Patent ID: 11403319

Abstract:
A high-availability network device database synchronization technique for devices configured with multiple network controllers is disclosed. An HA database that contains information regarding a network state may not properly synchronize upon failure of a network component. For example, an HA switch typically has only two controllers, an active and a standby. If there is a loss of the active controller that causes a failover, changes in the network state may occur rapidly while the system is trying to recover (e.g., process the failover action). In part, because of the impact of the failover (e.g., failed communication paths) and rapidity of changes to network state while processing the failover, database changes may not be properly synchronized across all available database instances. Disclosed techniques provide reconciliation of database values using a mark and sweep technique on the “upside” of the failover and alter the “source of truth” for data value discrepancies.