Automatic hardware failure detection and recovery for distributed max sessions server
First Claim
1. A method for a Max Sessions Server (MSS) of a data communications network to keep a count of the sessions used at a given time by a group of users and to correct the count to compensate for abnormal disconnections of users belonging to the group, the method comprising:
- assigning a unique identification value (UIV) to each port of a network access server (NAS) of the data communications network;
maintaining a master list having a plurality of entries, each entry containing at least (a) a UIV for a port associated with a logged in user and (b) respective group identification information for the logged in user; and
responding to a new user'"'"'s attempt to log in to the data communications network by checking to see if the UIV for the port associated with the new user is already included in an existing entry in the master list, and if the UIV is included, indicating an abnormal disconnection of a previously logged in user, then clearing the existing entry from the master list and adding a new entry to the master list, the new entry containing at least (a) the UIV for the port associated with the new user and (b) respective group identification information for the new user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Max Sessions Server (MSS) automatically detects hardware and communications failures. Upon detection, counters are adjusted accordingly to maintain an accurate count of users or groups of users on a system. A database of unique identifiers for each connection is maintained, where the unique identifier is a concatenation of a Network Access Server (NAS) and the connection'"'"'s incoming NAS node number. If a user requests permission to log into the system, the MSS first checks the database to determine if the unique identifier is already logged in. If so, then a hardware or communications failure has occurred and the MSS must make the appropriate adjustments to the database and counter.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for a Max Sessions Server (MSS) of a data communications network to keep a count of the sessions used at a given time by a group of users and to correct the count to compensate for abnormal disconnections of users belonging to the group, the method comprising:
- assigning a unique identification value (UIV) to each port of a network access server (NAS) of the data communications network;
maintaining a master list having a plurality of entries, each entry containing at least (a) a UIV for a port associated with a logged in user and (b) respective group identification information for the logged in user; and
responding to a new user'"'"'s attempt to log in to the data communications network by checking to see if the UIV for the port associated with the new user is already included in an existing entry in the master list, and if the UIV is included, indicating an abnormal disconnection of a previously logged in user, then clearing the existing entry from the master list and adding a new entry to the master list, the new entry containing at least (a) the UIV for the port associated with the new user and (b) respective group identification information for the new user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- assigning a unique identification value (UIV) to each port of a network access server (NAS) of the data communications network;
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13. A method for a Resource Control Server (RCS) of a data communications network to keep a count of a particular resource used at a given time by a group of users and to correct the count to compensate for abnormal disconnections of users belonging to the group, the method comprising:
- assigning a unique identification value (UIV) to each port of a network access server (NAS) of the data communications network;
maintaining a master list having a plurality of entries, each entry containing at least (a) a UIV for a port associated with a logged in user and (b) respective group identification information for the logged in user; and
responding to a new user'"'"'s attempt to log in to the data communications network by checking to see if the UIV for the port associated with the new user is already included in an existing entry in the master list, and if the UIV is included, indicating an abnormal disconnection of a previously logged in user, then clearing the existing entry from the master list and adding a new entry to the master list, the new entry containing at least (a) the UIV for the port associated with the new user and (b) respective group identification information for the new user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- assigning a unique identification value (UIV) to each port of a network access server (NAS) of the data communications network;
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17. An apparatus for keeping a count of a particular resource used at a given time by a group of users, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
a Resource Control Server (RCS);
a database maintained by said RCS including for each user logged into a data communications system through the RCS, the user belonging to a group, a unique identification value (UIV) associated with the user'"'"'s connection to the data communications network through a particular port of a particular Network Assess Server (NAS) for the data communications network, and group identification information associated with the user;
a checker configured to compare each new log in request directed to the RCS with contents of the database to determine if a UIV for a port of the new log in request matches an existing UIV for a port in the database thus indicating an abnormal user disconnection; and
a clearer configured to clear existing information in the database associated with the UIV if the checker determines that a UIV in the database is the same as the UIV of a new log in request. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a processor;
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25. A Max Sessions Server (MSS) apparatus configured to take into account abnormal user disconnections by keeping a count of the sessions used at a given time by a group of users, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
a MSS;
a database maintained by the MSS including for each user logged into the data communications system through the MSS, the user belonging to a group, a unique identification value (UIV) associated with the user'"'"'s connection to the data communications network through a particular port of a particular Network Assess Server (NAS) for the data communications network, and group identification information associated with the user;
a checker configured to compare each new log in request directed to the MSS with contents of the database to determine if a UIV for a port of the new log in request matches an existing UIV for a port in the database thus indicating an abnormal user disconnection; and
a clearer configured to clear existing information in the database associated with the UIV if the checker determines that a UIV in the database is the same as the UIV of a new log in request. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- a processor;
Specification