LNS high availability and load balancing with LNS-to-LNS state offloading
First Claim
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1. A method of load-balancing a network comprising the steps of:
- establishing a primary L2TP Network Sever (LNS), a peer LNS and a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC), wherein said primary LNS includes state information;
coupling the primary LNS, the peer LNS, and the LAC to a network;
transmitting first information from a CPE to said LAC;
establishing a first tunnel between said LAC and said primary LNS and transmitting said first information through said tunnel;
comparing an LNS overload parameter to an LNS overload threshold and responsively determining that said primary LNS is overloaded if said LNS overload parameter exceeds said LNS overload threshold;
offloading said state information directly from said primary LNS to said peer LNS via said network;
in response to determining that said primary LNS is overloaded, establishing a second tunnel from said LAC to said peer LNS using said state information; and
transmitting second information from said CPE to said LAC and through said second tunnel.
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Abstract
A primary LNS, a peer LNS and a LAC are coupled to each other via a network A CPE is coupled to the LAC. A first tunnel is established between the CPE and the LAC using the network and information is transmitted through the first tunnel. A determination is made as to whether the primary LNS is overloaded or inoperative. State information is offloaded from the primary LNS to the peer LNS. If the primary LNS is inoperative or overloaded, a second tunnel is established from the CPE to the peer LNS using the state information. Information is transmitted though the second tunnel.
179 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of load-balancing a network comprising the steps of:
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establishing a primary L2TP Network Sever (LNS), a peer LNS and a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC), wherein said primary LNS includes state information;
coupling the primary LNS, the peer LNS, and the LAC to a network;
transmitting first information from a CPE to said LAC;
establishing a first tunnel between said LAC and said primary LNS and transmitting said first information through said tunnel;
comparing an LNS overload parameter to an LNS overload threshold and responsively determining that said primary LNS is overloaded if said LNS overload parameter exceeds said LNS overload threshold;
offloading said state information directly from said primary LNS to said peer LNS via said network;
in response to determining that said primary LNS is overloaded, establishing a second tunnel from said LAC to said peer LNS using said state information; and
transmitting second information from said CPE to said LAC and through said second tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 15, 16)
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4. A method of providing high availability in a network comprising the steps of:
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establishing a primary L2TP Network Server (LNS), a peer LNS and a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC), said primary LNS including state information;
coupling the primary LNS and the peer LNS to a network;
transmitting first information from a CPE to said LAC;
establishing a first tunnel between said LAC and said primary LNS and transmitting said first information through said first tunnel via one or more communication sessions;
comparing an LNS overload parameter to an LNS overload threshold and responsively determining that said primary LNS is overloaded if said LNS overload parameter exceeds said LNS overload threshold;
directly offloading state information from said primary LNS to said peer LNS;
in response to said determining step, (i) establishing a second tunnel from said CPE to said peer LNS using said state information, and (ii) performing a switchover of some of said one or more communication sessions to said peer LNS;
transmitting second information from said CPE to said LAC; and
transmitting said second information through said second tunnel via said some of said one or more communication sessions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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5. A system for achieving load balancing comprising:
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a first network;
a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC), coupled to said first network;
a primary L2TP Network Server (LNS), said primary LNS including state information and a peer LNS, said primary LNS and said peer LNS being coupled to said first network; and
a CPE coupled to said LAC;
wherein said primary LNS transfers state information directly to said peer LNS;
wherein said primary LNS and said LAC establish one or more communication sessions between said primary LNS and said LAC, wherein said primary LNS detects that said primary LNS is overloaded, and responsively sends said LAC a request to switchover to said peer LNS, and wherein said request directs said LAC to switch some of said one or more communication sessions between said primary LNS and said LAC to between said peer LNS and said LAC. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 19)
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9. A system comprising:
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a primary L2TP Network Server (LNS), said primary LNS including (i) state information, (ii) an LNS overload parameter, (iii) an LNS overload threshold, and (iv) program code for comparing said LNS overload parameter to said LNS overload threshold and for detecting that said primary LNS is overloaded if said LNS overload parameter exceeds said LNS overload threshold;
a peer LNS;
a network, said primary LNS and said peer LNS coupled to said network;
means for offloading said state information directly from said primary LNS to said peer LNS;
means for requesting a switchover of communication sessions to said peer LNS if said primary LNS is overloaded, wherein said communication sessions are sessions selected from the group consisting of (i) new communication sessions, (ii) existing communication sessions to said primary LNS, and (iii) new communication sessions and existing communication sessions to said primary LNS; and
means for switching over said communication sessions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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10. A system comprising:
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a access concentrator;
a primary network server, said primary network server having associated state information;
a peer network server; and
a network coupled to said primary network server, said access concentrator, and said peer network server, wherein said primary network server directly downloads state information to said peer network server, wherein said primary network server and said access concentrator establish a first set of communication sessions between said primary network server and said access concentrator, wherein said primary network server detects that said primary network server is overloaded and responsively requests said access concentrator to switchover some of the first set of communication sessions to the peer network server, and thereafter said access concentrator responsively switches some of the first set of communication sessions to said peer network server, and wherein said access concentrator uses said state information to switch said some of the first set of communication sessions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification