System and method for supporting state synchronization in a network environment

1. A method implemented on a first switch comprising a processor coupled with a non-transient memory device for supporting state synchronization in an associated node of an associated network environment comprising a plurality of switches including the first switch, a master subnet manager (SM), and a master configuration daemon (CD) associated with the master SM, the method comprising:

providing a local SM executing on the first switch;

providing a local CD executing on the first switch;

associating the local CD with the local SM;

associating one or more subnet management agents (SMAs) of the associated node with the local SM;

receiving, from the master SM via the local CD, a distributed transaction implemented by the master CD across the plurality of switches in the network environment, the distributed transaction comprising a commit command and a configuration file, wherein the configuration file includes a list of known management key (M_Key) values comprising an intended new M_Key value;

storing, by the local CD, the configuration file in the non-transient memory device of the first switch;

while deferring updating by the local CD the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value:

making the known M_Key values of the configuration file available, by the local CD, for immediate probing operation and/or discovery operation use by the local SM on the first switch; and

selectively using, by the local SM, the current M_Key value for updating and/or setting M-Key values of the one or more SMAs associated with the local SM;

selectively updating, by the local CD in a first transaction, the current M_Key value of the local SM with the intended new M_Key value exclusively in response to receiving an update instruction from the master CD; and

discontinuing selectively using the current M_Key value by the local SM for the updating and/or setting the M_Key values of the one or more SMAs in the associated network environment responsive to the current M_Key value being updated in accordance with the commit command by the local CD from the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

including in the configuration file a trusted M_Key and one or more key values that are transparently generated based on the trusted M_Key.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

using, via the CD, a dedicated SM command line interface (CLI) command to update the local SM.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

updating, via the CD, the local SM with a current local secret key configuration when at least one of the SM and CD is restarted.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

containing in the configuration file information about the current M_Key value and information about the intended new M_Key value.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

recording the current M_Key value in the list of known M_Key values.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

using the new M_Key value to fence off a SM on an unavailable node.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

ensuring that the master SM has a known M_Key list not shorter than any M_Key list maintained by a standby SM instance.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

initiating a commit operation of the commit command on the master SM.

10. A switch system for supporting state synchronization in an associated node of an associated network environment comprising a plurality of switches including the first switch, a master subnet manager (SM), and a master configuration daemon (CD) associated with the master SM, the system comprising:

one or more microprocessors;

a non-transient memory device;

a local SM executing on the one or more microprocessors; and

a local CD associated with the local SM and executing on the one or more microprocessors, wherein the CD operates to:

receive, from the master SM via the local CD, a distributed transaction implemented by the master CD across the plurality of switches in the network environment, the distributed transaction comprising a commit command and a configuration file, wherein the configuration file includes a list of known management key (M_Key) values comprising an intended new M_Key value;

store, by the local CD, the configuration file in the non-transient memory device of the first switch;

while deferring updating by the local CD the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value:

make the known M_Key values of the configuration file available, by the local CD, for immediate probing operation and/or discovery operation use by the local SM on the first switch; and

selectively use, by the local SM, the current M_Key value for updating and/or setting M-Key values of one or more SMAs associated with the local SM;

selectively update, by the local CD in a first transaction, the current M_Key value of the local SM with the intended new M_Key value exclusively in response to receiving an update instruction from the master CD; and

discontinue selectively using the current M_Key value by the local SM for the updating and/or setting the M_Key values of the one or more SMAs in the associated network environment responsive to the current M_Key value being updated in accordance with the commit command by the local CD from the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the configuration file includes a trusted M_Key and one or more key values that are transparently generated based on the trusted M_Key.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the CD operates to use a dedicated SM command line interface (CLI) command to update the local SM.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the CD operates to update the local SM with a current local secret key configuration when at least one of the SM and CD is restarted.

14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the configuration file contains information about the current M_Key value and information about the intended new M_Key value.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein:

the CD operates to record the current M_Key value in the list of known M_Key values.

16. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the new M_Key value is used to fence off a SM on an unavailable node.

17. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:

the master CD operates to ensure that the master SM has a known M_Key list not shorter than any M_Key list maintained by a standby SM instance.

18. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a first switch system including a processor and a non-transient memory device to perform steps of supporting state synchronization in an associated network environment comprising a plurality of switches including the first switch system, a master subnet manager (SM), and a master configuration daemon (CD) associated with the master SM, the steps comprising:

providing a local SM executing on the first switch system;

providing a local CD executing on the first switch system;

associating the local CD with the local SM;

associating one or more subnet management agents (SMAs) of the associated node with the local SM;

receiving, from the master SM via the local CD, a distributed transaction implemented by the master CD across the plurality of switches in the network environment, the distributed transaction comprising a commit command and a configuration file, wherein the configuration file includes a list of known management key (M_Key) values comprising an intended new M_Key value;

storing, by the local CD, the configuration file in the non-transient memory device of the first switch system;

while deferring updating by the local CD the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value:

making the known M_Key values of the configuration file available, by the local CD, for immediate probing operation and/or discovery operation use by the local SM on the first switch system; and

selectively using, by the local SM, the current M_Key value for updating and/or setting M-Key values of the one or more SMAs associated with the local SM;

selectively updating, by the local CD in a first transaction, the current M_Key value of the local SM with the intended new M_Key value exclusively in response to receiving an update instruction from the master CD; and

discontinuing selectively using the current M_Key value by the local SM for the updating and/or setting the M_Key values of the one or more SMAs in the associated network environment responsive to the current M_Key value being updated in accordance with the commit command by the local CD from the current M_Key value to the intended new M_Key value.