Method and system for power-efficient adaptive link aggregation

• US 7,729,361 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Brenda J., McCallum, Lance Alan, Ma, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsiung; Hai-Chang
• Application Number:
  US11/361,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/400, 709/220
• US Class Current: 370/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method for power-efficient configuration of one or more physical ports at a network device in an EtherChannel is provided. Parameters for allocation of the physical ports to a logical port are negotiated with a link partner. Thereafter, bandwidth load at the logical port is compared with the parameter. The physical ports are configured, based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

negotiating parameters for allocation of one or more physical ports to a logical port, the one or more physical ports being at a network device in a data transmission channel, wherein the parameters are negotiated with a link partner, wherein the link partner is a second network device, wherein the parameters for allocation include an activation threshold for converting a standby physical port to an active physical port, and wherein the activation threshold is a percentage of the total bandwidth load for the logical port;

comparing a bandwidth load at the logical port with the parameters, wherein the parameters are received from the link partner; and

configuring the physical ports based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmission channel is an Etherchannel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the link partner comprises:

one or more active physical ports allocated to the logical port; and

one or more standby physical ports.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the parameters for allocation further comprise a removal threshold for converting the active physical port to the standby physical port.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters for allocation further comprise a sequence for selecting a physical port for the conversion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the physical ports comprises:

changing a standby physical port to an active physical port if the bandwidth load is greater than an activation threshold;

changing the active physical ports to standby physical port if the bandwidth load is lesser than a removal threshold;

allocating the active physical port to the logical port; and

removing the standby physical port from the logical port.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein configuring the physical ports further comprises checking that the number of active physical ports in the logical port is greater than two.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising sequentially activating another standby physical port if the standby physical port fails to change over to the active physical port in a predefined on-time.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising removing active physical port after a pre-defined off-time, wherein the off-time is for receiving incoming data packets from the link partner at the network device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising holding the comparison of the physical ports for a predefined hold time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the bandwidth load periodically.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the parameters for allocation before the comparison.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing the configuration of the physical ports at the network device with the physical ports at the link partner.

14. A method comprising:

negotiating parameters for allocation of one or more physical ports to a logical port, the one or more physical ports being at a network device in a data transmission channel, wherein the parameters are negotiated with a link partner, and wherein the link partner is a second network device;

comparing bandwidth load at the logical port with the parameters, wherein the parameters are received from the link partner;

changing a standby physical port to an active physical port if the bandwidth load is greater than an activation threshold;

changing the active physical port to standby physical port if the bandwidth load is lesser than the removal threshold, wherein the physical ports are placed in a default standby mode upon applying power to the second network device;

allocating the active physical ports to the logical port; and

removing the standby physical ports from the logical port.

15. A system comprising:

a link partner, wherein the link partner is a network device; and

a second network device connected to the link partner by the data transmission channel, the second network device comprising;

means for negotiating parameters for allocation of one or more physical ports to a logical port, the one or more physical ports being at a network device in a data transmission channel, wherein the parameters are negotiated with a link partner, and wherein the physical ports are placed in a default standby mode upon applying power to the second network device;

means for comparing the bandwidth load at the logical port with the parameters, wherein the parameters are received from the link partner; and

means for configuring the physical ports based on the comparison.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the link partner comprises:

one or more active physical ports allocated to the logical port; and

one or more standby physical ports.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for configuring the physical ports comprises:

means for changing the standby physical port to active physical port if the bandwidth load is greater than an activation threshold;

means for changing the active physical ports to standby physical port if the bandwidth load is lesser than a removal threshold;

means for allocating the active physical ports to the logical port; and

means for removing the standby physical ports from the logical port.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a clock module, the clock module comprising:

an up timer, the up timer activating another standby physical port if the standby physical port fails to become active in an up time; and

a down timer, the down timer removing another active physical port if the active physical port is not removed in a down time.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a memory buffer storing the parameters for allocation before the comparison.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the link partner is a switch.

21. An apparatus for power efficient organization of one or more physical ports into a logical port, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising;

one or more instructions for negotiating parameters for allocation of the physical ports to a logical port, wherein the parameters are negotiated with a link partner, wherein the link partner is a second network device, wherein the parameters for allocation include an activation threshold for converting a standby physical port to an active physical port, and wherein the activation threshold is a percentage of the total bandwidth load for the logical port;

one or more instructions for comparing bandwidth load at the logical port with the parameters, wherein the parameters are received from the link partner; and

one or more instructions for configuring the physical ports based on the comparison.

22. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by a processor, machine-readable medium comprising:

one or more instructions for negotiating parameters for allocation of the physical ports to a logical port, wherein the parameters are negotiated with a link partner, wherein the link partner is a second network device, wherein the parameters for allocation include an activation threshold for converting a standby physical port to an active physical port, and wherein the activation threshold is a percentage of the total bandwidth load for the logical port;

one or more instructions for comparing bandwidth load at the logical port with the parameters, wherein the parameters are received from the link partner; and

one or morn instructions for configuring the physical ports based on the comparison.