Stack System Control Flow Rerouting for Uninterrupted Traffic Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a stack system, when the main control board in a chassis becomes unavailable, data traffic processing is interrupted, as control and traffic flows become dependent and cannot be independently managed.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where control flow is switched to a traffic flow channel and transmitted to a destination interface board, allowing for uninterrupted traffic flow processing by utilizing a switch fabric board and interface boards with traffic and control channel processing units, and stack ports for inter-chassis communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If control flow is transmitted through the main control board, then control flow processing is simplified, but traffic flow processing is interrupted when the main control board is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control flow and traffic flow into separate processing paths. Control flow is handled by control channel processing units in interface boards, while traffic flow is handled by traffic processing units in interface boards and switch fabric boards. This segmentation allows traffic flow to continue uninterrupted even when control flow paths experience issues with the main control board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where interface boards with control channel processing units can directly handle control flow between themselves and with other chassis, bypassing the need for the main control board. This intermediary capability ensures that control flow can be maintained through alternative paths when the main control board is unavailable.
2Device complexity
If control and traffic flows are handled by the same main control board, then device structure is simplified, but system reliability decreases when the main control board fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the functionality of the main control board into separate units distributed across interface boards. Control channel processing units handle control flow, while traffic processing units handle data traffic. The switch fabric board's traffic processing unit handles traffic switching. This segmentation distributes critical functions across multiple components, ensuring system continuity when one component fails.
Solution Approach 2:
Interface boards are designed with dual functionality, containing both control channel processing units and traffic processing units. This multi-functionality allows interface boards to independently handle both control and traffic flows, eliminating the single point of failure represented by the main control board while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Ease of repair
If the main control board is replaced or taken down for maintenance, then system maintainability is improved, but traffic flow processing is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by enabling interface boards to independently process both control and traffic flows before any main control board replacement occurs. This pre-established capability ensures that when maintenance is performed on the main control board, traffic flow processing continues uninterrupted because it was already distributed to interface boards and switch fabric boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by designing a system where traffic flow processing can continue through interface boards and switch fabric boards even when the main control board is replaced or taken down. The distributed architecture maintains productive traffic handling without interruption, allowing maintenance activities to proceed without impacting system productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling flow and a chassis switch in a stack system are provided. The stack system includes multiple chassis, each of the multiple chassis includes a main control board and an interface board, traffic flow and control flow in each of the multiple chassis are independent of each other when each of the multiple chassis operates normally. In the method, when a main control board in a chassis in the stack system is unavailable, control flow to be transferred to a destination interface board is switched to a traffic flow channel corresponding to the destination interface board from a control flow channel, and the control flow is transmitted to the destination interface board through the traffic flow channel.