Enhanced internal router redundancy
First Claim
1. A network system operable to forward data within a computer network, the network system comprising:
- a first router having a plurality of first virtual interfaces configurable to each correspond to one or more physical ports of the network system, the first router being configured to enable the first virtual interfaces when the first router is assigned to be a designated router and to disable the first virtual interfaces when the first router is not assigned to be a designated router, wherein the first virtual interfaces are each configurable to correspond to different sets of one or more physical ports during different time periods;
a second router having a plurality of second virtual interfaces configurable to correspond selectively to one or more physical ports of the network system, the second router being configured to enable the second virtual interfaces when the second router is assigned to be a designated router and to disable the second virtual interfaces when the second router is not assigned to be a designated router, wherein the second virtual interfaces are each configurable to correspond to different sets of one or more physical ports during different time periods; and
a supervisor module configured to assign a selected one of the first and second routers to be a designated router,wherein each first virtual interface of the first router has a same internet protocol (IP) address and media access control (MAC) address as a corresponding one of the second virtual interfaces of the second router.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for providing redundant data forwarding or routing capabilities. In one embodiment, a network device includes a designated router and a non-designated router. The designated router generally provides layer 3 switching or routing for data received into the network device. Although the non-designated router is active, it generally does not provide forwarding capabilities until the designated router fails. The non-designated router'"'"'s logical interfaces are disabled, while the designated router'"'"'s logical interfaces are enabled. The non-designated router becomes the new designated router when the first designated router fails. In general terms, the routers of the network device provide redundancy with the network being aware of only a single router within network device. That is, the network is only aware of a single router. This is accomplished by having the routers share the same IP and MAC address on each logical interface. The routers do not each also use a unique IP and MAC address in addition to the shared IP and MAC address, in contrast to conventionally configured routers of the hot standby router protocol (HSRP).
70 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A network system operable to forward data within a computer network, the network system comprising:
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a first router having a plurality of first virtual interfaces configurable to each correspond to one or more physical ports of the network system, the first router being configured to enable the first virtual interfaces when the first router is assigned to be a designated router and to disable the first virtual interfaces when the first router is not assigned to be a designated router, wherein the first virtual interfaces are each configurable to correspond to different sets of one or more physical ports during different time periods; a second router having a plurality of second virtual interfaces configurable to correspond selectively to one or more physical ports of the network system, the second router being configured to enable the second virtual interfaces when the second router is assigned to be a designated router and to disable the second virtual interfaces when the second router is not assigned to be a designated router, wherein the second virtual interfaces are each configurable to correspond to different sets of one or more physical ports during different time periods; and a supervisor module configured to assign a selected one of the first and second routers to be a designated router, wherein each first virtual interface of the first router has a same internet protocol (IP) address and media access control (MAC) address as a corresponding one of the second virtual interfaces of the second router. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification