High availability synchronization architecture
First Claim
1. A method of providing redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, the method including:
- (a) configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components;
(b) configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image;
(c) permitting said active image to execute;
(d) maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation; and
(e) transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image;
wherein each component in the active and standby images registers with a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility which performs (e), and wherein the FSS is distinct from the components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A “high availability” system comprises one or more switches under the control of multiple control processors (“CPs”). One of the CPs is deemed to be “active,” while the other CP is kept in a “standby” mode. Each CP generally has the same software load including a fabric state synchronization (“FSS”) facility. The FSSs of each CP communicate with each other. The state information pertaining to an active “image” is continuously provided to a standby copy of the image (“standby image”). The CPs'"'"' FSSs perform the function of synchronizing the standby image to the active image. The state information generally includes configuration and operational parameters and other information regarding the active image. By keeping the standby image synchronized to the active image, the standby image can be rapidly transitioned to the active mode if the active image experiences a fault and continue where the previous active image left off.
92 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, the method including:
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(a) configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components; (b) configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image; (c) permitting said active image to execute; (d) maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation; and (e) transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image; wherein each component in the active and standby images registers with a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility which performs (e), and wherein the FSS is distinct from the components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic devices; and a plurality of control processors coupled to each other and to the electronic devices, each of the plurality of control processors having a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility running thereon; wherein one control processor has an active image comprising a plurality of executable components running thereon, and another control processor has a standby image comprising a copy of the active image'"'"'s components, and each executable component registers with an FSS running on the same control processor as the executable component thus registered; and wherein the FSS facility on the control processor having the active image provides updated state information to one or more executable components running on any other control processor, the FSS facility on the control processor communicating with the FSS facilities running on one or more other control processors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A control processor adapted to communicate with another control processor and other electronic devices, comprising:
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a CPU; memory coupled to said CPU; an image stored in said memory and comprising a plurality of executable components; and a fabric state synchronization (FSS) facility also stored in said memory, said FSS executed by said CPU to permit said image to be in an active mode or to be in a standby mode; wherein said FSS provides state information pertaining to the plurality of executable components within the image to another control processor when said image is in the active mode and receives state information when the image is in the standby mode, and said FSS communicates with one or more FSS facilities each executing on other control processors; and wherein each executable component of said plurality of executable components registers with said FSS. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer readable storage medium for storing an executable set of software instructions that are executable by a CPU, said software instructions being operable to provide redundancy in a network comprising multiple control processors, said software instructions comprising:
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(a) a means for configuring an active image which comprises a plurality of executable components; (b) a means for configuring a standby image which comprises a copy of the components comprising the active image; (c) a means for permitting said active image to execute; (d) a means for maintaining said standby image in a standby mode of operation; (e) a means for transmitting updated state information from the active image to the standby image during run-time of the active image, said means for transmitting configured to communicate with other means for transmitting executing on one or more other CPUs; and (f) a means to register each component in the active and standby images with the means for transmitting updated state information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification