LINK AGGREGATION PROTECTION

• US 20100293408A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bjorkman, William A., Shannon, Frank M., Krzanowski, Roman, Alesi, Vincent A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking

Abstract

A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, the first and second network devices being associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices;

de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem;

maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link; and

allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing traffic comprises:

allowing traffic having a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) or a range of VLAN IDs to be forwarded on the active link, the method further comprising;

blocking traffic not having the particular VLAN ID or range of VLAN IDs from being forwarded.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

configuring, at the first network device, the particular VLAN ID or range of VLAN IDs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing traffic comprises:

allowing traffic having a particular media access control (MAC) address or a range of MAC addresses to be forwarded on the active link, the method further comprising;

blocking traffic not having the particular MAC address or range of MAC addresses from being forwarded on the active link.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

configuring, at the first network device, the particular MAC address or range of MAC addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting a configuration problem comprises at least one of:

determining that a transmission speed at the second network device for the LAG is configured differently than a transmission speed for the LAG at the first network device,

determining that both the first and second network devices are configured as master devices or that both are configured as slave devices, or

determining that one of the first or second network devices is configured for an automated LAG set up and the other one of the first or second network devices is configured for a manual LAG set up.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the first network device, that the configuration problem no longer exists;

automatically activating the one or more de-activated links in the LAG, in response to determining that the configuration problem no longer exists; and

transmitting data using all of the links in the LAG.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting, de-activating, maintaining and allowing is performed by the first network device without human intervention.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting up a LAG between the first network device and the second network device, the first and second network devices representing end point devices for the LAG.

10. A method, comprising:

monitoring, by at least one interface device coupled to a least one link in a link aggregation group (LAG), a status of the LAG;

detecting, by the at least one interface device, a problem with the LAG; and

signaling, by the at least one interface device, end point devices associated with the LAG to terminate transmission of data via the LAG.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring comprises:

monitoring link aggregation control protocol (LACP) messages being transmitted by the end point devices, and wherein the detecting comprises;

detecting an absence of LACP messages transmitted from at least one of the end point devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling comprises:

transmitting, by the at least one interface device, a first message to a first one of the end point devices, the first message instructing the first endpoint device to terminate transmission via ports associated with the LAG, and

transmitting, by the at least one interface device, a second message to a second one of the end point devices, the second message instructing the second endpoint device to terminate transmission via ports associated with the LAG.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the end point devices, the signaling from the at least one interface device; and

shutting down ports on the first and second network devices in response to receiving the signaling.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one interface device comprises two network interface devices, each of the two network interface devices located between the end point devices, and wherein the monitoring comprises:

monitoring, by each of the two network interface devices, control messages transmitted by the end point devices.

15. A device, comprising:

a plurality of ports configured to transmit and receive data over a plurality of transmission links, the plurality of transmission links comprising a link aggregation group (LAG); and

logic configured to;

detect a configuration problem associated with a network device coupled to the device via the LAG,

de-activate one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem,

maintain at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link, and

allow traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein when allowing traffic, the logic is configured to:

allow traffic having a particular virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) or a range of VLAN IDs to be forwarded on the active link, and wherein the logic is further configured to;

block traffic not having the particular VLAN ID or range of VLAN IDs from being forwarded on the active link.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein when allowing traffic, the logic is configured to:

allow traffic having a particular media access control (MAC) address or a range of MAC addresses to be forwarded on the active link, and wherein the logic is further configured to;

block traffic not having the particular MAC address or range of MAC addresses from being forwarded on the active link.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the logic is further configured to:

determine that the configuration problem no longer exists,

automatically activate the one or more de-activated links in the LAG, in response to determining that the configuration problem no longer exists, and

transmit data using all of the links in the LAG.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the device and network device correspond to end point devices located at opposite ends of the LAG.

20. The device of claim 15, further comprising layer 2 switching logic.