Accton Technology Corporation

Action Technology Corporation

Fuh-Jang Lin

Huan-Wen Chen

Chih-Chiang Lee

A stackable switch supporting redundant link and backup management. The stackable switch includes a stacking module, a processor and a management module. Several stackable switches can be stacked together in the form of a closed-loop link topology via the stacking module. The stacking module has an uplink port, a downlink port, and preferably a manual control device. The processor instructs the stacking module to enable or disable a downlink control bus within the downlink port when receiving a reconnect/disconnect command. If a link status, generated from the processor, indicates that these switches are stacked into the closed-loop link topology, the management module issues the disconnect command. Otherwise, the management module issues the reconnect command to recover a redundant link. Provided that the manual control device is activated, the management module in the same switch has the highest priority to become a master agent for the switch stack.

Redundant link management switch for use in a stack of switches and method thereof

A redundant link management switch for use in a stack of switches forming a closed-loop link topology, including a stacking module, a processor and a management module. The stacking module has an uplink port for connecting a next-higher switch in the stack and a downlink port for connecting a next-lower switch in the stack. The processor instructs the stacking module to disable a downlink control bus within the downlink port when receiving a disconnect command, and instructs the stacking module to enable the downlink control bus when receiving a reconnect command. The management module asserts the disconnect command if a link status, received from the processor, indicates that the redundant link management switch and the stack of switches are stacked into the closed-loop link topology. Additionally, the management module asserts the reconnect command to recover a redundant link if the management module detects that the closed-loop link topology is changed.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Fuh-Jang Lin