Patent ID: 9219641
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for performing failover in a redundancy group, wherein the redundancy group comprises a plurality of routers including a current active router and a standby router, the method comprising the steps of: a switch receiving an incoming message; in response to receiving the incoming message, the switch sending a request of identification to each router of the plurality of routers in the redundancy group to identify a current active router and to prevent a black hole condition in the redundancy group, wherein the black hole condition is a period of time between when an active router fails and a passive router replaces the active router during which one or more messages sent by the switch are not received, wherein the current active router represents a virtual router of the redundancy group, wherein the switch sends the request of identification to each of the plurality of routers in the redundancy group responsive to each instance of receiving an incoming message; and in response to receiving a reply containing an identification from the current active router within a predetermined time, forwarding the incoming message to the current active router, wherein the switch only forwards the incoming message after receiving the reply; wherein the switch is located external to the redundancy group.