Intelligent non-stop software upgrade
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a first network device included in a virtual network device, a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request, wherein the first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device in the virtual network device, wherein the computing device is multi-homed to the first network device by a first communication link and the second network device by a second communication link, the first and second communication links included in a multi-link aggregation group using a multi-link protocol;
in response to receiving the NSSU request, forwarding, by the first network device and to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device;
sending, by the first network device using the multi-link protocol, a link-aggregation message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device using the first communication link, such that the computing device redirects network packets to the second network device using the second communication link in the multi-link aggregation group before one or more software components within the first network device are updated; and
after sending the link-aggregation message to the computing device, updating the one or more software components within the first network device based at least in part on the NSSU request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, techniques are described for performing a controlled non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) of a network device. In some examples, a method includes receiving, by a first network device included in a virtual network device, a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request. The first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device. The method includes, in response to receiving the NSSU request, forwarding to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device. The method also includes sending a message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device. The method includes updating one or more software components within the first network device, after sending the message to the computing device and based at least in part on the NSSU request.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a first network device included in a virtual network device, a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request, wherein the first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device in the virtual network device, wherein the computing device is multi-homed to the first network device by a first communication link and the second network device by a second communication link, the first and second communication links included in a multi-link aggregation group using a multi-link protocol; in response to receiving the NSSU request, forwarding, by the first network device and to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device; sending, by the first network device using the multi-link protocol, a link-aggregation message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device using the first communication link, such that the computing device redirects network packets to the second network device using the second communication link in the multi-link aggregation group before one or more software components within the first network device are updated; and after sending the link-aggregation message to the computing device, updating the one or more software components within the first network device based at least in part on the NSSU request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A network device comprising:
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an interface that receives a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request, wherein the network device is a first network device included in a virtual network device, wherein the first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device in the virtual network device, wherein the computing device is multi-homed to the first network device by a first communication link and the second network device by a second communication link, the first and second communication links included in a multi-link aggregation group using a multi-link protocol; a forwarding unit that, in response to receiving the NSSU request, forwards, by the first network device and to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device; wherein the forwarding unit sends, by the first network device using the multi-link protocol, a link-aggregation message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device using the first communication link, such that the computing device redirects network packets to the second network device using the second communication link in the multi-link aggregation group before one or more software components within the first network device are updated; and an update module that, after sending the link-aggregation message to the computing device, updates one or more software components within the first network device based at least in part on the NSSU request. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor of a network device to:
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receive a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request, wherein the network device is a first network device included in a virtual network device, wherein the first network device is communicatively coupled to each of a computing device and a second network device in the virtual network device, wherein the computing device is multi-homed to the first network device by a first communication link and the second network device by a second communication link, the first and second communication links included in a multi-link aggregation group using a multi-link protocol; forward, in response to receiving the NSSU request and to the second network device, network packets that are received at the first network device and destined to the computing device; send a link-aggregation message to the computing device that instructs the computing device to stop sending network packets to the first network device using the first communication link, such that the computing device redirects network packets to the second network device using the second communication link in the multi-link aggregation group before one or more software components within the first network device are updated; and update, after sending the link-aggregation message to the computing device, one or more software components within the first network device based at least in part on the NSSU request.
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26. A data center comprising:
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a plurality of servers; and a virtual network device that includes a first network device and a second network device that each provide multi-homed access to the plurality of servers in accordance with a link aggregation protocol, wherein at least one of the plurality of servers is multi-homed to the first network device by a first communication link and the second network device by a second communication link, the first and second communication links included in a multi-link aggregation group using a multi-link protocol, wherein the first network device comprises a control unit that, in response to receiving a non-stop software upgrade (NSSU) request, redirects network packets to the second network device that are received at the first network device and destined to the plurality of servers that includes the at least one server, and sends link-aggregation messages to the plurality of computing devices using the link aggregation protocol to instruct each of the plurality of computing devices to stop sending network packets to the first network device, such that the plurality of network devices redirect network packets to the second network device before one or more software components within the first network device are updated, and wherein, after sending the link-aggregation messages to the computing devices, the control unit updates one or more software components within the first network device based at least in part on the NSSU request.
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Specification