Abstract: A switching network has a plurality of switches including at least a switch and a managing master switch. At the managing master switch, a first capability vector (CV) is received from the switch. The managing master switch determines whether the first CV is compatible with at least a second CV in a network membership data structure that records CVs of multiple switches in the switching network. In response to detecting an incompatibility, the managing master switch initiates an image update to an image of the switch. In response to a failure of the image update at the switch, the switch boots utilizing a mini-DC module that reestablishes communication between the switch with the managing master switch and retries the image update.

Abstract: In a switching network, each of a plurality of lower tier entities is coupled to each of multiple master switches at an upper tier by a respective one of multiple links. At each of the multiple master switches, a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier are implemented on each of a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of lower tier entities implements a respective egress port mapping indicating which of its plurality of RPIs transmits egress data traffic through each of its multiple links to the multiple master switches. In response to failure of one of the multiple links coupling a particular lower tier entity to a particular master switch, the particular lower tier entity updates its egress port mapping to redirect egress data traffic to another of the multiple master switches without packet dropping.

Abstract: A switching network has a plurality of switches including at least a switch and a managing master switch. At the managing master switch, a first capability vector (CV) is received from the switch. The managing master switch determines whether the first CV is compatible with at least a second CV in a network membership data structure that records CVs of multiple switches in the switching network. In response to detecting an incompatibility, the managing master switch initiates an image update to an image of the switch. In response to a failure of the image update at the switch, the switch boots utilizing a mini-DC module that reestablishes communication between the switch with the managing master switch and retries the image update.

Abstract: In a switching network, each of a plurality of lower tier entities is coupled to each of multiple master switches at an upper tier by a respective one of multiple links. At each of the multiple master switches, a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier are implemented on each of a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of lower tier entities implements a respective egress port mapping indicating which of its plurality of RPIs transmits egress data traffic through each of its multiple links to the multiple master switches. In response to failure of one of the multiple links coupling a particular lower tier entity to a particular master switch, the particular lower tier entity updates its egress port mapping to redirect egress data traffic to another of the multiple master switches without packet dropping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular architecture for connecting a plurality of telephone lines to a computer network. The invention binds a plurality of network access servers together so that they form a single system image to clients dialing into the plurality of network access servers. The invention operates by providing a tunneling mechanism for communication between the network access servers. The tunneling mechanism facilitates packet re-forwarding so that a call dialed into a physical port in a network access server can be re-forwarded through a logical port in another network access server. This allows a call to be routed through a physical port in a network access server even if no logical port is available in the network access server. Packet re-forwarding also allows multilink connections through physical ports in multiple network access servers to be routed through a single logical port in a network access server.