Assigning network device subnets to perform network activities using network device information

• US 9,965,366 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fu, Long, Bao, Dalun, Du, Weimin, Zhang, Jie
• Primary Examiner(s): CONTINO, PAUL F
• Application Number:
  US15/460,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20170185496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0712 in a virtual computing platform, e.g. logically partitioned systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2023 Failover techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2025 using centralised failover control functionality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2033 switching over of hardware resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2048 where the redundant components share neither address space nor persistent storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components

Abstract

Techniques and systems for performing a network activity within a network. The technique includes assigning one or a plurality of network devices subnets with network devices for performing network activities. Network devices within the assigned network device subnets can be assigned to act as a primary network device and a backup network device. The primary network device can perform the network activity. The backup network devices can monitor the primary network device and continue performing the network activities if the primary network device fails or is rogue.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining network activities to be performed for a client device accessing network services through a network;

assigning, by a network device subnet assignment engine, one or more network device subnets to perform the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network activities to be performed;

receiving network device information of network devices in the one or more network device subnets including resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network;

assigning a first network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as a primary network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network device information including the resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network, the assigning of the first network device being based on the network device information indicating a region in which the first network device is located;

assigning a second network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as a backup network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network device information including the resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network, the assigning of the second network device being based on the network device information indicating the second network device is located in the region;

providing identification information of the second network device to the first network device, the identification information capable of being used by the first network device to route an execution log of the first network device in performing the network activities to the second network device for use by the second network device in resuming performance of the network activities at the second network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device and the second network device are in a same network device subnet of the one or more network device subnets.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if another network device in a network device subnet associated with the first network device is available to serve as the backup network device to the first network device;

assigning the first network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as the primary network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network if it is determined that the another network device is available to serve as the backup network device to the first network device, wherein the another network device is the second network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a network device configuration to be implemented by the first network device and the second network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network activities;

providing configuration information of the network device configuration to the first network device and the second network device, the configuration information capable of being used by either or both the first network device and the second network device to configure themselves to the network device configuration in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving constraints in assigning the one or more network device subnets to performing a plurality of network activities including the network activities;

assigning the one or more network device subnets to perform the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the constraints in assigning the one or more network device subnets to performing the plurality of network activities including the network activities.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network activities to be performed for the client device accessing the network services through the network are determined based on input injected by a network administrator of the network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network activities are specific to a user of a group of users of the client device and the group of users are associated with a same physical region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource information includes one or a combination of an amount of available network bandwidth supported by the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, an amount of available memory at the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, processor speeds of processors of the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, and other network activities being performed or assigned to be performed by the network devices of the one or more network device subnets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network devices in the one or more network device subnets form an extended service set identifiable by a unique extended service set identification.

10. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory storing instructions configured to instruct the processor to;

determine network activities to be performed for a client device accessing network services through a network;

assign one or more network device subnets to perform the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network activities to be performed;

receive network device information of network devices in the one or more network device subnets including resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network;

assign a first network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as a primary network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network device information including the resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network, the assigning of the first network device being based on the network device information indicating a region in which the first network device is located;

assign a second network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as a backup network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network device information including the resource information of the network devices in providing network service access through the network, the assigning of the second network device being based on the network device information indicating the second network device is located in the region;

provide identification information of the second network device to the first network device, the identification information capable of being used by the first network device to route an execution log of the first network device in performing the network activities to the second network device for use by the second network device in resuming performance of the network activities at the second network device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first network device and the second network device are in a same network device subnet of the one or more network device subnets.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to:

determine if another network device in a network device subnet associated with the first network device is available to serve as the backup network device to the first network device;

assign the first network device of the network devices in the one or more network device subnets to function as the primary network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network if it is determined that the another network device is available to serve as the backup network device to the first network device, wherein the another network device is the second network device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to:

identify a network device configuration to be implemented by the first network device and the second network device in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the network activities;

provide configuration information of the network device configuration to the first network device and the second network device, the configuration information capable of being used by either or both the first network device and the second network device to configure themselves to the network device configuration in performing the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to:

receive constraints in assigning the one or more network device subnets to performing a plurality of network activities including the network activities;

assign the one or more network device subnets to perform the network activities for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on the constraints in assigning the one or more network device subnets to performing the plurality of network activities including the network activities.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to determine the network activities to be performed for the client device accessing the network services through the network based on input injected by a network administrator of the network.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the network activities are specific to a user of a group of users of the client device and the group of users are associated with a same physical region.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the resource information includes one or a combination of an amount of available network bandwidth supported by the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, an amount of available memory at the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, processor speeds of processors of the network devices of the one or more network device subnets, and other network activities being performed or assigned to be performed by the network devices of the one or more network device subnets.