Method and apparatus for in the middle primary backup replication
View Patent ↗The backup-in-the-middle primary-backup configuration is created by placing a backup-in-the-middle forwarder in the routing path between the primary and the environment. The backup-in-the-middle forwarder intercepts output messages along with required state information sent by the primary to the environment. The backup-in-the-middle forwarder backs up the primary by updating its state information and forwards the output packets to the environment.
1. A method for providing primary-backup services, comprising:
at a processor communicatively coupled to a digital data storage, receiving an input message directed to an intended recipient from a primary;
receiving, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, state information from the primary;
synchronizing, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, a stored primary state based on the state information; and
transmitting, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, a forwarded message to the intended recipient, the forwarded message corresponding to the input message.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state information corresponds with the input message.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of transmitting the forwarded message occurs after the step of receiving the corresponding state information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, a failover indication, the failover indication indicating that the primary is relinquishing control over at least one primary task; and
performing, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, the at least one primary task based on the stored primary state.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, one or more environmental messages from the environment;
recording, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, the one or more environmental messages in the digital data storage; and
synchronizing, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, an updated primary state based on the state information and the one or more recorded environmental messages.
6. A digital message handling apparatus, comprising:
a digital data storage; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the digital data storage, the processor configured to:
receive an input message directed to an intended recipient from a primary;
receive state information from the primary;
synchronize a stored primary state based on the state information; and
transmit an output message corresponding to the input message to the intended recipient.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the state information corresponds with the input message.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the step of transmitting the forwarded message occurs after the step of receiving the corresponding state information.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a failover indication, the failover indication indicating that the primary is relinquishing control over at least one primary task; and
perform the at least one primary task based on the stored primary state.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive one or more environmental messages from the environment;
record the one or more environmental messages in the digital data storage; and
synchronize an updated primary state based on the state information and the one or more recorded environmental messages.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
an I/O interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the I/O interface configured to receive the input message and the state information.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the I/O interface is capable of supporting a plurality of communication protocols.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the I/O interface comprises at least one packet interface and at least one wireless interface.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the input messages are packets.
15. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is capable of being remotely located from the primary.
16. The apparatus of claim 6 ,
wherein the state information is associated with the input message; and
wherein the transmission of the output message is based on reception of the state information.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 ,
wherein the state information provides information associated with a first state of the primary.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 ,
wherein the state information comprises a memory checkpoint state.
19. A non-transitory digital data storage medium encoding a machine-executable program of instructions to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving an input message directed to an intended recipient from a primary;
receiving, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, state information from the primary;
synchronizing, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, a stored primary state based on the state information; and
transmitting, by the processor in cooperation with the digital data storage, an output message corresponding to the input message to the intended recipient.
20. A system for providing primary-backup services, comprising:
a digital data storage; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the digital data storage, the processor configured to:
receive an input message directed to an intended recipient from a primary;
receive state information from the primary;
synchronize a stored primary state based on the state information; and
transmit an output message corresponding to the input message to the intended recipient.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a failover indication, the failover indication indicating that the primary is relinquishing control over at least one primary task; and
perform the at least one primary task based on the stored primary state.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive one or more environmental messages from the environment;
record the one or more environmental messages in the digital data storage; and
synchronize an updated primary state based on the state information and the one or more recorded environmental messages.
23. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:
an I/O interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the I/O interface configured to receive the input message and the state information.