Metaswitch Networks Limited

Jonathan Harrison

Alan Elder

Shaun Crampton

Alex Pollitt

Steve Balls

Fiona Corden

Gawain Bosworth

Jeff Rollins

The invention provides a method and apparatus for managing operation of a spanning tree protocol process in a network bridge. This comprises setting the network bridge to either an active mode or a defer mode in which a spanning tree protocol process is not run in response to a triggering event. The system remains in the defer mode for a period of time in which no further operations of the state machines will take place, before reverting to the active mode and normal processing of triggering events is carried out.

Spanning tree protocol

A system and method of operating a network node configured as part of a link aggregation system. The system includes a plurality of first network nodes and a plurality of second network nodes for providing connectivity to first and second networks respectively, and a plurality of links between the first network nodes and the second network nodes. The network node is configured as one of the first network nodes. The network node may be set in one of an active operation mode and a standby operation mode based at least in part on a comparison of a priority with one or more received priorities. The priority may be based on connectivity to an active second network node or links available for selection. The network node may determine that it is isolated from the first network and indicate that isolation in control messages sent to second network nodes.

Operating a network node configured as part of a link aggregation system

The invention relates to managing operation of a spanning tree protocol process in a network bridge having a central controller and one or more port controllers, each for controlling one or more ports of said network bridge. The spanning tree protocol process comprises a plurality of state machines including a Port Information state machine. The Port Information state machine comprises an UPDATE state and a plurality of other states. The invention involves running a Protocol Manager on a central controller, wherein the Protocol Manager owns the UPDATE state such that updates are carried out by the Protocol Manager. The Neighbor Managers on each of the port controllers owns the plurality of other states of the Port Information state machine, such that updates are carried out by the respective Neighbor Manager on said port controller. This allows the Protocol Manager and the Neighbor Managers to operate without having to force one to pause whilst work is done on the other.

Measures for transferring routing protocol information between a software defined network and one or more external networks are provided. A control node in a software defined network (SDN) is configured to maintain a protocol information database comprising routing protocol information for one or more switching nodes in the SDN. In response to detecting occurrence of a predetermined trigger event, the control node modifies the routing protocol information in the protocol information database, and determines whether the one or more switching nodes include an edge switching node. In response to the determination, a routing protocol message is transmitted from the control node to the edge switching node for forwarding via an external network interface. The routing protocol message includes data generated on the basis of the modified routing protocol information.

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Enfield, United Kingdom

Jonathan Harrison