Ethernet Switch Ring Transit Node Pre-Up State Port Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Ethernet Switch Ring (ESR) protection methods face challenges in handling multiple point failures, leading to unsmooth data flow and compromised user experience due to the inability of the master node to promptly notify and open recovered ports, resulting in port oscillation and impaired ring network protection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a pre-up state for transit nodes, where they enter a pre-up state if no loop failure protocol message is received within a set time, allowing them to open master and slave ports and refresh MAC addresses upon detecting a subsequent failure, thereby enabling immediate recovery and preventing port oscillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the master node blocks slave ports to prevent loops when links are in good condition, then loop prevention is achieved, but the response time to open ports during failure recovery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a pre-up state that transitions before the final up state. When the loop failure message timer expires, transit nodes enter the pre-up state and open their ports in advance, before receiving formal recovery notification from the master node. This preliminary port opening eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur when waiting for master node notification, while the pre-up state mechanism ensures loop prevention is maintained through controlled transition timing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the master node notifies all nodes of loop recovery, then consistent state management is achieved, but the system cannot respond quickly to multiple point failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the node roles into master nodes and transit nodes with different functions. Master nodes maintain state consistency by sending recovery notifications, while transit nodes gain autonomy to detect and respond to new failures independently. This segmentation allows transit nodes to open ports immediately upon detecting multiple point failures without waiting for master node notification, achieving both state consistency through master control and rapid response through transit node autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-up state acts as an intermediary mechanism between the down state and the up state. When transit nodes detect loop failure message timer expiration, they transition to the pre-up state as an intermediate step, which allows them to open ports proactively while maintaining a transitional state that preserves coordination with the master node. This intermediary state enables rapid response to multiple point failures while preserving the master node's role in overall state management.
3Productivity
If recovered ports are opened immediately after failure detection, then rapid recovery is achieved, but port oscillation occurs compromising network stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action through the pre-up state mechanism that opens ports before formal recovery confirmation. When the loop failure message timer expires, transit nodes enter pre-up state and open ports preliminarily, enabling rapid recovery without waiting for master node notification. The pre-up state serves as a buffer that allows proactive port opening while maintaining controlled transition, preventing the oscillation that would occur with immediate state switching.
4Ease of operation
If the master node controls all port state changes, then centralized control is maintained, but the system fails to respond promptly to multiple point failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control authority between master nodes and transit nodes. Master nodes maintain centralized control by sending recovery notifications and managing the overall ring state, while transit nodes are empowered to independently detect and respond to multiple point failures by opening ports when their loop failure message timer expires. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing transit nodes to act autonomously in specific scenarios without compromising overall centralized control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing transit nodes to autonomously detect loop failures and open their own ports without requiring master node notification. When the loop failure message timer expires at a transit node, it automatically transitions to pre-up state and opens ports, serving itself rather than waiting for external control. This self-service capability eliminates notification delays for multiple point failures while the master node retains ultimate control through the notification mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses an Ethernet Switch Ring (ESR) protection method, for introducing the pre-up state for the transit node, comprising, after the loop failure is recovered, the transit node on the loop will enter the pre-up state if not receiving the loop failure protocol message within the set time; and when the transit node is in the pre-up state and the loop is failed again, i.e., the transit node receives the loop failure protocol message in the pre-up state, the transit node opens the master and slave ports and refreshes the MAC address. Correspondingly, the present invention further discloses an ESR transit node. Since the pre-up state is introduced for the transit node and the transit node controls whether to open the recovered failed port by itself, the unsmooth flow caused by the master node which cannot notify the recovered failed port to open is avoided, and the ring network protection capability and user experience can be improved.