Protection that automatic and speedily restore of ethernet ring network

摘要

A data relay apparatus stores identification information for identifying itself. A blocking unit blocks a port to avoid an occurrence of a loop path if the data relay apparatus is a master node, and blocks a port connected to a link of the data relay apparatus if a failure occurs to the link. When the link is restored from the failure, a comparing unit compares identification information of other apparatus connected to the link, with the identification information stored. Based on a result of the comparison, a determining unit determines whether the data relay apparatus should be set as a master node.