Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Karen E Kimball

Robert Lee Faulk, Jr

Robert M McGuire

Alan R Albrecht

One embodiment disclosed relates to a networking apparatus. The networking apparatus includes a plurality of blade subsystems and a master system communicatively coupled to the blade subsystems. A particular blade subsystem is configured to provide an additional feature in relation to processing network packets. The remaining blade subsystems are configured to send non-packet information to the one blade subsystem by replacing original information in a packet with the non-packet information. The particular blade subsystem is further configured to retrieve the non-packet information from the packet. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Smuggling and recovery of non-packet information

Automatic load-balancing provides a decision-making process that includes intelligent automatic detection of when a given load-balancing activation currently would not be beneficial, thereby keeping the user's network from being unnecessarily disturbed when no real benefit would be gained; a process to undo a prior load-balancing that can be activated when users have accidentally selected a feature which could substantially change their network configurations; and an extensive intelligent distribution algorithm that improves the network load by moving the right nodes to new segments.

Method and apparatus for automatic load-balancing on a multi-segment network

Automatic load-balancing provides a decision-making process that includes intelligent automatic detection of when a given load-balancing activation currently would not be beneficial, thereby keeping the user's network from being unnecessarily disturbed when no real benefit would be gained; a process to undo a prior load-balancing that can be activated when users have accidentally selected a feature which could substantially change their network configurations; and an extensive intelligent port-distribution algorithm that improves the network load by moving the right ports to new segments.

Method and apparatus for automatic load-balancing on multisegment devices

An intelligent network agent software application for multi-segment network devices (such as bridges or multi-segment repeaters) which have one or more network links automatically configures the network links. Several automatic configuration and loop-recovery features are encompassed, each of which applies toward intelligently making decisions on the user's behalf, without special knowledge or intervention on the part of the user. Such configuration includes: assigning bridged links to different segments (to maximize the connectivity offered by the bridging and to prevent looping); setting up bridged links on a bridge to form full connectivity across the network with another bridge; setting up redundant connections; disabling ports which are causing loops in the network, or other configuration actions. The agent is preferably fully embedded in the hardware device. However, the agent can also exist remotely and communicate with other software intelligence embedded in the hardware device via either an in-band (network) or an out-of-band (non-network) hardware connection.

Method and system for automatic configuration of network links to

An 'intelligent network agent' software application for network devices (such as bridges or repeaters) which have one or more network links automatically detects when two or more of the agent's network links are bridged or repeated across. This information can be used elsewhere to automatically configure the network links or for other intelligent applications. Such configuration could include: assigning bridged links to different segments (to maximize the connectivity offered by the bridging and to prevent looping); setting up bridged links on a bridge to form a Spanning Tree with another bridge; setting up redundant connections; disabling ports which are causing loops in the network, or other configuration actions.

Method and system for automatic detection of bridged and repeated

A dual-connection option allows preservation of network connectivity to a device or path by providing a second, redundant connection which takes over if a first connection fails. One goal is to provide communication with all critical devices at all times. If the ability to communicate with a device is lost because part of the connection to the device or the device itself has been destroyed, recovery from such loss is provided. The invention is preferably embodied in a particular implementation of the proposed Redundant Links standard, and satisfies the requirements of the proposed IEEE 802.12 standard, while adding specific enhancements to the proposed standard, such as storing and/or reporting conditions that lead up to a failure; accommodating minor, temporary disruptions; allowing status inquiries with regard to a redundant link while maintaining a primary connection; and continuing testing the redundant link after an initial verification.

Computer network with devices/paths having redundant links

Uninterrupted network operation is maintained when stations are moved, for example when a station is initially connected to a bridge port via a repeater, and the station is later moved to another repeater, such that the bridge filtering database is typically out of date until the station transmits packets. To remedy this, an intelligent agent causes a packet to be sent on behalf of the station via the new network segment, and causes the bridge to learn the new port for the station, and to update its filtering database. The intelligent agent sends this packet immediately after the station has been moved from one network segment to another, thereby minimizing the possibility that traffic directed to the station is lost.

Growing community of inventors

Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Karen E Kimball