Network Relay System Failure Notification and Path Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network relay systems face challenges in efficiently managing communication failures between network relay apparatuses, particularly in physical lines connecting interface and fabric switches, which can lead to disruptions in network communication.
Innovation Solution
The network relay system incorporates interface switches with LAG setters and fabric switches that transmit failure notification frames to exclude failed ports from link aggregation groups, allowing for automatic rerouting of communication paths to maintain network reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If link aggregation group is used to connect interface switches and fabric switches, then network bandwidth and redundancy are improved, but when a physical line failure occurs, the system cannot automatically switch communication paths and network reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where fabric switches monitor the reception of detection frames from interface switches. When a fabric switch fails to receive detection frames within a predetermined time, it generates a failure notification frame and transmits it to connected interface switches. This feedback loop enables automatic failure detection and triggers path switching by excluding the failed port from the link aggregation group, thereby maintaining network reliability without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where each fabric switch autonomously monitors its own connection status by checking for incoming detection frames. Upon detecting a failure condition, the fabric switch automatically generates and transmits failure notification frames to interface switches, which then autonomously perform path switching by removing the failed port from the link aggregation group. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external control systems or complex manual configuration during failures.
2Productivity
If manual failure detection and path switching is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but response time to failures increases and network operation continuity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously transmitting detection frames between interface switches and fabric switches before any failure occurs. This ongoing detection mechanism ensures that the system is always aware of the current state of physical connections. When a failure occurs, the system has already established baseline communication patterns, enabling immediate detection of deviations and rapid automatic response through pre-configured failure notification and path switching procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A network relay system (10) includes a plurality of IFSs (14) and a plurality of FSs (16). The IFSs (14a to 14x) are each connected to the FSs (16a to 16h) through physical lines. In the IFSs (14), an LAG is set for ports connected to the FSs (16). The IFSs (14) and the FSs (16) transmit/receive a detection frame to/from each other, and when the detection frame fails to be received, it is determined that a failure has occurred within the network relay system (10). When one of the FSs (16) determines that a failure has occurred, the one of the FSs (16) transmits a failure notification frame to the plurality of IFSs (14), and each of the plurality of IFSs (14) excludes the port that has received the failure notification frame from the LAG.