High availability of PCIe devices under multiple processors to provide redundancy

• Main Authors: Ho, Tong, Garg, Gaurav
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.01.2019
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

A method is implemented by a network device to configure the operation of a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) switch to enable an efficient transition from a first active processor in a first root complex to a backup processor in a second root complex. The method involves determining the first active processor in the first root complex and a set of backup processors and a set of root complexes, and configuring each root complex for independent PCIe switch communication. The method further includes detecting a failure of the active processor in the first root complex, selecting and notifying the backup processor and the second root complex to transition to be a second active processor and second root complex, and starting communication with PCIe devices using previously configured independent PCIe switch communication for the second processor of the second root complex.