Patent ID: 9014006
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: in a network switch of a communication network, receiving communication traffic that originates from a source node and arrives over a route through the communication network traversing one or more preceding network switches, for forwarding to a destination node; in response to detecting in the network switch a compromised ability to forward the communication traffic to the destination node, sending to the preceding network switches a notification, which is to be consumed by the preceding network switches and requests the preceding network switches to modify the route so as not to traverse the network switch; receiving the notification in a preceding network switch, and modifying the route between the preceding network switch and the destination node in response to the notification; evaluating in the preceding network switch a rule, which ensures that only one of the preceding network switches modifies the route, and modifying the route only when the rule is met; and when the rule is not met, forwarding the notification to another of the preceding switches, wherein forwarding the notification comprises extracting an address from the notification, caching an association between the address and a port over which the notification was received, and, upon receiving a packet from the cached address over a given port, forwarding the notification over the given port.