ETHERNET RING PROTECTION FOR NON-ERP COMPLIANT LINKS AND NODES

摘要

An Ethernet ring includes a plurality of participating nodes with adjacent ones of the nodes coupled together via an independent link. At least two of the nodes are ERP protocol compliant and at least one of the nodes is ERP non-compliant node. Failures in the Ethernet ring are mitigated by determining whether a failure detected at a ring port of one of the ERP compliant nodes is a direct failure on the link coupling the ring port to an adjacent one of the nodes or at the adjacent node, or is an indirect failure on another link or at one of the ERP noncompliant nodes. The ring port is blocked if the failure is determined to be direct so that communication at the ring port remains unblocked if the failure is determined to be indirect. An indication is provided for indicating whether the ring port is blocked or unblocked in response to the failure.