Harmonic Inc.
High availability and software upgrades in a virtual cable modem termination system

Abstract:

A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) providing high speed data services to one or more remote physical devices (RPDs). The CMTS executes entirely upon a plurality of protection groups. Each of the plurality of protection groups consists of a plurality of pods. A dynamic adjustment may be made as to which pods in a particular protection group are active. The dynamic adjustment is made response to determining that a particular protection group is experiencing a failure. This determination may be made by a high availability agent executing within a pod, of the particular protection group, that is experiencing the failure. Software associated with supporting a particular service group of the CMTS may be upgraded without upgrading the software associated with supporting the remainder of the plurality of service groups serviced by the CMTS.