Method and system for configuring dynamic interfaces

• US 6,243,759 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boden, Edward Barnes, Gebler, Paul Albert Jr., Gruber, Franklin Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/075,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/220, 709/238, 709/221, 709/227, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

Dynamic interfaces such as PPP interfaces are configured by (1) saving routing configuration information using symbolic names; (2) determining when a symbolically named interface becomes active; (3) resolving the symbolic name to an operational IP address for routing and RIP traffic; and thereafter (4) communicating dynamic protocol packets over the dynamic interface.

Claims

1. A method for configuring dynamic interfaces, comprising the steps of:

saving routing configuration information using symbolic names;

determining when a symbolically named interface becomes active;

resolving the symbolic name to an operational IP address for routing and creating dynamic routing protocol packets; and

thereafter

communicating said dynamic routine protocol packets over said dynamic interface.

2. A method for configuring dynamic interfaces for routing and creating dynamic routing protocol packets, comprising the steps of:

initializing a configuration table with entries for each of one or more active interfaces and associated interface configuration information;

initializing a route table with an entry for each active route;

responsive to a request to activate a dynamic interface, said request including a logical name;

establishing a physical connection to said interface; and

negotiating an IP address defining said interface;

generating a message packet including said logical name and said IP address;

responsive to said message packet, obtaining from said configuration table configuration information associated with a local interface name matching said logical name;

adding a route entry to said route table including information from said configuration table and said message packet associated with said IP address; and

communicating routing protocol packets over the dynamic interface configured with said IP address and said configuration information.

3. The method of claim 2, said IP address comprising a remote IP address and a local IP address and said routing protocol packets being RIP packets.

4. The method of claim 3, said route entry including a destination network IP address, a gateway IP address, a time value, a metric, and learned interface IP address.

5. A system for configuring dynamic interfaces, comprising:

an interface configuration table for saving routing configuration information using symbolic names;

a routing table for storing the configuration information for at least one route identified by an operational IP address;

a configuration control module responsive to activation of a symbolically named interface for resolving the symbolic name to an operational IP address for said dynamic interface for routing and creating dynamic routing protocol packets;

said configuration control module updating said routing table with a route entry including said operational IP address for said dynamic interface; and

a router module responsive to said route entry for communicating said dynamic routing protocol packets over said dynamic interface.

6. A memory device for storing signals for structuring the components of a digital computer to configure a dynamic interface, comprising:

first configuration signals for operating said digital computer to save routing configuration information using symbolic names;

second configuration signals for determining when a symbolically named interface becomes active;

third configuration signals for resolving the symbolic name to an operational IP address for routing and creating dynamic routing protocol packets; and

thereafter

third configuration signals for communicating said dynamic routing protocol packets over said dynamic interface.