Fault-protection mechanism for protecting multi-protocol-label switching (MPLS) capability within a distributed processor router operating in an MPLS network
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for providing fault-tolerance for Multi-Path Label Switching (MPLS) functionality in a multi-processor network routing node, comprising the steps of;
- (a) implementing an MPLS server application including state information, on a first and a second processor in the node;
(b) designating the MPLS server on the first processor as a master server and the MPLS server on the second processor as a backup server, and providing MPLS functionality in the node with the master MPLS server;
(c) directing all required MPLS events to both the master and the backup MPLS servers during operation;
(d) monitoring operation of the master server; and
(e) in the event of failure of the master server, designating the backup server as the master, allowing MPLS functions to continue on the routing node;
wherein, in step (d), monitoring is accomplished by a software distribution module (SDM) executing on a third processor in the node.
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Abstract
A method for providing fault-tolerance for Multi-Path Label Switching (MPLS) functionality in a multi-processor network routing node has the steps of (a) implementing an MPLS server application including state information, on a first and a second processor in the node; (b) designating the MPLS server on the first processor as a master server and the MPLS server on the second processor as a backup server, and providing MPLS functionality in the node with the master MPLS server; (c) directing all required MPLS events to both the master and the backup MPLS servers during operation; (d) monitoring operation of the master server; and (e) in the event of failure of the master server, designating the backup server as the master, allowing MPLS functions to continue on the routing node.
38 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for providing fault-tolerance for Multi-Path Label Switching (MPLS) functionality in a multi-processor network routing node, comprising the steps of;
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(a) implementing an MPLS server application including state information, on a first and a second processor in the node;
(b) designating the MPLS server on the first processor as a master server and the MPLS server on the second processor as a backup server, and providing MPLS functionality in the node with the master MPLS server;
(c) directing all required MPLS events to both the master and the backup MPLS servers during operation;
(d) monitoring operation of the master server; and
(e) in the event of failure of the master server, designating the backup server as the master, allowing MPLS functions to continue on the routing node;
wherein, in step (d), monitoring is accomplished by a software distribution module (SDM) executing on a third processor in the node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A control system for providing fault-tolerance for Multi-Path Label Switching (MPLS) functionality in a multi-processor network routing node, comprising:
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a master MPLS server application including state information, implemented on a first processor in the node; and
a backup MPLS server application implemented on a second processor in the node and a software distribution module (SDM) executing on a third processor in the node;
characterized in that the master server provides MPLS functionality with all MPLS events directed to both the master and the backup server, and control is switched to the backup server as master in the event of failure of the master server and further characterized in that the SDM monitors master MPLS function, and implements switchover as necessary. - View Dependent Claims (15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 16. The control system of clam 15 wherein the processors dedicated to processing incoming data packets comprise line cards (LC) with processors, the LCs each comprising one or more ports interfacing with the network for receiving and sending data packets, and control cards (CC) with processors, the CCs for providing control functions, and the MPLS servers are established on control cards.
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27. A network routing node comprising:
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a plurality of processors; and
a control system for providing fault-tolerance for Multi-Path Label Switching (MPLS) functionality, the control system having a master MPLS server application including state information, implemented on a first of the plurality of processors, and a backup MPLS server application implemented on a second of the plurality of processors in the node and a software distribution module (SDM) executing on at least one processor of the plurality of processors in the node;
characterized in that the master server provides MPLS functionality MPLS events directed to both the master and the backup server, and control is switched to the backup server as master in the event of failure of the master server and further characterized in that the SDM monitors master MPLS function, and implements switchover as necessary. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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- 32. The network routing node of claim 32 wherein a primary SDM is established on a first global master CC (GMCC) and a backup SDM is established on a global backup CC (GBCC), and wherein the global backup becomes the global master in the event of failure of the global master.
Specification