Patent ID: 7894427
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for implementing redundancy of stateful network address translation (NAT) information in at least one network device of a data network, the method comprising: receiving, at a first network device configured to perform NAT, a first NAT transaction message which includes updated NAT information, the first NAT transaction message being generated by a second network device configured to perform NAT, the updated NAT information including information relating to updates or modifications to be performed on NAT information stored at a first NAT data structure, the first NAT data structure being managed by the first network device, the first NAT transaction message including first NAT entry information relating to at least one modification of a first NAT entry associated with the first NAT data structure, the first NAT transaction message further including a first NAT ID field relating to an identity of a specific network device authorized to manage the updates or modifications regarding the first NAT entry; determining by the first network device, using information in the first NAT ID field, whether the second network device is authorized to manage the updates or modifications to the first NAT entry at the first NAT data structure; and modifying by the first network device the first NAT entry at the first NAT data structure using the first NAT entry information in response to a determination that the second network device is authorized to manage modifications relating to the first NAT entry; wherein the modification of the first NAT entry at the first NAT data structure results in synchronization of NAT information relating to the first NAT entry at the first and second network devices.