Methods, systems and computer program products for suppressing multiple destination traffic in a computer network

• US 6,185,185 B1
• Filed: 11/21/1997
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Siegel, Michael Steven, Bass, Brian Mitchell, Strole, Norman Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/976,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/232, 370/235, 370/252, 370/253, 370/395, 370/400, 370/411, 370/428
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which control message storms in a network by classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages. The number of multiple destination messages for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages are then counted so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts. Multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages are then selectively transmitted based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages.

Claims

1. A method of controlling message storms in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts; and

selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said steps of classifying, counting and selectively transmitting comprise the steps of;

receiving at a network device, a multiple destination message to be retransmitted by the network device;

categorizing the received multiple destination message into one of the broadcast message classes;

determining if the broadcast message class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message exceeds a predefined threshold; and

retransmitting the multiple destination message if said determining step determines that the class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message does not exceed the predefined threshold.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of resetting the class counts for the broadcast message classes after a predefined time interval.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of updating a universal count parameter with the class counts prior to said step of resetting the class counts.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if the received multiple destination message is one of a broadcast message and a multicast message.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of incrementing the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a class count for the broadcast message classes is associated with each port of the network device and wherein said step of incrementing comprises the steps of:

incrementing the class count associated with a port of the device for a broadcast message class of a multiple destination message received by the port from a network; and

incrementing the class count associated with a port of the device for a broadcast message class of a multiple destination message received by the port from another port of the device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of discarding multiple destination messages of a broadcast message class if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination messages exceeds a predefined threshold.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining if a multiple destination message has associated with the message a discard override; and

retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated discard override.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

10. A method of controlling message storms in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts wherein each broadcast message class count corresponds to a class of broadcast message;

selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said steps of classifying, counting and selectively transmitting comprise the steps of;

monitoring network traffic at a network interface so as to create class counts of messages for the plurality of broadcast message classes;

receiving at a network interface, a request to transmit a multiple destination message onto a network;

categorizing the received multiple destination message request to determine the broadcast message class of the request;

determining if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds predefined threshold; and

transmitting the multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination request does not exceed the predefined threshold.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

categorizing a multiple destination message received from the network by the network interface card into one of the plurality of broadcast message classes;

incrementing the class count corresponding to the received multiple destination message;

categorizing a multiple destination message transmitted by the network interface card into one of the plurality of broadcast message classes; and

incrementing the class count for the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request received by the network interface card.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of resetting the class counts for the broadcast message classes after a predefined time interval.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of updating a universal count parameter with the class counts prior to said step of resetting the class counts.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of determining if the received multiple destination message is one of a broadcast message and a multicast message.

15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of discarding multiple destination message requests of a broadcast message class if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds a predefined threshold.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

17. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

18. A method of controlling message storms in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring network traffic received at a network interface from the network to classify multiple destination messages into a broadcast message class based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

receiving at a network interface, a request to transmit a multiple destination message onto a network;

counting the received requests to transmit a multiple destination message and the received multiple destination messages of the broadcast class to provide a class count for the broadcast message class;

categorizing the received multiple destination message request to determine the broadcast message class of the request;

counting the received requests to transmit a multiple destination message and the received multiple destination messages of the broadcast class to provide a class count for the broadcast message class;

determining if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds a predefined threshold; and

transmitting the multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination request does not exceed the predefined threshold.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of resetting the class count for the broadcast message class after a predefined time interval.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of discarding multiple destination message requests of a broadcast message class if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds a predefined threshold.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

23. A system for controlling message storms in a network, comprising:

means for classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

means for counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts; and

means for selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said means for classifying, said means for counting and said means for selectively transmitting comprise

means for receiving at a network device, a multiple destination message to be retransmitted by the network device;

means for categorizing the received multiple destination message into one of the broadcast message classes;

means for determining if the broadcast message class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message exceeds a predefined threshold; and

means for retransmitting the multiple destination message if said determining step determines that the class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message does not exceed the predefined threshold.

24. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

means for transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

25. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

means for determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

means for retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

26. A system for controlling message storms in a network, comprising:

means for classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

means for counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts with each broadcast message class count corresponds to a class of broadcast message;

means for selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said means for classifying, said means for counting and said means for selectively transmitting comprise;

means for monitoring network traffic at a network interface so as to create class counts of messages for the plurality of broadcast message classes;

means for receiving at a network interface, a request to transmit a multiple destination message onto a network;

means for categorizing the received multiple destination message request to determine the broadcast message class of the request;

means for determining if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds predefined threshold; and

means for transmitting the multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination request does not exceed the predefined threshold.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

means for transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

28. A system according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

means for determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

means for retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

29. A computer program product for controlling message storms in a network, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code module embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code module comprising;

computer-readable program code module for classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

computer-readable program code module for counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts with each class count being associated with at least one of the class of broadcast message classes;

computer-readable program code module for selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said computer-readable program code module for classifying, said computer-readable program code module for counting and said computer-readable program code module for selectively transmitting comprise;

computer-readable program code module for receiving at a network device a multiple destination message to be retransmitted by the network device;

computer-readable program code module for categorizing the received multiple destination message into one of the broadcast message classes;

computer-readable program code module for determining if the broadcast message class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message exceeds a predefined threshold; and

computer-readable program code module for retransmitting the multiple destination message if said determining step determines that the class count for the broadcast message class of the received multiple destination message does not exceed the predefined threshold.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, further comprising:

computer-readable program code module for determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

computer-readable program code module for transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

31. A computer program product according to claim 29, further comprising:

computer-readable program code module for determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

computer-readable program code module for determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

computer-readable program code module for retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.

32. A computer program product for controlling message storms in a network, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code module embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code module comprising;

computer-readable program code module for classifying multiple destination messages into a plurality of broadcast message classes based upon characteristics of the broadcast messages;

computer-readable program code module for counting multiple destination messages transmitted for each class of broadcast messages of the plurality of classes of broadcast messages so as to provide a plurality of broadcast message class counts with each class count being associated with at least one of the class of broadcast message classes;

computer-readable program code module for selectively transmitting multiple destination messages of a class of broadcast messages based upon the broadcast message class count for the class of broadcast messages;

wherein said computer-readable program code module for classifying, said computer-readable program code module for counting and said computer-readable program code module for selectively transmitting comprise;

computer-readable program code module for monitoring network traffic at a network interface so as to create class counts of messages for the plurality of broadcast message classes;

computer-readable program code module for receiving at a network interface, a request to transmit a multiple destination message onto a network;

computer-readable program code module for categorizing the received multiple destination message request to determine the broadcast message class of the request;

computer-readable program code module for determining if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination message request exceeds predefined threshold; and

computer-readable program code module for transmitting the multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the class count corresponding to the broadcast message class of the multiple destination request does not exceed the predefined threshold.

33. A computer program product according to claim 32, further comprising:

computer-readable program code module for determining if a multiple destination message request has associated with the request a discard override; and

computer-readable program code module for transmitting a multiple destination message corresponding to the multiple destination message request irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message request if the multiple destination message request has an associated discard override.

34. A computer program product according to claim 32, further comprising:

computer-readable program code module for determining a priority associated with the multiple destination message;

computer-readable program code module for determining if the priority of the multiple destination message exceeds a predefined priority threshold; and

computer-readable program code module for retransmitting the multiple destination message irrespective of the class count of the broadcast message class corresponding to the multiple destination message if the multiple destination message has an associated priority exceeding the predefined priority threshold.