Method and apparatus for automatically downloading profile and image files for optical network elements

• US 6,701,356 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Inventors: Condict, Keith A., Wensink, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/292,042
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 717/168, 717/170, 717/171, 717/172
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic downloading and updating of network element software profile files (SPF'"'"'s) and network element module software images. Embodiments of the invention provide a software routine and system which is executable through the network management system. The utilization of the software routine allows for updating SPF'"'"'s and software images in the NCP and other modules within the network, while minimizing the interruptions in the data flow. This is accomplished by utilizing a primary and secondary SPF. The updated profile is downloaded as the secondary SPF and secondary images are reconciled with the new secondary SPF. This same operation is then performed with other modules in the network. Upon reconciliation of SPF and software images, the secondary SPF and software images are switched with the primary SPF and software images within the NCP and modules, thereby updating the entire system.

Claims

1. An optical communications network comprising:

a plurality of terminal nodes interconnected through a plurality of network elements for transmitting and receiving at least one optical channel;

a network management system interconnected with said network elements through a service channel, a plurality of said network elements including a node control processor (NCP) and at least one optical data acquisition control (ODAC) module; and

a computer-executable software program stored on a computer-readable memory of said NCP for execution by said NCP, said program being executable by an operator through said network management system to perform steps comprising;

downloading a new software profile file (SPF) to said NCP and storing said new SPF as a new secondary SPF,

reconciling a secondary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding entry in said new secondary SPF,

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding entries in said new secondary SPF,

switching said reconciled secondary NCP image with a primary NCP image of said NCP,

switching said reconciled secondary ODAC images with corresponding primary ODAC images in each of said ODAC modules,

copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image, and

copying said primary ODAC images to said secondary ODAC images.

2. An optical communications network according to said claim 1, wherein said reconciling a secondary NCP image step comprises:

determining if said primary NCP image matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary NCP image, and

copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image if there is a match, but downloading said secondary image if there is no match.

3. An optical communications network according to claim 2, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said secondary image from said file server.

4. An optical communications network according to claim 1, wherein said reconciling a secondary ODAC image step comprises:

searching for a local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a local module of the network element containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, and, if said local module image can be located, copying said local module image to said secondary ODAC image;

if a local module image cannot be located, searching for a non-local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a non-local module of a network element which does not containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, and, if said non-local module image can be located, copying said non-local module image to said secondary ODAC image, and

downloading said secondary ODAC image if said local module image and said non-local module image cannot be located.

5. An optical communications network according to claim 4, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said secondary image from said file server.

6. An optical communications network according to claim 1, wherein said computer-executable software program is executable to further perform reconciling of said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images of each ODAC module upon a reset of said NCP, said reconciling of said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

downloading a new secondary SPF and a new primary SPF to said NCP,

reconciling said primary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding primary NCP image entry in said new primary SPF,

reconciling said secondary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding secondary NCP image entry in said new secondary SPF,

reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in said new primary SPF; and

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

7. An optical communications network according to claim 1, wherein said computer-executable software program is executable to further perform reconciling of said primary and secondary ODAC of images upon a reset of said at least one ODAC module, said reconciling of said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in a new primary SPF; and

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

8. A method of automatically updating software profile files and image files for a network element in an optical communications network, said network element including a node control processor (NCP) and at least one optical data acquisition control (ODAC) module, said method comprising:

providing a computer-executable software program, said program being executable to perform steps comprising;

downloading a new software profile file (SPF) to said NCP and storing said new SPF as a new secondary SPF,

reconciling a secondary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding entry in said new secondary SPF,

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding entries in said new secondary SPF,

switching said reconciled secondary NCP image with a primary NCP image of said NCP,

switching said reconciled secondary ODAC images with corresponding primary ODAC images in each of said ODAC modules,

copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image, and

copying said primary ODAC images to said secondary ODAC images; and

executing said program.

9. A method according to claim 8, said method further comprising storing said program in a computer readable memory of said NCP for execution by a CPU of said NCP.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said executing step comprises initiating execution of said program through a network management system of said optical communications network.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein said reconciling a secondary NCP image step comprises:

determining if said primary NCP image matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary NCP image, and

copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image if there is a match, but downloading said secondary image if there is no match.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said secondary image from said file server.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said reconciling a secondary ODAC image step comprises:

searching for a local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a local module of the network element containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, and, if said local module image can be located, copying said local module image to said secondary ODAC image;

if a local module image cannot be located, searching for a non-local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a non-local module of a network element which does not containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, and, if said non-local module image can be located, copying said non-local module image to said secondary ODAC image; and

downloading said secondary ODAC image if said local module image and said non-local module image cannot be located.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said secondary image from said file server.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein said computer-executable software program is executable to further perform reconciling of said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images of each ODAC module upon a reset of said NCP, said reconciling of said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

downloading a new secondary SPF and a new primary SPF to said NCP,

reconciling said primary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding primary NCP image entry in said new primary SPF,

reconciling said secondary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding secondary NCP image entry in said new secondary SPF,

reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in said new primary SPF; and

