Node redundancy method, interface card, interface device, node device, and packet ring network system

摘要

A network includes a plurality of redundant nodes and ordinary nodes. A first redundant node from among the redundant nodes sets a common address and setting information in a message packet and broadcasts the message packet over the network. The common address is commonly used by all the redundant nodes on the network. The setting information is indicative of the fact that the first redundant node is a redundant node. All the nodes have a topology table. The nodes that receive the message packet set in their topology table information indicating of presence of the first redundant node and the common address shared by the redundant nodes. When transmitting a packet to the first redundant node, a node sets the common address as a destination address of the packet.