Method and apparatus for self-configuring routing devices in a network

• US 7,864,713 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ban, Oliver Keren
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENNER, BRANDON M
• Application Number:
  US12/144,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/256
• US Class Current: 370/256
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for configuring routing devices in a network data processing system. A routing change is identified in the network data processing system. In response to the routing change being identified, a node topology is generated for a set of routing devices present in the network data processing system. A master network configuration table is built at a routing device within the set of routing devices. The network configuration table contains configuration data from the routing devices in the node topology. The master network configuration table is broadcast to the routing devices in the network data processing system.

Claims

1. A data processing system for configuring routing devices in a network data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a memory having instructions encoded thereon;

a bus connecting the memory to a processor; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions;

to identify a routing change in the network data processing system;

responsive to identifying the routing change, to generate a node topology for a set of routing devices present in the network data processing system, wherein generating the node topology includes receiving a child message from a particular routing device in the routing devices, responsive to receiving the child message, returning a parent message to the particular routing device, and responsive to receiving the child message from the routing device, adding the particular routing device to the node topology, wherein child messages are sent in response to the routing devices receiving a reset message;

to build a master network configuration table at a routing device within the set of routing devices, wherein the network configuration table contains configuration data from the routing devices in the node topology; and

to broadcast the master network configuration table to the routing devices in the network data processing system.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the node topology is a tree structure.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the routing change is an addition of a new routing device to the set of routing devices in the network data processing system.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the routing change is a configuration change in a selected routing device in the network data processing system.

5. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the routing device is one of a router, a domain name system server, or a switch.

6. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein a root node is a last routing device to send the child message.

7. A recordable-type medium containing instructions for automatically configuring routing devices in a network data processing system, the instructions comprising:

first instructions for identifying a routing change in the network data processing system;

second instructions, responsive to identifying the routing change, for generating a node topology for a set of routing devices present in the network data processing system, wherein the second instructions include first sub-instructions for receiving a child message from a particular routing device in the routing devices, second sub-instructions, responsive to receiving the child message, for returning a parent message to the particular routing device, and third sub-instructions, responsive to receiving the child message from the routing device, for adding the particular routing device to the node topology, wherein child messages are sent in response to the routing devices receiving a reset message;

third instructions for building a master network configuration table at a routing device within the set of routing devices, wherein the network configuration table contains configuration data from the routing devices in the node topology; and

fourth instructions for broadcasting the master network configuration table to the routing devices in the network data processing system.

8. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the node topology is a tree structure.

9. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the routing change is an addition of a new routing device to the set of routing devices in the network data processing system.

10. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the routing change is a configuration change in a selected routing device in the network data processing system.

11. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the routing device is one of a router, a domain name system server, or a switch.

12. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein a root node is a last routing device to send the child message.

13. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the reset message is sent from a new routing device in the routing devices.

14. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the child message and the parent message are sent using inter-router communications.

15. The recordable-type medium of claim 7, wherein the set of routing devices is a portion of the routing devices in the network data processing system.