Method and apparatus for supporting dependent logical units in advanced peer-to-peer networks with branch extenders

摘要

In an APPN network having a dependent LU server (DLUS) and a dependent LU requester (DLUR), a method and apparatus that allows the DLUR to reside in an end node served by a branch extender node. The DLUS is forced to view the DLUR as residing in a different network, even though this is not the reality. This forces the DLUS to initiate a resource Locate search request to determine routes to the DLUR, rather than relying on registered DLUR trunk group vectors, which are erroneous when the DLUR is located downstream of a branch extender. In addition, the branch extender examines resource Locate request and resource Locate replies to determine if the resource being sought is a DLU. If it is, then the branch extender does not substitute itself as the owner of the DLU in the Locate requests and replies. This prevents the occurrence of both the branch extender and the DLUR reporting ownership of a DLU.