Allot Ltd.
Method, Device, and System for Providing Hot Reservation for In-Line Deployed Network Functions with Multiple Network Interfaces

Abstract:

Method, device, and system for providing hot reservation for in-line deployed network functions with multiple network interfaces. A system includes a first Network Function (NF) unit, connected to an ingress router and to an egress router; and a second NF unit, connected to the ingress router and to the egress router. The first NF unit is initially configured as a controlling NF. The second NF unit is initially configured as a backup NF. The two NF units periodically exchange keep-alive messages via the two routers. The second NF unit, operating as the backup NF, automatically triggers a switchover if the second NF unit did not receive a keep-alive message from the first NF unit for at least a pre-defined time-period. Additionally or alternatively, the controlling NF initiates a switchover if the maintenance status parameters of the backup NF are better than those of the controlling NF.