Method and a device for updating configuration data for providing network element protection in a data transfer network

摘要

A system for providing network element protection includes a backup network element (101) having a first configuration table storing first configuration data, an active network element (102) having a second configuration table storing second configuration data, and a controller (117) arranged to update the first configuration data according to changes of the second configuration data. The controller is arranged to carry out the updating when the active network element operates according to the second configuration data as a part of a data transfer network (100). Hence, the configuration data of the backup network element is maintained and managed as if backup network element were actively in use. Therefore, the switchover from the active network element to the backup network element can be quick and resilient in a case of a failure in the active network element or in a data transfer connection to or from the active network element.

主权项

1. A device comprising a controller hardware arranged to send update commands to a first network element so as to control the first network element to update first configuration data stored in a configuration table of the first network element according to changes of second configuration data stored in a configuration table of a second network element, wherein the controller hardware is arranged to send the update commands in response to a situation in which the changes are made to the second configuration data and the second network element operates according to the second configuration data as a part of a data transfer network and the first network element constitutes a backup network element for the second network element, so as to keep the first network element capable of replacing the second network element in the data transfer network, and wherein the update commands are arranged to control the first network element to write, prior to an event causing a need to activate the backup network element, hardware specific data of the second network element to the configuration table of the first network element so as to enable the first network element to emulate the second network element in the data transfer network.