Method and a control node in an overlay network

• US 8,849,977 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kristiansson, Johan, Ekeroth, Andreas, Li, Du
• Primary Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US13/416,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/203, 709/209, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2041 with more than one idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/505 Clust
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1051 Group master selection mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1076 Resource dissemination mechanisms or network resource keeping policies for optimal resource availability in the overlay network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A first control node and a method therein for selecting the first control node or a second control node to act as a server are provided. The first and second control nodes are comprised in an overlay network. The first control node obtains a first indication relating to a ranking of a suitability of the first control node to act as the server. Furthermore, the first control node receives a second indication from the second control node. The second indication relates to a ranking of a suitability of the second control node to act as the server. Then, the first control node selects, based on the first and second indications, one of the first and second control nodes to act as the server for managing a master representation of a distributed shared memory being accessible within the overlay network.

Claims

1. A method in a first control node for selecting the first control node or a second control node to act as a server for managing a master representation of a distributed shared memory being accessible within an overlay network, wherein the first and second control nodes and a subscription managing node are comprised in the overlay network, the overlay network being overlaid onto an IP-network, wherein the subscription managing node is configured to provide a communication channel of the overlay network between the first and second control nodes, the method comprising:

obtaining a first indication relating to a ranking of a suitability of the first control node to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory;

sending a request for indications to the subscription managing node;

receiving, over the communication channel, a second indication in response to the request for indications from the second control node via the subscription managing node, wherein the second indication relates to a ranking of a suitability of the second control node to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory; and

selecting, based on the first and second indications, one of the first and second control nodes to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending an identifier associated with the communication channel to the subscription managing node, whereby the communication channel is established, wherein the communication channel is dedicated for use of the distributed shared memory.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request for identifications of control nodes to the subscription managing node; and

receiving a set of identifications of control nodes from the subscription managing node.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to the subscription managing node, the first indication relating to ranking of the first control node as the server.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlay network further comprises a third control node, the second control node being the server, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting lack of response from the server;

receiving a third indication relating to ranking of the third control node from the third control node via the subscription managing node, wherein the third control node has sent the identifier to the subscription managing node; and

selecting the first or third control node to act as the server based on the first and third indication.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises:

receiving the first indication relating to ranking of the first control node from the subscription managing node;

or

obtaining the first indication from a memory comprised in the first control node.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indication relating to ranking comprises information that is indicative of a first number of clients connected to the first control node if acting as the server or a further server for managing the distributed shared memory.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second indication relating to ranking comprises information that is indicative of a second number of clients connected to the second control node if acting as the server or a further server for managing the distributed shared memory.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first control node is selected to act as the server when the first number of clients is greater than the second number of clients.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlay network is overlaid onto a TCP/IP-network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ranking of the first control node is indicative of probability that the first control node remains accessible within the overlay network.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control nodes are capable of acting as the server or a client within the overlay network.

13. A first control node configured to select the first control node or a second control node to act as a server for managing a master representation of a distributed shared memory being accessible within an overlay network, wherein the first and second control nodes are configured to be comprised in the overlay network, which overlay network is configured to be overlaid onto an IP-network and further is configured to comprise a subscription managing node, which subscription managing node is configured to provide a communication channel of the overlay network between the first and second control nodes, wherein the first control node comprises:

a processing circuit configured to;

obtain a first indication relating to a ranking of a suitability of the first control node to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory;

send a request for indications to the subscription managing node;

select, based on the first indication and a second indication, one of the first and second control nodes to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory; and

a receiver configured to receive, over the communication channel, the second indication in response to the request for indications, from the second control node via the subscription managing node, which second indication indicates a ranking of a suitability of the second control node to manage the master representation of the distributed shared memory.

14. The first control node according to claim 13, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to send an identifier associated with the communication channel to the subscription managing node, whereby the communication channel is established, wherein the communication channel is dedicated for use of the distributed shared memory.

15. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a request for identifications of control nodes to the subscription managing node, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a set of identifications of control nodes from the subscription managing node.

16. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the first indication relating to ranking of the first control node as server host to the subscription managing node.

17. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the overlay network further is configured to comprise a third control node, the second control node being the server, and wherein the processing circuit further is configured to:

detect lack of response from the server;

receive a third indication related to ranking of the third control node from the third control node via the subscription managing node, wherein the third control node has sent the identifier to the subscription managing node; and

select the first or third control node to act as the server based on the first and third indication.

18. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the receiver further is configured to receive the first indication relating to ranking of the first control node from the subscription managing node;

or

wherein the processing circuit further is configured to obtain the first indication from a memory comprised in the first control node.

19. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the first indication relating to ranking comprises information that is indicative of a first number of clients connected to the first control node if acting as the server or a further server for managing the distributed shared memory.

20. The first control node according to claim 19, wherein the second indication relating to ranking comprises information that is indicative of

a second number of clients connected to the second control node if acting as the server or a further server for managing the distributed shared memory.

21. The first control node according to claim 20, wherein the first control node is selected to act as the server when the first number of clients is greater than the second number of clients.

22. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the overlay network is overlaid onto a TCP/IP-network.

23. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the ranking of the first control node is indicative of probability that the first control node remains accessible within the overlay network.

24. The first control node according to claim 13, wherein the first and second control nodes are capable of acting as the server or a client within the overlay network.