Standby Supervisory Module Operation Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In highly available network switches or routers, the synchronization of operational state and configuration data between active and standby supervisory modules is often incomplete due to discrete synchronization operations, leading to an inconsistent state and requiring time-consuming reconciliation when the standby module takes over.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an electronic device that receives high-level operations from a second device, storing them in memory with identifiers, and performing actions based on events such as completion or failure, allowing synchronization without exchanging operational state and configuration data, thus eliminating incomplete synchronization and the need for reconciliation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discrete synchronization operations are used to maintain identical operational state and configuration data between active and standby supervisory modules, then the standby module can be kept ready for takeover, but synchronization may be incomplete during the time interval, leading to inconsistent state and requiring time-consuming reconciliation
Solution Approach 1:
The standby supervisory module proactively executes operations in advance before they are needed for takeover. Instead of waiting for synchronization after the active module performs operations, the standby module pre-executes the same operations locally, ensuring it is already synchronized and ready for immediate takeover without requiring reconciliation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional synchronization approach. Instead of the active module pushing changes to the standby module (data-driven synchronization), the standby module pulls operations from the active module and executes them independently (operation-driven synchronization). This inversion ensures the standby module maintains identical operational state without requiring post-change synchronization.
2Reliability
If the standby supervisory module passively waits for synchronization of operational state and configuration data, then data consistency can be maintained, but the takeover process becomes time-consuming and error-prone due to incomplete synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The standby supervisory module performs preliminary execution of operations received from the active module. By pre-executing these operations and maintaining a local copy of the operational state, the standby module ensures data consistency is already achieved before takeover is needed, enabling immediate transition without reconciliation delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The standby supervisory module creates and maintains a local copy of the operational state and configuration data by executing the same operations as the active module. This copying approach ensures the standby module has an identical, ready-to-use state without requiring continuous real-time synchronization, thus improving takeover speed while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple discrete synchronization trips are performed between active and standby supervisory modules, then operational state changes can be propagated, but failures during these trips result in incomplete synchronization and inconsistent standby module state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the synchronization dependency from the traditional model. Instead of relying on multiple discrete synchronization trips between modules, the standby module independently executes operations locally, taking out the need for continuous communication and synchronization trips. This reduces synchronization mechanism complexity while maintaining accuracy through operation-based replication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an operation log or message queue as an intermediary between the active and standby modules. The active module writes operations to this intermediary, and the standby module reads and executes them independently. This intermediary approach simplifies the synchronization mechanism by decoupling the modules, reducing complexity while ensuring synchronization accuracy through reliable operation propagation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device that selectively performs an action is described. During operation, the electronic device may receive a high-level operation from a second electronic device, where the electronic device provides a standby supervisory module for a computer network device (such as a switch or a router) and the second electronic device provides an active supervisory module for the computer network device, and where the high-level operation includes one or more sub-operations (such as primitive operations). Then, the electronic device may store the high-level operation in memory, where the high-level operation is associated with an identifier in a sequential set of identifiers. Moreover, the electronic device may receive information indicating an occurrence of an event. In response, the electronic device may perform the action.