Allied Telesis Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha

Allied Telesis Holdings K.k.

Graeme Keith Campbell

Geoffrey Douglas McCaughan

Theuns Willem Verwoerd

Anthony Robert Lineham

Martin Andrew Hill

Mark Andrew McKinstry

Mark Tillman

Some embodiments provide a system that includes a first network area, a second network area, and a third network area. The first network area includes a first master node and a first set of switches for forwarding network data through the first network area. The first master node is configured to manage the first set of switches. The second network area includes a second master node and a second set of switches for forwarding network data through the second network area. The second master node is configured to manage the second set of switches. The third network area includes a controller configured to manage the first and second sets of switches through the first and second master nodes.

Management plane network aggregation

A method placing a device in safe state is disclosed. The method includes initiating a safe state for a device. In one embodiment, an operational functionality of the device is disabled. A safe state message at an interface of the device may be received. The interface may be designated as a management interface. Information may be received at the management interface, wherein the information manages the device. The method may also include disabling a non-management interface of the device, wherein the non-management interface is an interface that does not receive a safe state message. The method may further include shutting down a non-management interface of the device, wherein the non-management interface is an interface that does not receive a safe state message. A normal state for the device may be initiated, wherein in the normal state the device restores the operational functionality of the device.

Safe state for networked devices

The embodiments disclose a method for automatically communicating a command, received from a command server, to a set of nodes from a plurality of nodes on a network, executing the command on each node in the set of nodes and sending a response message from each node in the set of nodes to the command server indicating a type of executed action, wherein the set of nodes form a plurality of response messages.

Automated command and discovery process for network communications

Some embodiments provide a system that includes a backup device and a plurality of switches coupled to the backup device. A switch in the plurality of switches may be coupled to the backup device using at least a special link. The at least special link may be configured by a replacement device when the switch coupled to the backup device using the at least the special link fails, the failed switch is replaced with the replacement device, and the replacement device receives configuration data associated with the special link from another switch of the plurality of switches via a simple link. The simple link may allow communication of data without configuration of the simple link. The backup device may be configured to manage backup data associated with the plurality of switches.

Automated configuration of network device

A hierarchical structure network of devices is formed. A group of devices may be grouped together to form a domain. A plurality of domains formed in a hierarchical structure forms a hierarchical network. Traffic flow topology may be updated only within the same domain that topology changes. In one embodiment, traffic flow topology is updated only in a parent domain and a child domain when the status of a link connecting the two domain changes. Thus, other domains within the network have no need to update the traffic flow topology and remain agnostic to the traffic flow updates. Thus, responsiveness of the network to topology changes is improved. Multiple links may each carry traffic if multiple links exist between nodes. As such, a network of robust redundant interconnections with active links is formed that react quickly to network topology changes and that uses the interconnection links in an efficient manner.

Hierarchical network with active redundant links

A system and method for distributing data across a network including a plurality of trunked port lines, including modifying an existing field within one layer of a data packet on the basis of information found within another layer of the data packet and restricting the process of trunking distribution to only consider the modified layer. In an exemplary embodiment, a method and a system for improving packet data distribution across a communication network environment is provided that changes a field within the Layer 2 (L2) section of the packet on the basis of fields within the Layer 3 (L3) section of the packet. This may involve changing the destination Media Access Control (MAC) address on the basis of the destination IP address and limiting the trunk distribution determination to the L2 section of the packet data.

Growing community of inventors

Christchurch, New Zealand

Graeme Keith Campbell