Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery

Details Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery

2003-10-15

2009-06-30

Wilson, Robert W (Department: 2419)

Multiplex communications

Communication over free space

Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...

C370S389000, C370S388000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07554959

ABSTRACT:
A group of network devices, such as Ethernet switches, are logically configured as a single cluster, with one commander device and one or more member devices. Each network device capable of belonging to a cluster transmits data packets containing cluster capability information to its neighbors. Each network device capable of belonging to a cluster that receives data packets containing cluster capability information maintains a database containing information about its cluster-capable neighbor devices. The commander device of a cluster is the point-of-contact through which the cluster is managed. The commander device maintains a database of neighbors of the entire cluster. Upon user request, the commander device displays a list of cluster neighbors and notes which ones may be added to the cluster. When the user adds a device to the cluster, that device immediately sends its database of discovered neighbors to the commander device. The commander device adds those neighbors to its database and displays them at the user's next request. Thus, a user is informed of which switches are available to be added to a cluster at any given time.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4644532 (1987-02-01), George et al.
patent: 4922486 (1990-05-01), Lidinsky et al.
patent: 4933937 (1990-06-01), Konishi
patent: 4962497 (1990-10-01), Ferenc et al.
patent: 5018137 (1991-05-01), Backes et al.
patent: 5095480 (1992-03-01), Fenner
patent: 5136580 (1992-08-01), Videlock et al.
patent: 5150464 (1992-09-01), Sidhu et al.
patent: 5241682 (1993-08-01), Bryant et al.
patent: 5274631 (1993-12-01), Bhardwaj
patent: 5280480 (1994-01-01), Pitt et al.
patent: 5287103 (1994-02-01), Kasprzyk et al.
patent: 5319644 (1994-06-01), Liang
patent: 5371852 (1994-12-01), Attanasio et al.
patent: 5394402 (1995-02-01), Ross
patent: 5430715 (1995-07-01), Corbalis et al.
patent: 5519706 (1996-05-01), Bantz et al.
patent: 5526489 (1996-06-01), Nilakantan et al.
patent: 5530963 (1996-06-01), Moore et al.
patent: 5574860 (1996-11-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5594732 (1997-01-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5617421 (1997-04-01), Chin et al.
patent: 5715394 (1998-02-01), Jabs
patent: 5758282 (1998-05-01), Yamashina et al.
patent: 5793763 (1998-08-01), Mayes et al.
patent: 5802047 (1998-09-01), Kinoshita
patent: 5809483 (1998-09-01), Broka et al.
patent: 5812529 (1998-09-01), Czarnik et al.
patent: 5835720 (1998-11-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5835725 (1998-11-01), Chiang et al.
patent: 5854901 (1998-12-01), Cole et al.
patent: 5862348 (1999-01-01), Pedersen
patent: 5912891 (1999-06-01), Kanai
patent: 5918016 (1999-06-01), Brewer et al.
patent: 5968116 (1999-10-01), Day, II et al.
patent: 5991828 (1999-11-01), Horie et al.
patent: 6009103 (1999-12-01), Woundy
patent: 6023724 (2000-02-01), Bhatia et al.
patent: 6026441 (2000-02-01), Ronen
patent: 6046992 (2000-04-01), Meier et al.
patent: 6055236 (2000-04-01), Nessett et al.
patent: 6091951 (2000-07-01), Sturniolo et al.
patent: 6092178 (2000-07-01), Jindal et al.
patent: 6092196 (2000-07-01), Reiche
patent: 6119160 (2000-09-01), Zhang et al.
patent: 6141687 (2000-10-01), Blair
patent: 6188691 (2001-02-01), Barkai et al.
patent: 6266335 (2001-07-01), Bhaskaran
patent: 6370584 (2002-04-01), Bestavros et al.
patent: 6425008 (2002-07-01), Lecheler et al.
patent: 6470389 (2002-10-01), Chung et al.
patent: 6480508 (2002-11-01), Mwikalo et al.
patent: 6496866 (2002-12-01), Attanasio et al.
patent: 6636499 (2003-10-01), Dowling
patent: 6693878 (2004-02-01), Daruwalla et al.
patent: 6810010 (2004-10-01), Matsukawa
patent: 6975631 (2005-12-01), Kastenholz

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for cluster network device discovery will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4095730