Automatic failure isolation and reconfiguration (ring networks)

An automatic reconfiguration of counter-rotating rings that significantly increases the reliability of a network is described. The automatic failure isolation and reconfiguration methodology (FIRM) uses flags and management frames to bypass both single and multiple link failures as well as cable failures. FIRM uses WRAP-D switching along with the beaconing process to locate some failures which cannot be located by beaconing process alone. Examples illustrating the reconfiguration procedures are presented.<>