Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Harald Thrum

Joachim Lohmeyer

Michael Köstner

Michael Koestner

There is described a network having redundancy properties, an Ethernet switch, and a method for configuring the network. At least two network segments which are formed with a plurality of Ethernet switches are connected to one another by means of a redundant connection comprising at least two coupling channels. During configuration, a programming device stores a logic name for the redundant connection in the respective memory of associated coupling devices. In a network startup phase, said coupling devices determine the respective other connection partner associated with the same redundant connection by distributing special messages in which they enter the logic name of the redundant connection. They use an order criterion to determine which coupling channel is active and which coupling channel is deactivated during trouble-free operation.

Network having redundancy properties, Ethernet switch for such a network and method for configuring such a network

A local network, particularly an Ethernet network having redundancy properties, in which coupling devices (K, K, K) and a redundancy manager (RM) are interconnected in a ring-shaped topology. The redundancy manager opens the ring to create a linear topology if test messages (T, T) emitted by the redundancy manager (RM) are received at the other port (P, P) within a given period of time, otherwise the redundancy manager (RM) closes the connection. As a so-called redundancy manager observer, at least one of the coupling devices (K) is configured such that it evaluates messages received at the port (P) thereof, the port (P) being connected to the redundancy manager, opens the ring to create a linear topology, and signals an error if more than initial test messages (T) have been received at this port (P) and if the status 'ring opened' has been indicated by the redundancy manager (RM) in the last-received initial test message (T), whereby messages are prevented from circulating on the ring.

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Stutensee, Germany

Harald Thrum