said valid distribution node from said plurality of nodes, and wherein said number of communications indicates said condition specified by the messages of said plurality of nodes.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said list of active nodes is maintained only by said primary node.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said plurality of nodes is identified in said list of active nodes.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for use in distributing messages, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect determining, by a primary node of said computer system, a valid distribution node of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect selecting, by said primary node, said valid distribution node from a list of active nodes of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending, by said primary node, a message to said valid distribution node, said message comprising, at least in part, information contained in a list of active nodes;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending said message from said valid distribution node to a plurality of nodes of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect collecting, by said valid distribution node, indications of receipt of said message from said plurality of nodes; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding one acknowledgement from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said one acknowledgement indicating receipt of the message by said plurality of nodes.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect determining by said primary node further comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect determining another valid distribution node of said computer system, sending, by said another valid distribution node, said message to one or more additional nodes of said computer system, collecting by said another valid distribution node indications of receipt of said message from said one or more additional nodes, and forwarding by said another distribution node an acknowledgement to said primary node, said acknowledgement indicating receipt of the message by said one or more additional nodes.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending by said primary node further comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect using a broadcast function to send said message.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending by said valid distribution node further comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect using a broadcast function to send said message.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding a number of acknowledgements from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said number of acknowledgements being less than the number of indications received by said valid distribution node from said plurality of nodes, and wherein said number of acknowledgements indicates receipt of the message by said plurality of nodes.

20. The computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect maintaining, by only said primary node, said list of active nodes.

21. The computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said plurality of nodes is identified in said list of active nodes.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for use in distributing messages, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect determining, by a primary node of said computer system, a valid distribution node of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect selecting, by said primary node, said valid distribution node from a list of active nodes of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending, by said primary node, a message to said valid distribution node, said message comprising, at least in part, information contained in a list of active nodes;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect sending said message from said valid distribution node to a plurality of nodes of said computer system;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect collecting, by said valid distribution node, messages from said plurality of nodes, said messages corresponding to the message received from said valid distribution node; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding one communication from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said one communication indicating a condition specified by the messages of said plurality of nodes collected by said valid distribution node.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding comprises computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect forwarding a number of communications from said valid distribution node to said primary node, said number of communications being less than the number of messages received by said valid distribution node from said plurality of nodes, and wherein said number of communications indicates said condition specified by the messages of said plurality of nodes.

24. The computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture of claim 22, further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect maintaining, by only said primary node, said list of active nodes.

25. The computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein said plurality of nodes is identified in said list of active nodes.

26. A message distribution system, comprising:

a primary node of a computer system adapted to determine a valid distribution node of said computer system by selecting from a list of active nodes in said computer system;

said primary node further adapted to send a message to said valid distribution node, said message comprising, at least in part, information contained in said list of active nodes;

said valid distribution node adapted to send said message to a plurality of nodes of said computer system;

said valid distribution node further adapted to collect indications of receipt of said message from said plurality of nodes; and

said valid distribution node further adapted to forward one acknowledgment to said primary node, said one acknowledgment indicating receipt of said message by said plurality of nodes.

27. The message distribution system of claim 26, further comprising:

said primary node further adapted to determine another valid distribution node and to send said message in parallel to said another valid distribution node;

said another valid distribution node adapted to send said message to one or more additional nodes of said computer system;

said another valid distribution node further adapted to collect indications of receipt of said message from said one or more additional nodes;

said another valid distribution node further adapted to forward an acknowledgment to said primary node indicating receipt of said message by said one or more additional nodes.

28. The message distribution system of claim 27, wherein said primary node is further adapted to send said message to said valid distribution node and said another valid distribution node by broadcasting.

29. The message distribution system of claim 26, wherein said valid distribution node is further adapted to send said message to said plurality of nodes by broadcasting.

30. The message distribution system of claim 26, wherein said valid distribution node and said plurality of nodes are located in one frame of said computer system.

31. The message distribution system of claim 26, wherein said message comprises system control information.

32. The message distribution system of claim 31, wherein said system control information comprises at least one of:

(a) point to point route updates;

(b) one or more additions to system destinations;

(c) one or more deletions to system destinations;

(d) a quiesce of system data traffic for system maintenance; and

(e) a resume of system data traffic after a quiesce.

33. The message distribution system of claim 26, wherein said valid distribution node is further adapted to forward a number of acknowledgments to said primary node, said number of acknowledgments indicating receipt of said message by said plurality of nodes and being less than said indications received by said valid distribution node from said plurality of nodes.

34. The message distribution system of claim 26, said primary node further adapted to maintain said list of active nodes.

35. The message distribution system of claim 26, wherein said list of active nodes comprises said plurality of nodes.