Software installation on a multi-chassis network device
First Claim
1. A method for installing software in a multi-chassis router comprising:
- receiving with a control node associated with the multi-chassis router a command to install software on the multi-chassis router, wherein the multi-chassis router includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of chassis comprises a set of network interface cards and at least one of the plurality of chassis comprises a switch fabric for routing data among the network interface cards;
automatically downloading the software from the control node to the plurality of chassis in response to the command;
receiving a software validation result from each of the plurality of chassis after downloading the software from the control node to the plurality of chassis in response to the command; and
after receiving the validation result from each of the plurality of chassis, either,in the event that each of the validation results received from the plurality of chassis are successful software validation results, sending a commit command to the plurality of chassis from the control node to commit the software on each of the plurality of chassis, orin the event that at least one of the validation results received from the plurality of chassis is a failed software validation result, sending a rollback command to the plurality of chassis to cancel the software installation.
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Abstract
A multi-chassis router allows an administrator to install software from a single user interface. The multi-chassis router automatically forwards the software to each chassis within the multi-chassis router when given a single command to install the software from an administrator. The multi-chassis router also automatically validates the software on each chassis. After reporting the results of the validations, the multi-chassis router may wait for the administrator to issue a commit command before committing each chassis within the multi-chassis router to the software. Alternatively, in response to a failed validation or for other reason, an administrator can issue a single ROLLBACK command. This allows each chassis within the multi-chassis router to have the same software during all stages of a software installation and ensures software on each chassis is compatible with software on every other chassis.
118 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for installing software in a multi-chassis router comprising:
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receiving with a control node associated with the multi-chassis router a command to install software on the multi-chassis router, wherein the multi-chassis router includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of chassis comprises a set of network interface cards and at least one of the plurality of chassis comprises a switch fabric for routing data among the network interface cards; automatically downloading the software from the control node to the plurality of chassis in response to the command; receiving a software validation result from each of the plurality of chassis after downloading the software from the control node to the plurality of chassis in response to the command; and after receiving the validation result from each of the plurality of chassis, either, in the event that each of the validation results received from the plurality of chassis are successful software validation results, sending a commit command to the plurality of chassis from the control node to commit the software on each of the plurality of chassis, or in the event that at least one of the validation results received from the plurality of chassis is a failed software validation result, sending a rollback command to the plurality of chassis to cancel the software installation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-chassis router comprising:
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a plurality of chassis, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of chassis comprises a set of network interface cards and at least one of the plurality of chassis comprises a switch fabric for routing data among the network interface cards; and a control node coupled to the plurality of chassis by communication links;
wherein the control node is configured to receive a command to install software on the multi-chassis router, and further configured to automatically download the software to the plurality of chassis in response to the command,wherein the control node is configured to receive a software validation result from each of the plurality of chassis after downloading the software from the control node to the plurality of chassis in response to the command, wherein the control node is configured to send a commit command to the plurality of chassis to commit the software in the event that a successful validation result is received from each of the chassis, and wherein the control node is further configured to send a rollback command to the plurality of chassis to cancel the software installation in the event that a failed software validation result is received from at least one of the plurality of chassis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor in a network device to:
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receive a command to install software on a multi-chassis router, wherein the multi-chassis router includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of chassis comprises a set of network interface cards and at least one of the plurality of chassis comprises a switch fabric for routing data among the network interface cards; automatically download the software to the plurality of chassis without manual intervention in response to the command; receive a software validation result from each of the plurality of chassis after downloading the software to the plurality of chassis in response to the command; after receiving the validation result from each of the plurality of chassis, in the event that a successful validation result is received from each of the plurality of chassis, send a commit command to the plurality of chassis to commit the software; and after receiving the validation result from each of the plurality of chassis, in the event that a failed software validation result is received from at least one of the plurality of chassis, send a rollback command to the plurality of chassis to cancel the software installation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification