Patent ID: 7894334
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for hierarchical redundancy in a distributed control plane of a network element, wherein the distributed control plane includes a plurality of control plane process instances instantiated onto a plurality of processing entities including a primary active processing entity and a plurality of secondary processing entities, the method comprising: registering the plurality of processing entities with an application redundancy manager (ARM) instantiated on the primary processing entity; for each of the secondary processing entities, the ARM selecting one of the plurality of secondary processing entities to act as a backup for another one of the plurality of secondary processing entities, and the ARM causing its control plane process information to be synchronized between those secondary processing entities; collecting redundancy management information from each of the secondary processing entities; responsive to detecting a failure of one of the secondary processing entities, performing the following: detecting an addition of another secondary processing entity to the distributed control plane; selectively distributing control plane process instances to the added secondary processing entity; and the ARM selecting one of the plurality of secondary processing entities to act as a backup for the added secondary processing entity, and selecting one of the plurality of secondary processing entities for the added secondary processing entity to backup.