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

16. A method according to claim 8, wherein said computer-executable software program is executable to further perform reconciling of said primary and secondary ODAC of images upon a reset of said at least one ODAC module, said reconciling of said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in a new primary SPF; and

reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable software program stored thereon, the program for automatically updating software profile files and software image files in a network element of an optical communications network, said network element having a node control processor (NCP) and a plurality of optical data acquisition data (ODAC) modules, the program comprising:

code for downloading a new software specific file (SPF) to said NCP and storing said new SPF as a new secondary SPF,

code for reconciling a secondary NCP image with a corresponding entry in said new secondary SPF;

code for reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said plurality of ODAC modules with corresponding entries in said new secondary SPF;

code for switching said reconciled secondary NCP image with a primary NCP image, and for switching said reconciled secondary ODAC images with corresponding primary ODAC images; and

code for copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image, and for copying said primary ODAC images to said secondary ODAC images.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said computer-readable medium is selected from the group consisting of:

a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a hard drive, and a ZIP disk.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said code for reconciling a secondary NCP image step comprises:

code for determining if said primary NCP image matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary NCP image, and

code for copying said primary NCP image to said secondary NCP image if there is a match, but downloading said secondary image if there is no match.

20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said code for downloading comprises code for downloading said secondary image from said file server.

21. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said code for reconciling a secondary ODAC image comprises:

code for searching for a local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a local module of the network element containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, and, if said local module image can be located, copying said local module image to said secondary ODAC image;

code for searching for a non-local module image which matches said entry in said SPF corresponding to said secondary ODAC image within a non-local module of a network element which does not containing the secondary ODAC image to be reconciled, if said local module image cannot be located, and, if said non-local module image can be located, copying said non-local module image to said secondary ODAC image; and

code for downloading said secondary ODAC image if said local module image and said non-local module image cannot be located.

22. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said network further comprises a file server interconnected with said network management system, and wherein said code for downloading comprises code for downloading said secondary image from said file server.

23. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said program further comprises code for reconciling said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images of each ODAC module upon a reset of said NCP, said code for reconciling said primary and secondary NCP images and said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

code for downloading a new secondary SPF and a new primary SPF to said NCP,

code for reconciling said primary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding primary NCP image entry in said new primary SPF,

code for reconciling said secondary NCP image of said NCP with a corresponding secondary NCP image entry in said new secondary SPF,

code for reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in said new primary SPF; and

code for reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

24. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said program further comprises code for reconciling said primary and secondary ODAC of images upon a reset of said at least one ODAC module, said code for reconciling said primary and secondary ODAC images comprising:

code for reconciling a primary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding primary ODAC image entries in a new primary SPF; and

code for reconciling a secondary ODAC image in each of said ODAC modules with corresponding secondary ODAC image entries in said new secondary SPF.

25. An optical communications network made up of a plurality of nodes interconnected so as to communicate data over one or more optical channels, each of said plurality of nodes comprising:

a plurality of module elements for providing the operational functions of the corresponding node;

a node control processor which provides supervisory control of the module elements within said corresponding node, said node control processor including;

a primary storage and a secondary storage for storing a software profile file; and

a primary and a secondary storage for storing a software image associated with said software profile file;

wherein upon receipt of a new software profile file from a network management system connected to said plurality of nodes through one of said optical channels, said node control processor operating to replace said secondary software profile file with said new software profile file, reconcile said secondary image so as to correspond to said new secondary software profile file and switch said new secondary software profile file and said reconciled secondary image with a primary software profile file and a primary software image.

26. The optical communications network of claim 25, wherein the module elements include an optical data acquisition control.

27. The optical communications network of claim 25, wherein a plurality of said module elements contain an executable file, which includes:

a primary storage and a secondary storage for storing software images associated with said software profile file of said node control processor;

wherein upon receipt of a new software profile file by said node control processor the secondary image is reconciled so as to correspond to said new secondary software profile file of said node control processor and said reconciled secondary image is switched with said primary software image at substantially the same time as performed in said node control processor.

28. The optical communications network of claim 27, wherein the switched primary software image of each module element is copied to said secondary module element upon verification of performance performed in said node control processor.

29. The optical communications network of claim 25, wherein upon verification of performance of said switched primary software profile file and primary software image, said switched primary software profile file and primary software image are copied to said secondary software profile file and secondary software image.