Dynamic configuration of edge forwarders to route servers in a distributed router system

• US 6,335,926 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Newbridge Networks Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gollamudi, Ramana, Chan, Richard A., Silton, Roderick P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/166,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/356, 370/395, 370/396, 370/401, 370/402, 370/428, 370/363, 370/364, 370/365, 370/254, 370/397, 370/409, 370/410, 709/238, 709/250
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath

Abstract

A configuration server is incorporated into a distributed router to support multiple route servers in an internetworking system. The multiple route servers in the system provide load sharing and/or standby functionality. In the system route servers provide routing decisions while edge forwarders are the packet forwarding elements. The configuration server is responsible for mapping edge forwarders to route servers.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a routing process to provide internetworking service functions over a non-broadcast multi-access (NBMA) network having a distributed routing system comprising:

configuring a forwarding means with an NBMA address of a configuration server in the network by setting up a virtual circuit to said configuration server and registering with said configuration server;

downloading, from said configuration server, a list of routing means that said forwarding means need to contact in order obtain routing services;

setting up a virtual circuit from said forwarding means to an appropriate routing means and registering with said routing means upon set up; and

receiving at said forwarding means internetworking routing services from said routing means.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the NBMA address is an anycast address.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said forwarding means are edge forwarders and said routing means are route servers.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein said configuration server is able to dynamically add or delete an entry on said list of route servers.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein said route servers register with said configuration server to indicate that they are available to provide service.

6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein, upon registration with said configuration server, said route servers await said edge forwarders to make connection for services.

7. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein said configuration server maintains tables relating to available route servers including identification numbers, registration status with the configuration server and their present NBMA address.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said configuration server also maintains tables relating to edge forwarder and route server binding information including edge forwarder identification and identification of a route servers that service respective edge forwarders.

9. A distributed routing system for implementing a routing process to provide internetworking service functions in a non-broadcast multi-access (NBMA) network, said routing system comprising:

a configuration server;

a forwarding means configured with an NBMA address of said configuration server by a virtual circuit, said forwarding means being registered with said configuration server and having, downloaded from said configuration server, a list of routing means that said forwarding means needs to contact in order to obtain routing services; and

a virtual circuit set up from said forwarding means to an appropriate routing means, said forwarding means being registered with said routing means upon set up of the virtual circuit from said forwarding means to said routing means, whereby internetworking routing services are received from said routing means.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein the NBMA address is an anycast address.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said forwarding means are edge forwarders and said routing means are route servers.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein said configuration server is able to dynamically add or delete an entry on said list of route servers.

13. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein said route servers register with said configuration server to indicate that they are available to provide service.

14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein, upon registration with said configuration server, said route servers await said edge forwarders to make connection for services.

15. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said configuration server maintains tables relating to available route servers including identification numbers, registration status with the configuration server and their present NBMA address.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said configuration server also maintains tables relating to edge forwarder and route server binding information including edge forwarder identification and identification of route servers that service respective edge forwarders.