WO2013015669A1

WO2013015669A1 - Global services redundancy using ip address mobility

Info

Publication number: WO2013015669A1
Application number: PCT/MY2012/000129
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tageldin ABDELGADIR; Haseeb Shariq; Moshee Uddin MOHAMMAD; Faheem Mohd Ezani Muhammad; Abdulllah MOHD ARIFF
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2011-07-25
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Also published as: MY159199A

Abstract

Global services redundancy is provided using IP address mobility wherein the main server obtains an address which is the same address registered in the DNS server which allows clients access services offered by the server through the assigned IP in the DNS. Redundant server is required to be in the same LAN as the main server and if the link to both the servers fails, then the service is disrupted. The present invention introduces a Session Capturing Server (SCS) the Session Capturing Server (SCS) to maintain mapping table of redundant servers IP address with main servers IP address. Session Capturing Server (SCS) captures ongoing sessions of the main server that has failed and forward the captured sessions to a backup server for continuing services.

Description

GLOBAL SERVICES REDUNDANCY USING IP ADDRESS MOBILITY

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a system and method for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility.

BACKGROUND ART Server reliability provides for retrievable backups of user session in a scalable way on a network during server failure at web-hosting sites. Regardless of the reliability of servers, servers are prone to failure. Server redundancy is desirable within communication networks such as providing a backup server within the said communication network. At present, the availability of server redundancy in Local Area Network (LAN) solves the problem of server failure. Redundant server is required to be in the same LAN as the main server to ensure continuous service is maintained. However, service is disrupted if the linkage between the main server and the redundant server fails. The approach of the present invention provides a system and a method for solving server failure by introducing redundancy of servers in a LAN. The present invention requires redundant server to be in the same LAN as the main server. The service would be disrupted if the link to both the servers fails. Therefore, the present invention provides for the Session Capturing Server (SCS) to maintain mapping table of redundant servers IP address with main servers IP address. Further, the Session Capturing Server (SCS) of the present invention is captured to ongoing sessions of the main server that has failed and the captured sessions is forwarded to a backup server for continuing services.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practice. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a system for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility. The system comprising at least one trusted virtual domain. The trusted virtual domain comprising at least one main server, at least one redundant server and at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS). The at least one main server with IP address registered at DNS Server as highest priority server for serving a plurality of clients within communication network while the at least one redundant server takes over role of main server as next highest priority server and the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) registers and deregisters main server and redundant servers. Preferably, the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) maintains mapping table of redundant servers IP address with main servers IP address.

Further, the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) creates tunnel to redundant servers IP address to capture packets for main server and transmits the said packets to redundant servers via the said tunnel and destroys tunnel with redundant servers when mapping table entries are deleted. Preferably, the at least one redundant server further creates tunnel to at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS) and destroys tunnel with at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility. The method comprising steps of establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network, joining trusted virtual domain with next highest priority redundant servers to build mutual trust, sending probe messages by redundant backup server to main server for uplink status, taking over role of main server by next highest priority server within communication network when highest priority server is down, registering new main server with Session Capturing Server (SCS) and unregistering current main server with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when highest priority server is up. A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network. The method comprises steps of joining trusted virtual domain to build trust with back up servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS), receiving probe messages from redundant server and providing status update of main server to redundant server, sending deregistration message to redundant server when main server is down and configuring IP address of main server and deregistering binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up. Further, the method of sending probe messages by redundant backup server to main server for uplink status further comprises steps of joining trusted virtual domain to build trust with main server, back up servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS), sending encrypted status probe messages to main server, continuously sending status messages to main server when status reports are received from main server, sending other messages based on user configuration or Registration Request (RR) messages to Session Capturing Server (SCS) when status reports are not received from main server, creating tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS) and destroying tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server.

The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the accompanying drawings where: FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing redundancy within communication network.using IP address mobility.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing redundancy within communication network using I address mobility.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for configuring IP address of main server and deregistering binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sending probe messages by redundant backup server to main server for uplink status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a system and method for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Reference is first made to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively. FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility. As illustrated in FIG.1 , the system for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility. The concept of IP mobility is associated with devices being mobile and changing point of attachment from one network to another. The principal of IP mobility of the present invention introduces IP address mobility rather than device mobility.

The system of the present invention comprising at least one trusted virtual domain (102). The said trusted virtual domain further comprising at least one main server (104), at least one redundant server (106) and at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108). The main server obtains an address which is the same address registered in the DNS server. The at least one main server (104) with IP address registered at DNS Server as highest priority server serves a plurality of clients within communication network as clients access services offered by the server through the assigned IP in the DNS.

The at least one redundant server (106) takes over role of main server (104) as next highest priority server. The said redundant servers are backup servers. The redundant servers further creates tunnel to at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS) and destroys tunnel with at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server. The at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) of the present invention registers and deregisters main server (104) and redundant servers (106). The at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) maintains mapping table of redundant servers (106) IP address with main servers (104) IP address. The said Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) further creates tunnel to redundant servers IP address to capture packets for main server and transmits the said packets to redundant servers via the said tunnel and destroys tunnel with redundant servers when mapping table entries are deleted.

The methodology of the present invention which provides redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility comprising steps of establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network (202). The main server is a machine with higher capacity to handle multiple requests wherein it is therefore the highest priority server. Once in operation, the main server can choose one of the many available security association techniques to join a trusted virtual domain with the next highest priority redundant backup servers, who also join the trusted virtual domain of the main server to build mutual trust (204). When a trust has been built between the main server and the redundant server, the main server can rest assure that the backup server is authorized to take over its responsibilities. The redundant server sends probe messages to main server for uplink status (206) and redundant server as the next highest priority server takes over role of main server within communication network when highest priority server is down (208). Thereafter, the new main server is registered with Session Capturing Server (SCS) (210) and current main server is deregistered with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when highest priority server is up (212).

