Plug and play node addition in a dual ring topology network using locally significant ring identifiers for determining routing decisions

摘要

A method and apparatus for adding a node to a network where the network includes a plurality of nodes connected by first and second rings formed by two or more transmission media. The method includes connecting the node to each of the first and second rings, determining a ring identifier for each of the first and second rings coupled to the node after connection, discovering topology information for the network including the identity of each node coupled to each ring, storing the topology information and determining routing decisions for one or more packets received at the node along each of the first and second rings using the ring identifier information.