Network controller failover request to reduce network outages

Abstract

A system is described that includes a first network controller and a second network controller. The first controller operates as a master controller and the second controller operates as a standby controller for a set of access points. Using a set of VRRP advertisements between the first and second controllers, the second controller may (1) determine that the first controller has failed independent of any determination by the access points and (2) send a failover request to the access points. The failover request may cause the access points to use previously established tunnels between the second controller and each of the access points. By transmitting a failover request message from the second controller to the access points upon the detection by the second controller that the first controller has failed and independent of any determination by the access points, the system reduces network access downtime for the access points.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the processor to:
 identify a particular set of devices obtaining services from a first network device and a second network device;   detect failure of the first network device;   responsive to detection that the first network device has failed:
 transmit a failover request message to the particular set of devices indicating to obtain the services from the second network device; and 
 connect a device of the particular set of devices to the second network device to obtain the services in response to receipt of an acknowledgment that the device received the failover request message. 
   
     
     
         22 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein transmission of the failover request message to the particular set of devices is performed prior to a determination by the device of the particular set of devices that the first network device has failed. 
     
     
         23 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein transmission of the failover request message to the particular set of devices is performed prior to a determination by the device of the particular set of devices, via heartbeat messages between the particular set of devices and the first network device, that the first network device has failed. 
     
     
         24 . The medium of claim  21 , comprising detection of virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP) advertisements being transmitted from the first network device to a second network device prior to detection of the failure. 
     
     
         25 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein:
 prior to the detection of the failure;
 the first network device is a master network device and the second network device is a standby network device; and 
 active data tunnels are established between the first network device and the particular set of devices and inactive data tunnels are established between the second network device and the particular set of devices. 
   
     
     
         26 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein, in response to receipt of the acknowledgment by the second device, the first network device is the standby network device and the second network device is the master network device. 
     
     
         27 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein connection of the device of the particular set of devices to the second network device comprises activation of communication tunnels between the particular set of devices and the second network device. 
     
     
         28 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein communication tunnels between the particular set of devices and the second network device are established in a dormant state prior to detection of the failure. 
     
     
         29 . The medium of claim  21 , wherein detection of the failure of the first network device is in response to a lack of virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP) advertisements being received by the second network device from the first network device. 
     
     
         30 . A system comprising:
 a hardware processor, wherein the system causes the hardware processor to:
 identify a particular set of devices obtaining services from a first network device and a second network device; 
 detect failure of the first network device; 
 responsive to detecting that the first network device has failed:
 transmit a failover request message to the particular set of devices indicating to obtain the services from the second network device; and 
 connect a device of the particular set of devices to the second network device to obtain the services in response to receipt of an acknowledgment that the device of the particular set of devices received the failover request message. 
 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein transmission of the failover request message to the particular set of devices is performed prior to a determination by the device of the particular set of devices that the first network device has failed. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein transmitting the failover request message to the particular set of devices is performed prior to a determination by the device of the particular set of devices, via heartbeat messages between the particular set of devices and the first network device, that the first network device has failed. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the operations are performed by the second network device. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first network device and the second network device are controllers, and wherein each of the particular set of devices is an access point. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the failover request message transmitted to the particular set of devices comprises a Failover Request. 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 storing instructions in memory that are executable by a hardware processor for:
 identifying a particular set of devices obtaining services from a first network device and a second network device; 
 detecting failure of the first network device; 
 responsive to detecting that the first network device has failed:
 transmitting a failover request message to the particular set of devices indicating to obtain the services from the second network device; and 
 connecting a device of the particular set of devices to the second network device to obtain the services in response to receiving an acknowledgment that the device of the particular set of devices received the failover request message. 
 
   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein detecting failure of the first network device comprises not receiving virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP) advertisements from the first network device during a prescribed time period. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising activating communication tunnels between the particular set of devices and the second network device to connect the particular set of devices to the second network device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising indicating the acknowledgment by an Acknowledgement message from each of the particular set of devices. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein detecting failure of the first network device comprises not receiving heartbeat messages from the first network device to the second network device during a prescribed time period.