Method for self-configuring routing devices in a network

• US 7,474,632 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ban, Oliver Keren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENNER, BRANDON M
• Application Number:
  US10/880,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235, 370/254, 370/255, 370/256, 370/257, 370/258, 370/299, 370/351, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/386, 370/400, 709/203, 709/208
• US Class Current: 370/256
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing

Abstract

A method for configuring routing devices in a network data processing system. A routing change is identified in the network data processing system. In response to the routing change being identified, a node topology is generated for a set of routing devices present in the network data processing system. A master network configuration table is built at a routing device within the set of routing devices. The network configuration table contains configuration data from the routing devices in the node topology. The master network configuration table is broadcast to the routing devices in the network data processing system.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring routing devices in a network data processing system, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

identifying a routing change in the network data processing system;

responsive to identifying the routing change, generating a node topology for a set of routing devices present in the network data processing system, wherein generating a node topology includes receiving a child message from a particular routing device in the routing devices, wherein responsive to receiving the child message a parent message is returned to the particular routing device, wherein responsive to receiving the child message from the routing device the particular routing device is added to the node topology and wherein child messages are sent in response to the routing devices receiving a reset message;

building a master network configuration table at a routing device within the set of routing devices, wherein the network configuration table contains configuration data from the routing devices in the node topology; and

broadcasting the master network configuration table to the routing devices in the network data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the node topology is a tree structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing change is an addition of a new routing device to the set of routing devices in the network data processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing change is a configuration change in a selected routing device in the network data processing system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing device is one of a router, a domain name system server, or a switch.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a root node is a last routing device to send the child message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reset message is sent from a new routing device in the routing devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the child message and the parent message are sent using inter-router communications.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of routing devices is a portion of the routing devices in the network data processing system.