METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FAST ETHERNET LINK SWITCHOVER IN THE EVENT OF A LINK FAILURE

摘要

An apparatus for fast failure switch over in an ETHERNET switch includes redundant switch (trunk) ports (a main and a backup) and hardware and software logic for redirecting traffic to the backup port when the main port (or the link associated with it) fails. The switchover is immediate and is based on the content of a local status register which indicates the port (link) status. Thus, frames addressed to the dead port are redirected to the backup port and few frames are lost. The STP function may proceed concurrently and eventually no more frames are addressed to the dead port.