Patent ID: 7643485
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing communication of router information in a network, the method comprising identifying one or more network devices connected to an interface; querying for a parameter that defines a layer capability of the identified one or more network devices, the layer capabilities indicating whether a network device is able to process router information; receiving the parameter defining the layer capability for the identified one or more network devices; determining a number of consumers and non-consumers connected to the interface based on the layer capability of the identified one or more network devices determined by the querying, wherein a consumer is connected to the interface and is able to process the router information when the parameter includes a pre-defined layer capability that is determined by the querying and a non-consumer is connected to the interface and is not able to process the router information when the parameter does not includes a pre-defined layer capability that is determined by the querying, the router information being routing updates for a routing table to allow the consumer to know connectivity to the interface; determining if the number of consumers connected to the interface is zero and the number of non-consumers is one or more; and automatically setting the interface as a passive interface if it is determined zero consumers are present on the interface, the communication of router information being disallowed on the passive interface, the interface being set to the passive interface when one or more non-consumers are connected to the interface.