Microsoft patents faster network failover for cloud services
This patent describes a method for keeping network services running when a primary server fails. It allows backup servers to take over immediately by switching traffic based on network addresses, without waiting for slow system updates.
In the filing’s own words
High availability network services are provided in a communications network comprising a plurality of network devices including a network function implemented as two instances configured as an active instance and a backup instance. The backup instance maintains state data such that the backup instance can actively provide services in response to a failure of the active instance. A pool of data forwarding functions sends, over a tunnel connection, ingress data packets to the network function based on a MAC address of the active instance on an overlay network. When the active instance has failed, the backup instance provides the network function and the pool of data forwarding functions sends over the tunnel connection, subsequent ingress data packets to the network function based on an overlay network MAC address of the backup instance.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method for providing high availability network services in a communications network comprising a plurality of network devices running a network function implemented as at least two instances comprising an active instance and a backup instance, wherein the backup instance maintains state data such that the backup instance can actively provide services in response to a failure of the active instance, the method comprising: receiving, from a load balancer by a pool of data forwarding functions implemented on a plurality of nodes of the communications network, ingress data packets addressed to the network function via a public network address; forwarding, by the pool of data forwarding functions over a tunnel connection, the ingress data packets to the network function based on an overlay network MAC address of the active instance; determining that the active instance has failed and that the backup instance will provide the network function, wherein determining that the active instance has failed comprises detecting a loss of a direct link between a forwarding node and an edge node hosting the active instance; removing an association between the overlay network MAC address and the edge node from a forwarding table without exchanging state information with the backup instance; and forwarding, by the pool of data forwarding functions over the tunnel connection, subsequent ingress data packets to the network function based on an overlay network MAC address of the backup instance without waiting for underlay routing updates.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC)
- Official title
- Fast media flow failover in layer 4 networks
- Patent number
- US12732453B2
- Application number
- 18379141
- Filed
- Oct 11, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04L 45/28 Electricity & electronicsH04L 45/64 Electricity & electronicsH04L 45/66 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.