Identifying nodes in a ring network

• US 8,208,409 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Inventors: Millet, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Blanche
• Application Number:
  US12/762,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 800 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/433 with asynchronous transmission, e.g. token ring, register insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/286 Time to live

Abstract

Methods, systems and data structure for facilitating identification of nodes in a ring network are provided. According to one embodiment, a data structure is stored on a computer-readable storage media of a node (e.g., a blade) participating in a ring network, within a multi-blade system, for example. The data structure includes a packet-ring master field, a control-node master field, a node characteristics field, a connection state field, a node identification field and a marker field. The packet-ring master field indicates whether the node is a current packet-ring master. The control-node master field indicates whether the node is a control-node master. The node characteristics field specifies per-node characteristics. The connection state field indicates a current connection state of the node. The node identification field specifies the node. The marker field indicates whether the data structure is a node discovery marker.

Claims

1. A data structure stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage media of a node of a plurality of nodes participating in a ring network, the data structure comprising:

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the node is a current packet-ring master;

a control-node master field to indicate whether the node is a control-node master;

a node characteristics field to specify per-node characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the node;

a node identification field to specify the node; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a node discovery marker.

2. The data structure of claim 1, wherein the connection state field further indicates a current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the node.

3. A data structure stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage media of a blade of a plurality of blades participating in a ring network, the data structure comprising:

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the blade is a current packet-ring master;

a control-blade master field to indicate whether the blade is a control-blade master;

a blade characteristics field to specify per-blade characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the blade;

a blade identification field to specify the blade; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a blade discovery marker.

4. The data structure of claim 3, wherein the connection state field further indicates current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the blade.

5. A system comprising:

a plurality of nodes participating in a ring network; and

wherein at least one node of the plurality of nodes includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored therein a data structure comprising;

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the node is a current packet-ring master;

a control-node master field to indicate whether the node is a control-node master;

a node characteristics field to specify per-node characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the node;

a node identification field to specify the node; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a node discovery marker.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the connection state field further indicates a current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the node.

7. A system comprising:

a plurality of blades participating in a ring network; and

wherein at least one blade of the plurality of blades includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored therein a data structure comprising;

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the blade is a current packet-ring master;

a control-blade master field to indicate whether the blade is a control-blade master;

a blade characteristics field to specify per-blade characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the blade;

a blade identification field to specify the blade; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a blade discovery marker.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the connection state field further indicates a current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the blade.

9. A node configured to participate in a ring network of a plurality of nodes, the node comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored therein a data structure comprising:

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the node is a current packet-ring master;

a control-node master field to indicate whether the node is a control-node master;

a node characteristics field to specify per-node characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the node;

a node identification field to specify the node; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a node discovery marker.

10. The node of claim 9, wherein the connection state field further indicates a current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the node.

12. The blade of claim 9, wherein the connection state field further indicates a current connection state associated with a primary neighbor and a protect-ring neighbor of the blade.

11. A blade configured to participate in a ring network of a plurality of blades, the blade comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored therein a data structure comprising:

a packet-ring master field to indicate whether the blade is a current packet-ring master;

a control-blade master field to indicate whether the blade is a control-blade master;

a blade characteristics field to specify per-blade characteristics;

a connection state field to indicate a current connection state of the blade;

a blade identification field to specify the blade; and

a marker field to indicate that the data structure is a blade discovery marker.