Reference is now being made to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 respectively. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network while FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for configuring IP address of main server and deregistering binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the method for establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network further comprises steps of joining trusted virtual domain to build trust with redundant servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS) (302). Thereafter, probe messages are received from redundant server (304) and status update of main server is provided to redundant server (306). Deregistration message is sent to redundant server when main server is down (308) and IP address of main server is configured while binding is deregistered with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up (310).

As illustrated in FIG. 4, IP address of main server is configured and binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) is deregistered when main server is up by requesting Session Capturing Server (SCS) to delete mapping table entries (402). Thereafter, deregistration request is sent to redundant server informing redundant server that main server is up (404) and tunnel between Session Capturing Server (SCS) and redundant server is destroyed when mapping table entries are deleted (406).

Reference is now being made to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sending probe messages by redundant backup server to main server for uplink status. Once a security association has been established, the backup server securely probes the main server to check if the main server is up and serving the clients. The main server then securely replies to the backup server. However, when the main server is down, the backup server does not get a reply and it concludes that the main server is down. Given the condition when no response is received from the main server, depending on the threshold level set by the administrator, the backup server may send another probe or conclude that the main server is down. Similarly the backup server for the next highest priority redundant backup server probes the next highest priority redundant backup server and so on. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the operation of the redundant server, it joins the trusted virtual domain of the main server, backup servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS) (502). Thereafter, it sends out encrypted status probe message to the main server (504). As long as status reports are received from the main server, it continues to send out status messages to the main server (506). When a status report is not received, based on a user configurable threshold, it may send out another probe or sends a Registration Request (RR) message to the Session Capturing Server (SCS) (508). The RR message makes the SCS believe that the main server has physically moved to a new network location.

The Session Capturing Server (SCS) then creates a tunnel with the redundant server, send out a Registration Acceptance (RA) message and tunnels all the requests meant for the main server to the redundant server (510). The redundant server then assumes the role of the main server and responds to the clients via the Session Capturing Server (SCS). When deregistration message is received from the main server, the redundant server knows that the main server is up again and it destroys the tunnel with the Session Capturing Server (SCS) (512). The redundant server again continues to probe the main server for uplink status.

The present invention provides for the Session Capturing Server (SCS) to maintain mapping table of redundant servers IP address with main servers IP address. Further, the Session Capturing Server (SCS) of the present invention is captured to ongoing sessions of the main server that has failed and the captured sessions is forwarded to a backup server for continuing services.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A system (100) for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility comprising:

at least one trusted virtual domain (102) comprising at least one main server (104), at least one redundant server (106) and at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108);

the at least one main server ( 04) with IP address registered at DNS Server as highest priority server for serving a plurality of clients within communication network;

the at least one redundant server (106) for taking over role of main server (104) as next highest priority server;

the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) for registering and deregistering main server ( 04) and redundant servers (106).

characterized in that the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) further maintains mapping table of redundant servers (106) IP address with main servers (104) IP address.

2. A system (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) (108) further:

creates tunnel to redundant servers IP address to capture packets for main server and transmits the said packets to redundant servers via the said tunnel; and

destroys tunnel with redundant servers when mapping table entries are deleted.

3. A system (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one redundant server (106) further:

creates tunnel to at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS); and

destroys tunnel with at least one Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server.

4. A system (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the said redundant servers (106) are backup servers.

5. A method (200) for providing redundancy within communication network using IP address mobility comprising steps of:

establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network (202);

joining trusted virtual domain with next highest priority redundant servers to build mutual trust (204);

sending probe messages by redundant server to main server for uplink status (206);

taking over role of main server by next highest priority server within communication network when highest priority server is down (208);

registering new main server with Session Capturing Server (SCS) (210); and

unregistering current main server with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when highest priority server is up (212).

6. A method (300) according to Claim 3, wherein establishing communication session by main server as highest priority server within communication network further comprises steps of:

joining trusted virtual domain to build trust with back up servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS) (302);

receiving probe messages from redundant server (304) and providing status update of main server to redundant server (306);

sending deregistration message to redundant server when main server is down (308); and

configuring IP address of main server and deregistering binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up (310).

7. A method (400) according to Claim 4, wherein configuring IP address of main server and deregistering binding with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when main server is up further comprises steps of. requesting Session Capturing Server (SCS) to delete mapping table entries (402);

sending deregistration request to redundant server informing redundant server that main server is up (404); and

destroying tunnel between Session Capturing Server (SCS) and redundant server when mapping table entries are deleted (406).

8. A method (500) according to Claim 3, wherein sending probe messages by redundant server to main server for uplink status further comprises steps of: joining trusted virtual domain to build trust with main server, back up servers and Session Capturing Server (SCS) (502);

sending encrypted status probe messages to main server (504); continuously sending status messages to main server when status reports are received from main server (506);

sending other messages based on user configuration or Registration Request (RR) messages to Session Capturing Server (SCS) when status reports are not received from main server (508);

creating tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS) (510); and

destroying tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server (512).

9. A method according to Claim 6, wherein creating tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when Registration Acceptance (RA) message is received from Session Capturing Server (SCS) further comprises steps of taking over role of main server by redundant server and responding to clients via Session Capturing Server (SCS).

10. A method according to Claim 6, wherein destroying tunnel with Session Capturing Server (SCS) when deregistration message is received from main server further comprises steps of continuously sending messages to main server for uplink status.