Patent ID: 7778268
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A network device comprising: a plurality of data forwarding elements (DFEs) including an active DFE and at least one standby DFE; a redundant control plane comprising: the active DFE and the standby DFE each configured to send status packets to one of the control processors, the status packets sent over a first path through the active layer-2 switch unless a communication problem with the first path is detected, and over a second path through the standby layer-2 switch responsive to detecting the communication problem with the first path, the standby DFE further configured to: wait for a reply to the first and second ping packets; responsive to receiving a reply to the first ping packet and to the second ping packet, send a request for a health report to the active control processor; and responsive to not receiving the requested health report, enter a recovery state.